Dirty Laundry (Don Henley song)
"Dirty Laundry" | ||||
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Single by Don Henley | ||||
from the album I Can't Stand Still | ||||
B-side | "Lilah" | |||
Released | October 12, 1982 | |||
Recorded | 1982 | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 5:36 | |||
Label | Asylum | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Don Henley singles chronology | ||||
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Audio sample | ||||
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"Dirty Laundry" is a song written by Don Henley and Danny Kortchmar, from Henley's debut solo album I Can't Stand Still, released in 1982. The song hit number 1 on the Billboard Top Album Tracks chart in October 1982, prior to being issued as a 45 rpm single. Lyrically, the song describes mass media sensationalism.
Released as the second single from I Can't Stand Still, it spent three weeks at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1983. The single was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in March 1983, representing sales of over one million in the United States.[2]
History[]
The song is about the callousness of TV news reporting as well as the tabloidization of all news. Henley sings from the standpoint of a news anchorman who "could have been an actor, but I wound up here", and thus is not a real journalist. The song's theme is that TV news coverage focuses too much on negative and sensationalist news; in particular, deaths, disasters, and scandals, with little regard to the consequences or for what is important ("We all know that crap is king"). The song was inspired by the intrusive press coverage surrounding the deaths of John Belushi and Natalie Wood, and Henley's own arrest in 1980 when he was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and possession of marijuana, cocaine, and Quaaludes after paramedics treated a 16-year-old female who was subsequently suffering from drug intoxication at his Los Angeles home.[3]
Among the musicians on the record were Timothy B. Schmit and Joe Walsh, two of Henley's bandmates of the Eagles. Walsh performs the first guitar solo, followed by Steve Lukather of the band Toto; the guitar basic tracks are played by Danny Kortchmar who also helped Henley compose this song.[3] The sleeve notes also mention musicians George Gruel, Roger Linn and Steve Porcaro.[4]
Eagles performances[]
During the 1994 reformation of Eagles, Glenn Frey suggested that the entire band perform this and other solo hits of Henley's, stating that he liked them and despite differences the band had had over the years, they admired Henley's solo work. During the performances of Frey and Henley's solo songs, Eagles' touring drummer Scott F. Crago handles most of the drumming duties.
Personnel[]
- Don Henley – lead vocals, backing vocals
- Steve Porcaro – keyboards, special keyboard effects
- Roger Linn – special effects
- Danny Kortchmar – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- Joe Walsh – 1st guitar solo
- Steve Lukather – 2nd guitar solo
- Timothy B. Schmit – bass, backing vocals
- Jeff Porcaro – drums
- George Gruel – backing vocals
Chart performance[]
Weekly charts[]
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Year-end charts[]
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Cover versions[]
"Dirty Laundry" | ||||
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Single by Nickelback | ||||
Released | August 19, 2016 | |||
Recorded | 2016 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:58 | |||
Label | Republic | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Nickelback | |||
Nickelback singles chronology | ||||
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![]() | This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. The specific problem is: covers may not meet WP:SONGCOVER. (October 2018) |
Lisa Marie Presley released a cover version of the song in 2005. It was the first single released from her album Now What, and reached No. 36 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. Presley also shot a music video, which featured a cameo appearance by George Michael.
See also[]
- Don Henley discography
- List of Billboard Mainstream Rock number-one songs of the 1980s
- Narcotizing dysfunction
- Yellow journalism
References[]
- ^ Sleeve notes to Dirty Laundry in Actual Miles CD of 1995.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 282.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Dirty Laundry by Don Henley Songfacts". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 2014-05-10.
- ^ Sleeve notes to Dirty Laundry in the Actual Miles CD of 1995.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Top 100 1983-01-15". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2016-08-11. Retrieved 2017-03-27.
- ^ "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1982". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2015-07-08.
- ^ "Talent Almanac 1984: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 95 no. 52. December 24, 1983. p. TA-18.
External links[]
- 1982 singles
- Don Henley songs
- Lisa Marie Presley songs
- Nickelback songs
- RPM Top Singles number-one singles
- Songs written by Don Henley
- Songs written by Danny Kortchmar
- Songs about television
- 1982 songs
- Asylum Records singles
- Republic Records singles
- Criticism of journalism
- Songs about the media