I Can't Stand Still is the debut solo studio album by American musician Don Henley, drummer and co-lead vocalist for the Eagles. It was released in August 1982 by Asylum Records. Henley, Danny Kortchmar and Greg Ladanyi produced the album. I Can't Stand Still achieved gold status, and peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard 200 and at the same position on the UK Albums Chart. Three singles were released from the album, including the hit "Dirty Laundry", which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became Henley's best-selling single. The title track "I Can't Stand Still" reached No. 48 and the track "Johnny Can't Read" reached No. 42 on the charts.
| I Can't Stand Still | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 13, 1982[1] | |||
| Recorded | January–May 1982 | |||
| Studio | Record One (Los Angeles, California) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 42:22 | |||
| Label | Asylum | |||
| Producer | ||||
| Don Henley chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from I Can't Stand Still | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Robert Christgau | B+[3] |
| The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |  [4] |
The album showcased some of Henley's frustrations at the time. "Dirty Laundry" displays his disgust with the media and tabloid news coverage, and "Johnny Can't Read," shows his displeasure with the American educational system.[5]
Critical reception
editRobert Palmer, music critic for The New York Times, was surprised by I Can't Stand Still and wrote that it "rings with the righteous indignation of a man who has taken a good look at what's going on around him and decided at least to speak his mind about it...The record doesn't offer any solutions, but how many pop records do? I Can't Stand Still scores points for its palpable anger; for its lean, stripped-down arrangements; for the lack of self-indulgence in the playing, the production and Mr. Henley's soaring vocals, and for its overall point of view, which links the disparate songs together and gives the album an admirable coherence. As far as this listener is concerned, it's better than anything Mr. Henley did with the Eagles."[6]
Reviewing retrospectively for AllMusic, critic Mike DeGagne has written of the album, "Henley's first solo album may still have had the ghost of the Eagles lingering in the corners, but for the most part it showcases his stalwart partnership with producer and songwriter Danny Kortchmar," and then added "Henley's adept combination of lyrical wit and thought-provoking staidness begins to materialize on I Can't Stand Still, paving the way for an extremely accomplished solo career."[5]
Cash Box said of the title track that "using the same organ that made "Laundry" so unique, Henley weaves the chords through a ballad about a guy's bitterness over his lost love's new find."[7] Cash Box also said that it's "a slow, dramatic, organ-dominated tune that's almost, but not quite, reggae" and that Henley's vocal tingles with a jealous edge as he sings of his lover's 'undercover' relationship."[8] Billboard called it "reggae California style, using heavy bass and syncopated organ for the rhythm track."[9] AllMusic critic Mike DeGagne called it "a trouble-in-paradise love song, [that] has Henley pouring his heart out with sugary angst, but is helped along with some avid keyboard work."[5]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Don Henley and Danny Kortchmar, except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Can't Stand Still" | 3:33 | |
| 2. | "You Better Hang Up" | Danny Kortchmar | 3:21 |
| 3. | "Long Way Home" | 5:28 | |
| 4. | "Nobody's Business" | 3:43 | |
| 5. | "Talking to the Moon" |
| 4:39 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "Dirty Laundry" | 5:36 | |
| 7. | "Johnny Can't Read" | 3:24 | |
| 8. | "Them and Us" | 4:01 | |
| 9. | "La Eile" | Traditional | 0:52 |
| 10. | "Lilah" | 4:09 | |
| 11. | "The Unclouded Day" |
| 3:36 |
| Total length: | 42:22 | ||
Personnel
editMusicians
- Don Henley – lead vocals, harmony vocals (1), drums (1, 2, 8, 10), backing vocals (3, 6), arrangements (11)
- Danny Kortchmar – keyboards (1), guitars (1), electric guitar (2, 4, 5, 8, 10), baritone guitar (3, 7, 11), rhythm guitar (6), backing vocals (6), arrangements (11)
- Benmont Tench – keyboards (3–5, 11), acoustic piano (5, 10)
- Garth Hudson – synthesizers (5)
- Steve Porcaro – synthesizers (5), keyboards (6), special keyboard effects (6)
- Roger Linn – special effects (6)
- Andrew Gold – keyboards (7)
- Steve Lukather – electric guitar (2), acoustic guitar (5), 2nd guitar solo (6)
- Waddy Wachtel – electric guitar (4, 11), slide guitar (10)
- Joe Walsh – 1st guitar solo (6)
- Bob Glaub – bass (1, 2, 7, 11)
- Leland Sklar – bass (3, 10)
- Kenny Edwards – bass (5, 8), electric guitar (7)
- Jeff Porcaro – drums (2, 3, 5, 6), maracas (2)
- Russ Kunkel – drums (4)
- Mark Towner Williams – drums (7)
- Ian Wallace – drums (11)
- Steve Forman – percussion (3)
- Ras Baboo – percussion (11), timbales (11)
- Derek Bell – harp (9)
- Paddy Moloney – tin whistle (9), original arrangements (9), Uilleann pipes (10)
- Timothy B. Schmit – harmony vocals (1, 2), backing vocals (3, 6), bass (4, 6)
- Max Gronenthal – harmony vocals (1)
- JD Souther – harmony vocals (2), acoustic guitar (3, 4, 10)
- George Gruel – backing vocals (6)
- Louise Goffin – harmony vocals (7)
- Maren Jensen – harmony vocals (7)
- Warren Zevon – backing vocals (8)
- Bill Withers – backing vocals (11)
Production and artwork
- Don Henley – producer
- Danny Kortchmar – producer
- Greg Ladanyi – producer, recording, mixing
- Niko Bolas – additional engineer, assistant engineer
- Jim Nipar – additional engineer
- Jamie Ledner – assistant engineer
- Wayne Tanouye – assistant engineer
- Doug Sax – mastering
- Mike Reese – mastering
- The Mastering Lab (Los Angeles, CA) – mastering location
- Paul Gurian – art direction
- Ron Coro – graphic coordinator
- Kristen Kasell Nikosey – graphic coordinator
- Jo Ann Callis – photography
- Front Line Management – management
Charts
edit| Chart (1982-1983) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[10] | 24 |
| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[11] | 5 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[12] | 46 |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon)[13] | 20 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[14] | 14 |
| Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[15] | 22 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[16] | 34 |
| US Billboard 200[17] | 24 |
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[18] | Gold | 500,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^ "FMQB" (PDF). p. 28.
- ^ Mike DeGagne. "I Can't Stand Still – Don Henley | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-05-10.
- ^ "CG: Don Henley". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 2014-05-10.
- ^ The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. 2004. pp. 375–376.
- ^ a b c Mike DeGagne. "I Can't Stand Still – Don Henley | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-07-18.
- ^ Robert Palmer. "The Pop Life". The New York Times. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
- ^ "Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. January 8, 1983. p. 8. Retrieved 2022-07-07.
- ^ "Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. October 23, 1982. p. 8. Retrieved 2022-07-07.
- ^ "Top Single Picks". Billboard. January 15, 1983. p. 51. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, New South Wales: Australian Chart Book. p. 137. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6177a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Don Henley – I Can't Stand Still" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Don Henley – I Can't Stand Still". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Don Henley – I Can't Stand Still". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Don Henley – I Can't Stand Still". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- ^ "Don Henley Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- ^ "American album certifications – Don Henley". Recording Industry Association of America.
External links
edit- I Can't Stand Still at Discogs (list of releases)