Don Henley
Album: Cass Country
Label: Capitol
Tracks: 16
Website: http://www.donhenley.com/

Don Henley can rightly claim to be one of the true icons of popular music through his adventures with The Eagles and his successful solo career.

Cass County is his first solo album in 15 years and it is well worth waiting for. It is a mix of country, blues rock and a few other types of music thrown in all overlaid with that wonderful gritty voice. Arguably it is primarily a visit back to his country roots and it is no surprise to discover that the album was mainly recorded in the home of country music, Nashville. A host of guests appear with Don including Merle Haggard, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood, Jamey Johnson, Alison Krauss, Vince Gill and Dolly Parton and somewhat surprisingly, Mick Jagger. A veritable Pot Pourri of artists.

It must now seem a lifetime ago to Don when he looks back to the days of the birth of The Eagles and his time spent with such artists as Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell and of course his partner in music, Glenn Frey, with whom Don formed part of the backing band for Linda Ronstadt. I bet they have some stories to tell. He is now however a more sedate musician, a dedicated family man and a world renowned ecologist. What has not changed is his ability to produce superb music with passionate lyrics.

There are some great tracks on this new album but whether or not they come up to the standard of some of Don's earlier recordings such as "The Age of Innocence" and "New York Minute" is open to debate. What is not in doubt however is the quality of that fabulous voice! Whether it is being used on a rock number such as "Where I Am Now" the last track on the album in which he sums up his life by repeating the title with the addition of the words "I Like….." or a slow number, the effect is always mesmerising. The opening track "Bramble Rose" is one such slow song and includes Mick Jagger. That was a bit of a shock to this reviewer.

If you are an Eagles fan, the third track "No Thank You" will sound familiar. It has that Eagles feel to it especially on the guitar riffs. A number of other tracks also have that unique classic Eagles sound.

It is almost impossible to listen to Don without thinking about The Eagles but it should not be forgotten that he has had a very successful solo career. Glenn Frey recently brought out an album of standards which was also very good but for me it is the Don Henley influence that made the band such a stand out act.

Don's duet with Dolly Parton is not something I would have ever anticipated hearing but their voices are surprisingly harmonious and well balanced. "Train In The Distance" is a lovely song of hope and aspirations. "Waiting Tables" is a tale of disillusionment and shattered dreams and possibly my favourite track on the album. Emotional and heartfelt!

I am both a Don Henley and an Eagles fan; I have seen them live twice, so this is an absolutely ideal album for me as it will be for anyone who loves classy music and outstanding storytelling. I could happily listen to his voice all day without getting bored with it.

In a recent interview, Don stated that he did not think his voice would last much longer. So if this is his final solo album, bearing in mind the last one was produced one and a half decades ago, he has left a truly marvellous musical legacy.

Rory Stanbridge