Dirty Laundry (Don Henley song)

"Dirty Laundry" is a song written by Don Henley and Danny Kortchmar, from Henley's Gold-plus 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. Lyrically, the song describes mass media sensationalism and yellow journalism.

For other uses, see Dirty Laundry (disambiguation).
"Dirty Laundry"
Single by Don Henley
from the album I Can't Stand Still
B-side"Lilah"
ReleasedOctober 12, 1982
Recorded1982
Genre
Length5:36
LabelAsylum
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Don Henley singles chronology
"Johnny Can't Read"
(1982)		 "Dirty Laundry"
(1982)		 "I Can't Stand Still"
(1982)
Audio sample
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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 of 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] Jeff Porcaro (also of Toto) plays the drums on this track. 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.

In the Eagles' Farewell 1 Tour-Live from Melbourne concert DVD, Henley (speaking for the band) dedicated this song "to Mr. Rupert Murdoch"; in many live performances, this dedication remains, but sometimes is changed "to Mr. Bill O'Reilly". During the 1995 part of the Hell Freezes Over tour, Henley changed "tell you about the plane crash" to "tell you about the OJ", referencing the ongoing OJ Simpson trial. The song was performed on the Eagles' Long Road Out of Eden tour in 2008-2012 as well as the band's History of the Eagles tour. During the song, a background video shows, among other things, clips from The O'Reilly Factor, Glenn Beck, and The Jerry Springer Show.

Chart performance

Cover versions
"Dirty Laundry"
Single by Nickelback
ReleasedAugust 19, 2016 (2016-08-19)
Recorded2016
Genre
Length3:58
LabelRepublic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Nickelback
Nickelback singles chronology
"Get 'Em Up"
(2015)		 "Dirty Laundry"
(2016)		 "Feed the Machine"
(2017)

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

References
  1. Sleeve notes to Dirty Laundry in Actual Miles CD of 1995.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 282.
  3. "Dirty Laundry by Don Henley Songfacts". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 2014-05-10.
  4. Sleeve notes to Dirty Laundry in the Actual Miles CD of 1995.
  5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  6. "Top 100 1983-01-15". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
  7. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2016-08-11. Retrieved 2017-03-27.
  8. "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1982". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2015-07-08.
  9. "Talent Almanac 1984: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 95 no. 52. December 24, 1983. p. TA-18.
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