Dirty Laundry - Don Henley (1983) 8/13/23

Don Henley's first big solo hit. 1983's "Dirty Laundry" (from the album "I Can't Stand Still," is both a condemnation of the mass media sensationalism of the '80s, and WAY ahead of its time, when you consider how much it has gotten worse in the past 40 years.

It was originally intended to be a response to the over-the-top coverage of the deaths of John Belushi and Natalie Wood, but also a blatant knock on the coverage of Don's own problems with the law. (He was arrested for contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and possession of cocaine and Quaaludes, on which the underaged prostitute overdosed and died).

Ugly stuff, for sure...but Don turned it into a "Great Song" simply by pointing out the inequity and sensationalism of celebrity coverage. He was right then, and right now...more than ever.

The song itself featured two of his Eagles bandmates: Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmidt, as well as Steve Lukather and Jeff Procaro of Toto.

"Dirty Laundry" was a #1 hit on Billboard's Top Rock Tracks Chart. and it reached #3 on the Hot 100, selling well over a million copies. Elsewhere, it went to #1 in Canada, and #2 in South Africa.

"Dirty Laundry" by Don Henley: A "Great Song" of 1983... 2023...and most likely 2083. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwgJgTL5JmE

Tomorrow: Speaking of Scandals...