"Dirty Laundry" is a song written by Don Henley and Danny Kortchmar from Henley's debut solo studio album I Can't Stand Still, (1982). The song reached 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.
| "Dirty Laundry" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Don Henley | ||||
| from the album I Can't Stand Still | ||||
| B-side | "Lilah" | |||
| Released | October 12, 1982 | |||
| Recorded | 1982 | |||
| Genre | Synth-rock, synth-funk, new wave | |||
| 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 | ||||
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 a million copies in the United States.[2]
History
editThe song is about the callousness of network television 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". 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 a 16-year-old girl overdosed at his Los Angeles home.[3] The "bubbleheaded bleach blonde" mentioned in the song was rumored to have been Christine Lundstedt (Christine Lund) of KABC-TV in Los Angeles, but Henley has categorically denied this. [4]
Among the musicians on the record were Timothy B. Schmit and Joe Walsh, two of Henley's bandmates of 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.[4] The sleeve notes also mention musicians George Gruel, Roger Linn and Steve Porcaro.[5]
Although an official music video was never made, Global News produced a parody video in 1985 (credited to the "News Brothers", all Global News reporters) featuring the song.[6][7][8]
Versions
editThe original vinyl LP version is a slightly different mix than the single version, which is the version commonly released on CD. They run about the same duration. There is also a German 7" single with a unique 4:40 edit.
Among the differences in the single version are added keyboards on the intro, no teletype noises at 1:32 and 3:29, a slightly longer delay on the vocal echo throughout the song, a slightly different vocal take on the line "you don't really want to know just how far it's gone" at 3:00, removed or quieted guitar chord on the down beats during the verses at 1:57–2:14 and 2:55–3:13, and a differently panned and slightly louder telephone ringer noise at 3:36 & 5:17–end.
Personnel
edit- Don Henley – lead vocals, backing vocals
- Steve Porcaro – keyboards, special keyboard effects
- Roger Linn – Linn LM-1 (credited with "special effects")[9]
- 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
edit
Weekly chartsedit
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Year-end chartsedit
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Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[15] | Gold | 1,000,000^ |
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^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ Zimmerman, Lee (July 22, 2011). "Airing Don Henley's "Dirty Laundry" on His 64th Birthday". New Times Broward-Palm Beach. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Sean O'Shea (2019-11-18). "Paul Dalby, 'debonair' Global News journalist, dead at 73". Global News.
- ^ Brian Rolli (2022-10-22). "When Don Henley Waged War on the Media With 'Dirty Laundry'". Ultimate Classic Rock.
- ^ Don Henley - Dirty Laundry (Global News Parody) on YouTube
- ^ "Synth icons: Linn Electronics Inc LM-1 Drum Computer". musicradar.com. 25 April 2014. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
- ^ 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. Archived from the original on 2012-09-21. Retrieved 2015-07-08.
- ^ "Talent Almanac 1984: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 95, no. 52. December 24, 1983. p. TA-18.
- ^ "American single certifications – Don Henley – Dirty Laundry". Recording Industry Association of America.