Building the Perfect Beast is the second solo studio album by American rock singer Don Henley, released on November 19, 1984, by Geffen Records. A commercial and critical success, it is generally regarded as the culmination of the smoother, more adult-oriented sound of Henley's solo work.

As with his debut solo studio album I Can't Stand Still (1982), Henley collaborated primarily with guitarist Danny Kortchmar, along with members of the then current line-up of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, who contributed to the writing of the songs: guitarist Mike Campbell, keyboardist Benmont Tench and drummer Stan Lynch, the last of whom would later collaborate with Henley on composing the Eagles' song "Learn to Be Still", which was released on their second live album Hell Freezes Over (1994). The album also features contributions from Toto's keyboardists Steve Porcaro and David Paich, Fleetwood Mac's lead guitarist and co-lead vocalist, Lindsey Buckingham, the Go-Go's lead vocalist Belinda Carlisle, Scandal's lead vocalist Patty Smyth, the Motels' lead vocalist Martha Davies, one half of Sam & Dave, Sam Moore, Eagles' associate JD Souther and features contributions from Randy Newman, Michael Boddicker, Jim Keltner, Waddy Wachtel, Pino Palladino, Charlie Sexton, and Ian Wallace.

The album reached No. 13 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and was certified 3× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album spawned four singles which all reached the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, including "The Boys of Summer", which would become one of Henley's most popular songs and win him numerous awards, including a Grammy Award and four MTV Video Music Awards.

=== Musicians ===
Don Henley – lead vocals, harmony vocals (2, 5, 7, 11) drums (2–4, 7, 8), keyboards (5), percussion (5, 6, 10), synthesizers (6), chant voices (6), synthesizer arrangements (9)
Danny Kortchmar – synthesizers (1, 3, 6), guitars (1–7, 9–11), horns (3), organ (4), Omnichord (4), percussion (6, 10, 11), chant voices (6), guitar synthesizer solo (9), horn solo (9), synthesizer arrangements (9), keyboards (10), bass (10), arrangements (11)
Mike Campbell – synthesizers (1), guitars (1), percussion (1)
Steve Porcaro – synthesizers (1, 4), programming (7)
Benmont Tench – keyboards (2, 5), acoustic piano (8), synthesizers (9), synthesizer arrangements (9)
David Paich – acoustic piano (4), synthesizers (7, 8), synthesizer arrangements (8), acoustic piano solo (9)
Michael Boddicker – programming (6), sequencing (6), synthesizers (8, 9), E-mu Emulator (9), synthesizer arrangements (9)
Albhy Galuten – Synclavier (6)
Randy Newman – synthesizers (8), synthesizer arrangements (8, 9)
Bill Cuomo – synthesizers (11), programming (11), percussion (11)
Lindsey Buckingham – guitars (2), harmony vocals (2)
Charlie Sexton – guitars (3)
Larry Klein – bass (1)
Pino Palladino – bass (2, 9, 11)
Tim Drummond – bass (4, 5)
Ian Wallace – drums (5)
Kevin McCormick – African drums (6)
Jim Keltner – additional drums (8)
Maren Jensen – intro and interlude composer (8)
Jerry Hey – horn arrangements (9)
Belinda Carlisle – harmony vocals (3)
Sam Moore – harmony vocals (4)
Martha Davis – chant voices (6), harmony vocals (7)
Michael O'Donahue – chant voices (6)
Carla Olson – chant voices (6)
Patty Smyth – chant voices (6), harmony vocals (6, 7, 9, 11)
JD Souther – chant voices (6)
Waddy Wachtel – chant voices (6)
Marie-Pascale Elfman – the French Girls ensemble (10)
Dominique Mancinelli – the French Girls ensemble (10)

=== Technical ===
Producers – Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar and Greg Ladanyi (all tracks); Mike Campbell (Track 1).
Recorded and mixed by Niko Bolas and Greg Ladanyi
Additional engineers – Niko Bolas, Richard Bosworth and Tom Knox.
Assistant engineers – Richard Bosworth, Dan Garcia, David Schober and Duane Seykora.
Horns on track 9 recorded by Allen Sides, assisted by Mark Ettel.
Mastered by Mike Reese and Doug Sax at The Mastering Lab (Hollywood, California).
Graphic coordinator – Jeri McManus
Art direction – Don Henley, Maren Jensen and Jeri McManus.
Photography – Herb Ritts