Longbranch Pennywhistle "Longbranch Pennywhistle" (Amos Records, 1969) (LP)
A pre-Eagles Glenn Frey and songwriter John David Souther formed this late-'60s duo, playing gigs in the nascent SoCal country-rock scene... Backing them was a ton of top talent such as guitarist James Burton, steel player Buddy Emmons, fiddler Doug Kershaw and newcomer Ry Cooder... I haven't heard this one yet, but I sure am curious...
J. D. Souther "John David Souther" (Asylum Records, 1972)
(Produced by J.D. Souther & Fred Catero)
Souther-Hillman-Furay Band "The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band" (A&M Records, 1974)
(Produced by Bill Cooper & Richard Podolor)
One of those 'Seventies albums you used to see in the used bins all the time, but probably never bothered to check out... This all-star country-rock ensemble featured JD Souther along with guitarist Richie Furay (from Buffalo Springfield and Poco), an un-Byrds-ed Chris Hillman, steel player Al Perkins, and other studio players of the era. Given their mellow-rock pedigrees, the blaring, desperate-for-a-hit opening number, "Fallin' In Love," might seem a little jarring, but right away the sound softens and gets more acoustic. This is okay and definitely has its moments, but at its core, it's kind of what you'd expect -- super-professional, super-slick, treble-heavy and maybe a little lacking in heart. The cynical among us might tut-tut at songs like "Pretty Goodbyes" and "The Heartbreaker" and say, oh man they're just ripping off the Eagles! but of course that's because JD Souther helped sculpt that sound in the first place. These guys were all pioneers and progenitors of the LA soft-rock/country-rock sound, so if you dig that 'Seventies vibe, you'll probably find plenty to enjoy here. But it's equally easy to view this group as a cautionary tale, or how even the most talented musicians could be held captive to the antiseptic studio system their successes helped create. There's a predictable blandness and tedium in more than a few of these tunes.
Souther-Hillman-Furay Band "Trouble In Paradise" (A&M Records, 1975) (LP)
(Produced by Tom Dowd)
More of the same. The label even tried sub-branding these guys as the "SHF Band," but that wasn't really gonna help... Keyboard player Paul Harris and steel guru Al Perkins were still on board though several of the other LA scene hired guns had moved on to other equally soulless projects. I dunno, I try not to be reflexively cynical about most things in life, but it's hard not to see records like this as mere "product," just like the labels did at the time. I guess it was a paycheck.
J. D. Souther "Black Rose" (Asylum Records, 1976)
J. D. Souther "You're Only Lonely" (Columbia Records, 1979) (LP)
(Produced by Loyd Clifft, Lee Herschberg & J. D. Souther)
Sweet stuff! Of his records, this may be the best... Most of the tracks on here are favorites in my repertoire, particularly the upbeat "The Moon Just Turned Blue" and the mopey, broken-love ballad, "If You Don't Want My Love," which is one of the rare, masterful triumphs of cheesy overproduction -- whiteboy soul packed with enthusiasm and immediacy. Oh, yeah -- the title track also hit the Top Ten Pop charts... That's why you used to see so many copies of it floating around on vinyl. Great record, still stands up.
J. D. Souther "Home By Dawn" (Warner Brothers, 1984)
J. D. Souther "If The World Was You" (MRI Records, 2008)
Souther returns to the studio after a prolonged hiatus, and longtime fans may find this record pretty satisfying... Some of the songs are willfully goofy and indulgent, but mostly his sense of mournful romanticism and his pop craftsmanship are intact. Latin American and Caribbean/New Orleans motifs are woven into many of the songs... Nothing on here really spoke to me, but it's certainly in line with his earlier work, and worth a spin if you're a Souther devotee.
J. D. Souther "Natural History" (Entertainment One, 2011)
One of Linda Ronstadt's key songwriters and the composer of several huge hits by The Eagles, songwriter John David Souther was an early innovator in LA's slick, studio-oriented country-rock scene. Souther had a long songwriting partnership with Glen Frey, co-creating Eagles hits such as "Best Of My Love," "Heartache Tonight," and "New Kid In Town." He sang several duets with Ronstadt, and sang with James Taylor on the hit single, "Her Town Too." Souther's biggest success as a solo artist came with in 1979 with the Top Ten hit, "When You're Only Lonely." Generally recognized as one of the great craftsmen of the '70s pop scene, Souther helped define the sleek, silky style of the Southern California sound. Here's a quick look at his work...
