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J. D. SOUTHER

“YOU’RE ONLY LONELY”

(J. D. SOUTHER)

Columbia 11079

No. 7   December 15, 1979

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John David Souther was born in Detroit but raised amid the tumbleweeds in Amarillo, Texas.  In the late

’60s, J. D. became fast friends with a fellow Motor City man named Glenn Frey.  Both had independently

trekked to Los Angeles to pick and sing.  As the Long­ Branch Pennywhistle, the duo recorded an album for

Amos Records in 1970.  In attendance on that session were session-playing legends:  James Burton, Ry

Cood­er, Larry Knechtel, and Doug Kershaw.

Soon after, Frey wandered off to become a found­ing member of the legendary Eagles.  J. D., meanwhile,

dashed off tunes, a number of which were recorded by sometime girlfriend Linda Ronstadt and Bonnie

Raitt.  In 1972, Asylum, Linda’s label, took an interest in Souther and released a self-titled album.  Critics

liked the disk, and commented that the boy showed much promise.

In 1974, David Geffen, Asylum’s main man, applied his negotiating abilities to creating a country-rock

supergroup along the lines of Crosby, Stills & Nash.  RICHIE FURAY had helped form Poco and had

played with BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD.  Chris Hillman had been in the Byrds, the Flying Burrito Brothers,

and Stephen Stills’s Manassas.  The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band’s self-titled album was a big seller, as

was Furay’s fluffy “Fallin’ in Love” (#27, 1974).  But after a disappointing second album, the group called

it quits in 1976.

Over the years, J. D. has continued to record coolly received albums.  The Orbison-esque title tune from

his third LP, You’re Only Lonely, was a monster mover, but follow-ups have failed to sustain the Texan’s

career.  The Eagles, however, have had hits with versions of his “Best of My Love,” “New Kid in Town,”

and “Heartache Tonight.”  As a session singer, Souther has backed up KARLA BONOFF, Jackson Browne,

Christopher Cross, Joni Mitchell, RANDY NEWMAN, the Outlaws, and WAR­REN ZEVON to name a few.

“Her Town Too,” a duet with James Taylor, hit all the right notes and heights (#11,1981). Souther also

made acting appearances on the “Thirtysomething” TV series.