One of the guys around The Eagles…
While J.D. Souther may have made his biggest impact on the country-rock sound behind the scenes or in a supporting role to some of the bigger pop names of the ’70s, he had an impressive and critically acclaimed series of solo albums that have unfortunately all but disappeared from music fans’ radar.
Born in Detroit, Souther was raised in Amarillo, TX, which may help explain his stylistic roots in both country and rock music. He was in a band called John David and the Senders (also known as the Cinders) while in high school, later relocating to Los Angeles. He worked as a session musician, meeting Glenn Frey and eventually renting a house with him; the two were signed to Amos Records and recorded an album under the name Longbranch Pennywhistle. Souther’s connections with Frey would prove fruitful later, collaborating on some of the Eagles’ biggest hit songs like “Best of My Love,” “Heartache Tonight,” and “New Kid in Town.”
Previous to forming the Eagles, Frey had also played in Linda Ronstadt’s band; their collaboration would lead to a long-term working partnership between Souther and Ronstadt. He produced her 1973 album Don’t Cry Now and performed background vocals on it. Many of Ronstadt’s albums would feature Souther’s songs from then on, and he often performed as a vocalist on them as well.
David Geffen encouraged Souther to form the Souther Hillman and Furay Band with Chris Hillman and Ritchie Furay. The trio would record two albums before disbanding in 1975. Souther’s country-rock style was featured on four critically acclaimed — but not particularly commercially successful — solo albums, 1972’s John David Souther, 1976’s Black Rose, 1979’s You’re Only Lonely, and 1984’s Home by Dawn. Frequent label changes plagued Souther, with each new company struggling to promote his music.
Between albums, he also worked as a session player with Don Henley and Danny Kortchmar and collaborated with James Taylor on his song “Her Town Too,” which appeared on Taylor’s 1981 album. The late ’80s brought a bit of a career change for Souther as he garnered acting roles for film and television. He had a recurring role on the television series thirtysomething, as well as roles in two independent films, To Cross the Rubicon and How to Make the Cruelest Month.
Words from allmusic.com
Discography
Tenderness
Sony Music 2015
Tracks: Come What May, Something In The Dark, This House, Let´s Take A Walk, Dance Real Slow, Show Me What You Mean, Horses In Blue, Need Somebody & Downtown (Before The War)
Musicians on the Tenderness album: John David Souther and others.
John David Souther - S.T. "Reissue"
Omnivore Recording 2016
Tracks: The Fast One, Run Like A Thief, Jesus In 3/4 Time, Kite Woman, Some People Call It Music, White Wing, It´s The Same, How Long, Out To Sea, Lullaby, Kite Woman (Alternate Version), Jesus In 3/4 Time (Demo), The Fast One (Demo), Run Like A Thief (Demo), How Long (Demo), One In The Middle (Demo) & Silver Blue (Demo).
Musicians on the John David Souther album: John David Souther, Ned Doheny, Glenn Frey, Bryan Garofalo, Gary Mallaber, Gib Guilbeau, David Jackson, Mike Bowden, Mickey McGee, Joel Tepp, John Barbata & Wayne Perkins.
Midnight In Tokyo
2012 eOne Entertainment
Tracks: A Chorus Of Your Own, Bye Bye Blackbird, In My Arms Tonight, Journey Down The Nile, Do Nothin´Till You Hear From Me & The Secret Handshake Of Fate.
Musicians on the Midnight In Tokyo album: John David Souther and others.
Natural History "Japanese Version"
JVC Records 2011
Tracks: Go Ahead and Rain, Faithless Love, You’re Only Lonely, The Sad Café, Silver Blue, New Kid in Town, I’ll Take Care of You, Little Victories, Prisoner in Disguise, Best of My Love, I'll Be Here at Closing, How Long & Heartache Tonight.
Musicians on the Natural History album: J.D. Souther and others.
Natural History
JVC Records 2011
Tracks: Go Ahead and Rain, Faithless Love, You’re Only Lonely, The Sad Café, Silver Blue, New Kid in Town, I’ll Take Care of You, Little Victories, Prisoner in Disguise, Best of My Love & I'll Be Here at Closing.
Musicians on the Natural History album: J.D. Souther and others.
Rain
Slow Curve Records 2009
Tracks: Rain, A Chorus Of Your Own, Journey Down The Nile, New Kid In Town, Silver Blue & House Of Pride.
Musicians on the Rain album: J.D. Souther, Jeff Coffin, Rod McGaha, Chris Walters, Jim Mayer & Jim White.
If The World Was You
Slow Curve Records 2008
Tracks: I´ll Be Here A Closing Time, House Of Pride, Journey Down The Mile, One More Night (Killing Spree), In My Arms Tonight, Rain, A Chorus Of My Own, The Border Guard, Brown (Osaka Story), Come On Up & The Secret Handshake Of Fate.
Musicians on the If The World Was You album: J.D. Souther, Dan Immel, Jim Mayer, Chris Waters, Jim White, Bela Fleck, Jeff Coffin, Rod McGaha, Marie Boderon, Sylvia Elena Garcia & Marisol LaBoy.
Border Town
Union Square Music 2007
Tracks: White Wing, How Long, The Fast One, Jesus In 3/4 Time, Pretty Goodbyes, Border Town, Somebody Must Be Wrong, Trouble In Paradise, Faithless Love, Black Rose, If You Have Crying Eyes, Silver Blue, You´re Only Lonely, `Til The Bars Burn Down, Say You Will, Go Ahead And Rain, I´ll Take Care Of You & All I Want.
Musicians on the Border Town album: J.D. Souther, Linda Ronstadt, Chris Hillman, Richie Furay, Glenn Frey and others.
Home By Dawn
Warner Bros 1984
Tracks: Home By Dawn, Go Ahead And Rain, Say You Will, I´ll Take Care Of You, All For You, Night, Don´t Know What I´m Gonna Do, Bad News Travels Fast & All I Want.
Musicians on the Home By Dawn album: J.D. Souther, Don Henley, Linda Ronstadt, Timothy B. Schmit, Waddy Wachtel, Billy Walker, Vince Melamed, Josh Leo, David Hungate, Randy McCormick & Steve Goldstein.
You´re Only Lonely
Columbia Records 1979
Tracks: You´re Only Lonely, If You Dont Want My Love, The Last In Love, White Rhythm And Blues, ´Til The Bars Burn Down, The Moon Just Turned Blue, Songs Of Love, Fifteen Bucks & Trouble In Paradise.
Musicians on the You´re Only Lonely album: John David Souther, Waddy Wachtel, Don Grolnick, Kenny Edwards, Rick Marotta, Danny Kortchmar, David Sanborn, Dan Dugmore, Jorge Calderon, Phil Everly, Jai Winding, Mike Botts, Don Felder, Fred Tackett, John Sebastian & Tom Scott.
Black Rose
Elektra Records 1976
Tracks: Banging My Head Against The Moon, If You Have Crying Eyes, Your Turn Now, Faithless Love, Baby Come Home, Simple Man Simple Dream, Silver Blue, Midnight Prowl, Doors Swing Open & Black Rose.
Musicians on the Black Rose album: John David Souther, Danny Kortchmar, Waddy Wachtel, Paul Stallworth, Jim Keltner, David Crosby, Art Garfunkel, Andrew Gold, Glenn Frey, Kenny Edwards, Russell Kunkel, Linda Ronstadt, Peter Asher, Charles Veal, Robert Dubow, Haim Shtrum, John Wittenberg, David Campell, Dennis Karmazyn, Mike Boots, James Bond, Don Menza, Earl Dumler, David Duke, Joe Walsh, Kathleen Lenski, Sheldon Sanov, James Dunham, Pamela Goldsmith, Ronald Cooper, Harry Shlutz, Stanley Clarke, Vincent De Rosa, Roy Poper, Donald Byrd, Lowell George, Chuck Domanico, John Guerin & Ned Doheny.
John David Souther
Elektra Records 1972
Tracks: The Fast One, Run Like A Thief, Jesus In 3/4 Time, Kite Woman, Some People Call It Music, White Wing, It´s The Same, How Long, Out To Sea & Lullaby.
Musicians on the John David Souther album: John David Souther, Ned Doheny, Glenn Frey, Bryan Garofalo, Gary Mallaber, Gib Guilbeau, David Jackson, Mike Bowden, Mickey McGee, Joel Tepp, John Barbata & Wayne Perkins.