OT J. D. Souther, writer of many Eagles and other artist's songs dead at 78.

[OKLionFan]

J.D. Souther: 12 Essential Songs

J.D. Souther's catalog included classic songs recorded by the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, and James Taylor, as well as his own solo projects

www.rollingstone.com

J. D. was quite the talent and contributed to the success of many artists of the 70's

 

[Obliviax]

Thanks. I had never heard of him, that I can remember. But his body of work is incredibly impressive.

 

[Op2]

I'll start with the negative. "Heartache Tonight" has to be one of the worst singles every by a then-highly touted band bringing out a new highly anticipated album.

That said, "Best Of My Love" and "James Dean" (which he also co-wrote but they don't mention it there) were good and "You're Only Lonely" was really good.

 

[PSU Soupy]

I'll start with the negative. "Heartache Tonight" has to be one of the worst singles every by a then-highly touted band bringing out a new highly anticipated album.

That said, "Best Of My Love" and "James Dean" (which he also co-wrote but they don't mention it there) were good and "You're Only Lonely" was really good.

You are so right.....Should have been "headache tonight" as the song gave me a headache. For a band that was so melodic, that song sounds so abrasive. He did have some good ones....Best of my Love maybe the best.

 

[knickslions]

 

[Delcolion915]

Fascinating man. In his day he was QUITE the womanizer. Dated Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell, was married multiple times. Started with Glenn Frey until David Geffen advised Glenn to join the Eagles JD to go solo. Lived right above Jackson Browne in that famous part of LA with all the folkies...

Personally I really loved "Her Town Too" which he wrote with Waddy Wachtel for James Taylor.

 

[Op2]

Fascinating man. In his day he was QUITE the womanizer. Dated Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell, was married multiple times. Started with Glenn Frey until David Geffen advised Glenn to join the Eagles JD to go solo. Lived right above Jackson Browne in that famous part of LA with all the folkies...

Personally I really loved "Her Town Too" which he wrote with Waddy Wachtel for James Taylor.

I've never heard "Her Town Too" but I recognize the name Waddy Wachtel. He wrote and worked with Warren Zevon.

 

[Delcolion915]

I've never heard "Her Town Too" but I recognize the name Waddy Wachtel. He wrote and worked with Warren Zevon.

He sure did. One of the greatest, and most underrated players in Rock history. Waddy played in Joe Walshs band in the early 80s, and also wrote "You're no good" for Linda Ronstadt and "Edge of 17" for Stevie Nicks.
Her Town Too, was a song that JD and JT wrote for the wife of producer Peter Asher, after there divorce in the early 80s, and how she was affected by losing friends that sided with him over the divorce....it's the kind of song and writing that, sadly, you just don't see and hear anymore. Like the way that JD helped Jackson Browne write "That Girl Could Sing", which was about the late Valerie Carter, who dated JD, Jackson, AND Steve Winwood, who ironically ALSO wrote a song about her called "Valerie".

As you can probably tell by now, I am a bit of a pop music historian 😂
'

 

[The Spin Meister]

He sure did. One of the greatest, and most underrated players in Rock history. Waddy played in Joe Walshs band in the early 80s, and also wrote "You're no good" for Linda Ronstadt and "Edge of 17" for Stevie Nicks.
Her Town Too, was a song that JD and JT wrote for the wife of producer Peter Asher, after there divorce in the early 80s, and how she was affected by losing friends that sided with him over the divorce....it's the kind of song and writing that, sadly, you just don't see and hear anymore. Like the way that JD helped Jackson Browne write "That Girl Could Sing", which was about the late Valerie Carter, who dated JD, Jackson, AND Steve Winwood, who ironically ALSO wrote a song about her called "Valerie".

As you can probably tell by now, I am a bit of a pop music historian 😂
'

Impressive knowledge. Learning the background of songs can totally change how you hear it. Sometimes the opposite of what I thought a song was about.

JD Souther was impressive. Had a couple solo hits but was far more a writer for others. Wrote several classics. RIP

 

[Delcolion915]

Impressive knowledge. Learning the background of songs can totally change how you hear it. Sometimes the opposite of what I thought a song was about.

JD Souther was impressive. Had a couple solo hits but was far more a writer for others. Wrote several classics. RIP

JD and Frey lived directly above Browne in LA, early in their careers before being signed to recording deals and making it....Glenn told a great story about Browne and how he learned to write better music: Glenn would be woken up in the morning hearing Jackson making tea and the whistle every few hours. After the whistle he would then hear the piano playing the exact same thing straight for a half hour, then the whistle, then a guitar playing a different exact same thing for another half hour, and on and on like that. Souther and Frey said they learned that in order to write great songs, they had to put in hard work, and repetition...

 

[ryoder1]

Did JD have anything to do with "Peaceful Easy Feeling"? Love that song!

 

[Delcolion915]

Did JD have anything to do with "Peaceful Easy Feeling"? Love that song!

No, but "Best of My Love" and "New Kid in Town," were both by JD

 

[The Spin Meister]

No, but "Best of My Love" and "New Kid in Town," were both by JD

Was New Kid about Joe Walsh joining the band? Came out on the album, IIRC

 

[Chickenman Testa]

He sure did. One of the greatest, and most underrated players in Rock history. Waddy played in Joe Walshs band in the early 80s, and also wrote "You're no good" for Linda Ronstadt and "Edge of 17" for Stevie Nicks.
Her Town Too, was a song that JD and JT wrote for the wife of producer Peter Asher, after there divorce in the early 80s, and how she was affected by losing friends that sided with him over the divorce....it's the kind of song and writing that, sadly, you just don't see and hear anymore. Like the way that JD helped Jackson Browne write "That Girl Could Sing", which was about the late Valerie Carter, who dated JD, Jackson, AND Steve Winwood, who ironically ALSO wrote a song about her called "Valerie".

As you can probably tell by now, I am a bit of a pop music historian 😂
'

Here’s Waddy with a stinging lead on my favorite Linda Ronstadt cover (of a Warren Zevon song). Once again, she makes a song hers and her backing band is, as usual, tight.

 

[Delcolion915]

Was New Kid about Joe Walsh joining the band? Came out on the album, IIRC

Actually, New Kid in Town was about politics, particularly California State senator( and the name is escaping me but think circa 76 or 77) candidates, and how the new guy was everyone's darling. I want to say Jerry Brown but I'm not 100 percent sure

 

[Delcolion915]

Here’s Waddy with a stinging lead on my favorite Linda Ronstadt cover (of a Warren Zevon song). Once again, she makes a song hers and her backing band is, as usual, tight.

View embedded media

That's a good clip chicken man, well done. Linda could literally sing just about any kind of style and make it amazing.

 

[Chickenman Testa]

That's a good clip chicken man, well done. Linda could literally sing just about any kind of style and make it amazing.

Not to mention. If you’re a man over about age 50 and didn’t once at least have a crush on Linda Ronstadt, you’re not straight.

What a goddess

 

[OKLionFan]

He also recorded two albums with Chris Hillman of the Byrds and Richie Furay of Poco. The band was creatively titled the Souther Hillman Furay band. Although a few cuts on the albums are ok, they never had much commercial success.

 

[Delcolion915]

He also recorded two albums with Chris Hillman of the Byrds and Richie Furay of Poco. The band was creatively titled the Souther Hillman Furay band. Although a few cuts on the albums are ok, they never had much commercial success.

They didn't break big but they were really a pretty good act. Their studio records were amazing. JD was a hidden gem for most of his career, I don't think David Geffen did a very good job with marketing him. As successful as Geffen was, he laid more than a few eggs. For every Jackson Browne and Joni Mitchell, he did a lousy job with John David Souther, Judee Sill, Ned Doheny, and Frankly he badly mismanaged Poco and Neil Young as well.

I actually just recalled that, JDs womanizer reputation was born of the fact that he dumped Joni Mitchell for Judee Sill, then dumped Sill for Linda, then promptly dumped Linda for Valerie Carter... 😂. He basically dated the entire female roster of recording artists of Electra/Asylum records in 2 years 😂

 

[YeOldeCup]

JD and Frey lived directly above Browne in LA, early in their careers before being signed to recording deals and making it....Glenn told a great story about Browne and how he learned to write better music: Glenn would be woken up in the morning hearing Jackson making tea and the whistle every few hours. After the whistle he would then hear the piano playing the exact same thing straight for a half hour, then the whistle, then a guitar playing a different exact same thing for another half hour, and on and on like that. Souther and Frey said they learned that in order to write great songs, they had to put in hard work, and repetition...

Yes -- the video documentary, "History of the Eagles" covers this very well. For those interested, it covers all of the phases the band passed through, including the subtractions and additions to the band.

 

[The Spin Meister]

He sure did. One of the greatest, and most underrated players in Rock history. Waddy played in Joe Walshs band in the early 80s, and also wrote "You're no good" for Linda Ronstadt and "Edge of 17" for Stevie Nicks.
Her Town Too, was a song that JD and JT wrote for the wife of producer Peter Asher, after there divorce in the early 80s, and how she was affected by losing friends that sided with him over the divorce....it's the kind of song and writing that, sadly, you just don't see and hear anymore. Like the way that JD helped Jackson Browne write "That Girl Could Sing", which was about the late Valerie Carter, who dated JD, Jackson, AND Steve Winwood, who ironically ALSO wrote a song about her called "Valerie".

As you can probably tell by now, I am a bit of a pop music historian 😂
'

Ever watch this podcast? This is on Leonard Cohen/Hellelujah but she references the Eagles. Have to see if she did one on them.

This is really good but missed a couple things.

 

[Kasparaitis]

Here’s Waddy with a stinging lead on my favorite Linda Ronstadt cover (of a Warren Zevon song). Once again, she makes a song hers and her backing band is, as usual, tight.

View embedded media

The two Linda Ronstadt songs on my playlist are Different Drum and Long, Long Time. I know she didn’t write her own songs but it is interesting to me the way she sings these two songs about the same subject matter but from opposite perspectives. Michael Nesmith of the Monkees wrote Different Drum.