J.D. Souther

In 1984, singer/songwriter JD Souther followed the chart-topping successes of "You're Only Lonely" and the James Taylor duet "Her Town Too" with HOME BY DAWN, an album that Rolling Stone declared his best, with songs that "rank right up there with his forlorn classics 'Run like a Thief' and 'Faithless Love.'"

And then, in 1985, after a brief tour in support of the album, JD Souther disappeared.

One of the principal architects of the Southern California country-rock sound, Souther famously played a key role in the formation of the Eagles and co-wrote their hits "Heartache Tonight," "Victim of Love," "New Kid In Town," and "Best of My Love," as well as writing Linda Ronstadt's classics "Faithless Love," "Simple Man, Simple Dream," and "Prisoner in Disguise."

A highly sought-after songwriter and session man, Souther also released four critically acclaimed solo albums -- "John David Souther," (1972) "Black Rose," (1976), "You're Only Lonely" (1979) and "Home By Dawn" (1984) -- and two albums as a member of The Souther Hillman Furay Band, the super group which united Souther with Poco's Richie Furay and the Byrds' Chris Hillman.

But in 1985, after countless hit records, Grammy nominations, American Music Awards, and gold and platinum albums, JD Souther decided to walk away from his solo career. According to Souther, "I wanted to be a better musician and songwriter. I wanted to just stay home, practice, read, and write."

Relocating to Nashville (after Northern California, New York, Japan, and Ireland for half a year), Souther wrote for and with artists as diverse as India.Arie, Brooks & Dunn, Jimmy Buffet, Glen Campbell, Joe Cocker, Crosby Stills & Nash, Diamond Rio, Dixie Chicks, Don Henley, Raul Malo, One Flew South, Roy Orbison, Bernadette Peters, Bonnie Raitt, George Strait, Brian Wilson, Trisha Yearwood, Warren Zevon, and most recently the newly re-formed Eagles, who chose Souther's protest song "How Long" as the debut single from their first studio album in twenty-eight years.

And now Souther returns with his first studio album in twenty-five: IF THE WORLD WAS YOU.

IF THE WORLD WAS YOU is both a bold step forward and a return to Souther's Amarillo, Texas roots, where the young multi-instrumentalist grew up listening closely to Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, and steeped in the improvisational sensibilities of John Coltrane, Thelonius Monk and Miles Davis as well as in the music of country and rock pioneers Hank Williams, Buddy Holly, and Roy Orbison, all of whose influences are evident.

Recorded live in the studio fronting a five-piece ensemble, two horns, piano, bass, and drums, Souther has crafted an inventive new musical setting for his characteristically playful and literate musings on life, love, and politics. The work of a musician at the height of his considerable powers, IF THE WORLD WAS YOU is whip-smart, adventurous, seductive, and shot through with the sublime longing that characterizes Souther's finest work. And his voice -- one of the most plaintive and soulful in rock 'n roll -- has never sounded so immediate and so powerful.

IF THE WORLD WAS YOU is the long awaited return of a master singer/songwriter as well as the birth of a new and relevant artist who's creating music that is absolutely essential and entirely his own.

Twenty-five years in the making, JD Souther's triumphant return with IF THE WORLD WAS YOU has most definitely been worth the wait.

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-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. A seemingly revitalized Souther released If the World Was You on Slow Curve Records in 2008. ~ Stacia Proefrock, All Music Guide