J.D. Souther

J.D. (for John David) Souther was never a front-runner during the peak of the L.A. singer/songwriter boom of the '70s and '80s, but he was never far from those who were. His songwriting for one-time lover Linda Ronstadt and for the Eagles, which evolved out of Ronstadt's backing band, provided them both with some fine material (including the Eagles' "Heartache Tonight," "Best of My Love," and "New Kid in Town"), and as one-third of the underrated Souther-Hillman-Furay Band with ex-Poco frontman Richie Furay and original Byrds member Chris Hillman, he was briefly in the spotlight as a performer. Souther also recorded four solo albums, two of which charted but didn't really establish him as a major force, but until now his representation on CD has been slim. This British compilation draws from all four of those solos and Souther-Hillman-Furay, and reveals Souther to be a smart craftsman of up-tempo country-rock and ballads. "If You Have Crying Eyes," a duet with Ronstadt, is typical, driven by a shimmering acoustic guitar, Souther's plaintive lead vocals, the pair's close harmonies, and tight backing from an orchestra's worth of support musicians. The title track, by the SHF band, is a spirited tune from 1974 filled out by pedal steel guitar and Joe Lala's crisp percussion, and "You're Only Lonely," Souther's best known solo song, pays a respectful tribute to his fellow Texan Roy Orbison without really mimicking him. ~ Jeff Tamarkin, All Music Guide