Like The Dude, I hate the f***ing Eagles, man! Ever since I was 9, the start of "Hotel California" can make my blood boil. Still, for a band I despise with a passion, they've got a handful of tunes I actually love, and all those were written by JD Souther. The singer-songwriter is most closely associated with The Eagles, but he also penned songs made famous by Bonnie Raitt and many others. Still, his solo career was nothing to sneeze at either.
With yet another reissue that only this label can do right, Omnivore Recordings have offered up JD Souther's third album, 1979's You're Only Lonely. This is probably Souther's most consistent record overall, and, judging from the skinny tie on the cover, the most hip long-player he ever made. Featuring his biggest solo hit, this one mines a vein of soulful and smart pop rock throughout its modest running time.
Beyond the perfect pop of the title cut, there's material that was a hit for Linda Ronstadt ("White Rhythm and Blues"), and fab country rock ("'Til The Bars Burn Down"), and even something like Texas swing ("The Moon Just Turned Blue", a hit for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band). All of this is rendered effortlessly, with Souther's talents being at their peak here. The down-tempo charms of the melodic title song, a Top Ten hit in 1979, are obvious, but JD had a way with this material that made it seem more modest and less ambitious than it would have in other hands. With appearances by everyone from Jackson Browne, to David Sanborn, to John Sebastian, You're Only Lonely is a record that stands as a sort of little classic of the soft rock years. Consistently radio-friendly, the whole album is highly recommended.
You're Only Lonely by JD Souther is out now via Omnivore Recordings.