There were a lot of secret musical weapons in the 1970s to help make that Southern California sound so special. Some of these artists weren’t always the headliners, weren’t always members of a particular band, but sometimes knew what the last thing was that was needed to make a song a hit. Singer/songwriter JD Souther is one of those people.
By 1979, JD Souther had already written hits for the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, and James Taylor, while also delivering two albums for David Geffen’s Asylum Records. For his debut on Columbia Records, he assembled an A-list band – Waddy Wachtel on guitar, Don Grolnick on piano, Kenny Edwards on bass, and Rick Marotta on drums, with Danny “Kootch” Kortchmar also contributing on guitar, along with David Sanborn on alto saxophone, and Dan Dugmore on pedal steel and other guitars. The album also featured guest appearances from Tom Scott, John Sebastian, Jackson Browne, Don Henley, and other heavyweights. The result was You’re Only Lonely, JD Souther’s masterpiece.
JD Souther, You're Only Lonely, album cover.
Now, the nine-track LP returns for the first time in 35 years, and the CD and digital versions add two previously-unissued bonus tracks from the album’s sessions. New liner notes from Joe Marchese of online music site The Second Disc feature an interview with JD outlining the recording of the album, the all-star players, and why it is an important record to him and the fans who have supported it for all these years. It’s another impressive addition to the Omnivore Recordings string of re-releases that cast new light on long-loved artists.
You’re Only Lonely appeared at the end of 1979 and the title track raced to the top of the charts. “You’re Only Lonely” spent five weeks at Number 1 on the Adult Contemporary charts and was a Number 7 pop hit. The album itself was a critical success, hitting Number 41 on the LP charts. Billboard praised the LP as a “predominantly mellow, atmospheric collection of tunes…Souther’s guitar playing takes a backseat to his writing, with many of the tunes here among his best.” “You’re Only Lonely” and “Heartache Tonight” (co-written by JD, Glenn Frey, Don Felder, and Bob Seger) were both in the top 10 the same week. It was a good time to be JD Souther.
You’re Only Lonely contains JD’s versions of tracks previously recorded by Linda Ronstadt (“White Rhythm And Blues” from Living In The USA), Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (“The Moon Turned Blue” from Dream) and Nicolette Larson (“The Last In Love” from her self-titled debut album), plus “Trouble In Paradise,” the title track of the second Souther-Hillman-Furay Band album.
Copper caught up with JD in advance of his fall tour, which will reunite him with longtime collaborator Karla Bonoff. We talked about the making of this record, the magic the musicians brought to the music, and where he is headed next on his remarkable musical journey.
Ray Chelstowski: You had quite a line-up of musicians on this record, including Waddy and Kooch. It was a wealth of talent.
JD Souther: Both of those guys played on every album I’ve ever made. The only person who performed on the record who I hadn’t met before was Phil Everly [of the Everly Brothers]. I was trying to do the harmony parts on “White Rhythm and Blues” and make it sound just like the Everly Brothers, and Waddy said, “why don’t you call him? He lives right near here.” Waddy and Warren Zevon had been the band leaders for the last Everly Brothers tour. Wad got me on the phone with him and I didn’t know what to say. He had been one of my heroes since I was 13 years old. I told we were making a record and asked if he would come down and sing harmony with me. He said, “OK. When?” I heard Waddy say in the background, “tell him, tonight.” So, I said, “I hope this isn’t overstepping but could you come over tonight?” He said “sure, we’re just finishing up dinner. We’ll see you in about an hour.“
RC: Was there anyone that you wanted to have on the record that couldn’t make it work with their schedule?
JDS: No one said “no.” Most of them were people I hung out with anyway. In those days communicating with players was really easy. You might just be having dinner with a bunch of them and invite them to the studio. I knew lot of great players.
RC: It looks like everyone in the band was given a writing credit on the song “Fifteen Bucks.”
JDS: Well, the reason everyone in the band is named as a writer on that songs is because we were making it all up on the spot. We had been talking about Ike Turner and how he would fine some of his band members if they messed up on stage, and flash one of his hands three times which meant you were going to have that much pulled out of your check. Kenny Edwards and I were laughing about it and when I yelled it at the band they yelled it back. And I just started making stuff up and played for about 20 minutes or so and everybody liked it. So, I made sure everyone was a writer on it, which is unusual.
RC: “You’re Only Lonely” has been covered by a wide variety of acts. Maybe the most ambitious version is by the Taiwanese girl group S.H.E.
JDS: I love that record. It’s the greatest. It’s fascinating, and there’s even another Taiwanese version done by a guy. I think there are about 15 to 20 different covers of this record. It’s the kind of song that lends itself to it. It was nominated for a Grammy and I didn’t even think it was the kind of song that could be a single.
RC: It’s funny that both you and Glenn Frey were born in Detroit but it took Los Angeles to bring you together.
JDS: Isn’t that something?! It is actually incredible. I know all of these great artists from Michigan who I met somewhere in the West. Glenn and I not only share a birthplace, but our birthdates in November are only a few days apart. We met because Glenn came to California to see his girlfriend. I was already dating his girlfriend’s sister. So, the four of us were together a lot. The girls went home to Detroit for Christmas. Glenn and I had no money and lived a few blocks from Hughes Market in Hollywood. We stole a Christmas tree from the lot in the back of Hughes Market. We had no decorations for it, and our Christmas became us with this two-foot tree, playing the Beatles “White Album,” and getting completely plastered. We had a lot more fun when we were broke.
RC: You’re considered to be a prolific writer but your studio work is limited. With your new relationship with Omnivore Recordings, are there any projects on the horizon that may present new material?
JDS: There’s less than you think. I’m not as prolific as I’d like to be. I have over 50 masters in my storage unit, which is more than I had thought I had. What Omnivore wants to do is a package with all of the albums, with a book and pictures. Kind of a greatest hits on steroids. There’s a real market for this and I’m thrilled about that.
You’re Only Lonely Track List:
1. You’re Only Lonely2. If You Don’t Want My Love
3. The Last In Love
4. White Rhythm And Blues
5. ’Til The Bars Burn Down
6. The Moon Just Turned Blue
7. Songs Of Love
8. Fifteen Bucks
9. Trouble In Paradise
10. Ever Faithful Woman [Bonus Track]
11. Bad News Travels Fast (Alternate Take) [Bonus Track]
Header image of JD Souther courtesy of Jim Shea.
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