It Used to Be His Town - RIP JD Souther

Longtime Eagles collaborator - one of those musicians thick in the Troubador/IrvingAzoff nexis - the duet with James Taylor, wrote songs for Linda Rondstadt who had Frey and Henley backing for a bit....Hell of a songwriter.

 

This one has always gotten to me.

 

You’re Only Lonely also is a great song.RIP

 

Fun Fact: Irving Azoff's first client was REO Speedwagon who he took on in college. His second, Dan Fogelberg whom he moved out to LA with before meeting up with the Eagles.

 

RIP to a tremendous songwriter and producer. Had a massive string of collaborative hits with the Eagles, which really overshadowed his own singing career.

"James Dean" is perhaps the best Eagles song that never made the charts, probably because of the line, "You bought it sight unseen." (Until now, didn't know Jackson Browne did most of the songwriting.)

But "Best of My Love," "New Kid in Town," "Heartache Tonight," and "Victim of Love" were killer tracks. Then to think he also dated (and produced) Linda Ronstadt. And worked with James Taylor, Christopher Cross, Dan Fogelberg and Clannad. And who knows who else.

Fairly recently, I thought I heard him do a guest appearance on one of the SiriusXM channels, perhaps Tom Petty?

Detroit native. Texas raised. Brought a bit of country to California and influenced the music at a time when disco was taking over the airwaves.

 

You were too fast to live, too young to die. Bye-bye.

 

Didn’t know he was a Detroit native — maybe that helped Souther and Frey connect so well as songwriters. RIP to someone who helped write many classics for the Eagles and was a fine musician in his own right.

 

Oh, man, what a talent.

He should have been an Eagle from Day One.

RIP.

 

"You're Only Lonely" is such a timeless gem.
Whenever it plays, the volume here goes to 11.

Sad news to hear that he's gone. His voice was so fine, too.

 

There is an excellent obit linked on the other thread.

JD Souther Dead: Singer Who Co-Wrote Eagles Classics Was 78 (variety.com)

He actually was an original Eagle, for one day. Then he backed out, by mutual agreement.

As I wrote on the other thread, I have a very special memory associated with his song, "Best of My Love," from a 1975 Eagles concert at Rich Stadium. I did not know he wrote it. For that, thank you very much Mr. Souther, and RIP.

 

"New Kid in Town" is another song I never turn away from.

And Souther's own version laid it out bare ...

 

Wow, never considered that a Tex-Mex ballad in the style of Marty Robbins before. Fascinating.