Souther was a part of the late '60s-early '70s southern California/Laurel Canyon scene. He and the late Glenn Frey were a duo called Longbranch Pennywhistle until agent David Geffen told them the duo wouldn't be successful. Frey, of course, went on to be co-founder of The Eagles and Souther continued as a songwriter; he wrote or co-wrote songs for The Eagles and Linda Ronstadt, among others.
Was so sad to read of this today. I was a big fan of his music in my 20s. Linda Ronstadt, who covered his stuff as you said, was my absolute favorite female singer. My 70s country-rock band covered "How Long" from one of his early albums, decades before the Eagles released it as a single this century.
That this Linda Ronstadt version of a JD Souther song had prominent banjo (played by Herb Pedersen, late of the Dillards) made me love it and her all the more. Back in the day, I couldn't work it out. Perhaps I should try again.
I wore out two vinyls of his Black Rose LP, both purchased from the cutout bin, for those who remember such things.
quote:
Originally posted by banjo bill-eI wore out two vinyls of his Black Rose LP, both purchased from the cutout bin, for those who remember such things.
The wonderful biography/obit posted by Variety says the two albums of the short-lived Souther-Hillman-Furay band went straight to the cutout bin!
I saw them live twice in the summer '74, first time with home-town favorite Emmylou Harris opening. This was maybe six months after Gram Parsons had died. She returned to the DC area and put together a local band. Great show.
Have to admit the first SHF Band is the only album of JD's I own.
Laurence Diehl does a real nice banjo version of Faithless Love
Edited by - chuckv97 on 09/18/2024 13:29:37
Yes he does. Thanks so much for finding and sharing that. That's one I definitely have to steal.
