Title - You’re Only Lonely [Expanded]
Artist - JD Souther
For those not in the know, by 1979, JD Souther had quickly established himself as the consummate singer/songwriter and performer—penning hits for the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, and James Taylor, while delivering two now-essential releases for David Geffen’s Asylum Records (both John David Souther and Black Rose have been expanded and reissued by Omnivore Recordings).
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, David Sanborn on alto saxophone, and Dan Dugmore on guitar and steel) for his debut on Columbia Records.
You’re Only Lonely appeared at the end of that year and the title track stormed up the charts. “You’re Only Lonely” spent 5 weeks at #1 on the Adult Contemporary charts and was a #7 Pop hit. The album itself was a critical success, hitting #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.” (From the new liner notes) “It was quite a good Christmas,” JD laughs. “‘You’re Only Lonely’ and ‘Heartache Tonight’ (co-written by JD, Glenn Frey, Don Felder, and Bob Seger) were both in the top ten the same week. It was pretty amazing.”
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 debut Nicolette), plus “Trouble In Paradise” (the title track of the second Souther-Hillman-Furay Band album).
1. You’re Only Lonely
2. If You Don’t Wont 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 [Previously Unissued CD-Only Bonus Track]
11. Bad News Travels Fast (Alternate Take) [Previously Unissued CD-Only Bonus Track]
The man who wrote many hits - some for the Eagles and a few for Linda Ronstadt - must have always known he had it in him to be front and center himself and so it truly is great to hear him perform some of his best material himself on You’re Only Lonely.
As we all know, Souther finally scored a hit single with the ’50s-ish title track, but we also get the lovely ballad White Rhythm and Blues as well as the solo version of the Souther-Hillman-Furay song Trouble in Paradise.
Overall, the songs are all very melodic and well crafted, although lacking the lyrical bite of a Jackson Browne or Don Henley, per say. What Souther really has going for him, though, is his voice. Souther possesses a velvety smooth tenor voice that would be the envy of most and, for my money, he probably has a better voice than even Frey or Henley, using it to full effect in expressing some very melodic love songs here.
The 9-track LP returns for the first time in 35 years and the CD and Digital add two previously unissued bonus tracks from the album’s sessions. New liner notes from Joe Marchese (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.
“We always said our motto was ‘we’re building to last.’ We really spent a lot of time on the songs. The other motto was, ‘no filler.’ You don’t make a single and then put a bunch of filler on an album. You make an album and hope you have a single.” You’re Only Lonely epitomizes that ethos. It’s built to last.
Official Purchase Link
omnivorerecordings.com