[Review] J.D. Souther: You’re Only Lonely (1979)
J.D. Souther makes a name for himself on his third album.
Kronomyth 3: There’s gonna be a heartache tonight.
J.D. Souther finally got around to writing a hit single for himself with the title track to his third album, You’re Only Lonely. That song is handily the best thing he’s done to date, parroting the smooth soft-rock sound of Eagles to perfection, with a healthy does of Roy Orbison thrown in for good measure. The rest of the album features songs about love lost and found, mostly, that invite comparison to Eagles (Songs of Love), Bob Seger (‘Til the Bars Burn Down) and Jimmy Buffett (If You Don’t Want My Love). None of it’s life changing, although You’re Only Lonely will stick around in your head for a while. It’s a professional-sounding affair, with top session players (Waddy Wachtel, Rick Marotta, Don Grolnick, Kenny Edwards) plus cameos from John Sebastian, Don Felder, Tom Scott and David Sanborn. What You’re Only Lonely lacks is a second hit. Both The Last in Love and “If You Don’t Want My Love” were released as singles, but neither charted. Personally, I would’ve picked White Rhythm and Blues or “Songs of Love” for the honor, since Souther has a way with a mellow ballad. Other than that, he was probably best suited to writing songs and singing harmonies for other people. A return to Trouble in Paradise, which first appeared on The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band album of the same name, suggests that Souther understood his destiny was not to fly with Eagles. He was a good songwriter with a good voice who never strung together a great album. Great songs, well, he had a few of those, and the one from this album is a gem. Otherwise, this is middle-of-the-road country rock with a few good ideas, a lot of good players, and enough personality to make it stand out slightly from the pack.
Original elpee version
A1. You’re Only Lonely (3:48)
A2. If You Don’t Want My Love (4:22)
A3. The Last in Love (3:40)
A4. White Rhythm and Blues (4:39)
B1. ‘Til the Bars Burn Down (Glenn Frey/J.D. Souther) (4:42)
B2. The Moon Just Turned Blue (2:08)
B3. Songs of Love (4:18)
B4. Fifteen Bucks (J.D. Souther/Waddy Wachtel/Rick Marotta/Danny Kortchmar/Don Grolnick/Kenny Edwards) (3:24)
B5. Trouble in Paradise (4:26)
All songs written by J.D. Souther unless noted.
Original 8-track version
A1. You’re Only Lonely
A2. If You Don’t Want My Love
A3. You’re Only Lonely (Reprise)
B1. The Last in Love
B2. The Moon Just Turned Blue
B3. Fifteen Bucks
C1. ‘Til the Bars Burn Down
C2. Songs of Love
D1. White Rhythm and Blues
D2. Trouble in Paradise
The Players
J.D. Souther (vocals, guitar), Kenny Edwards (bass), Don Grolnick (piano), Rick Marotta (drums), Waddy Wachtel (guitar, harmony singing) with Mike Botts (drums on A2), Jorge Calderon (harmony singing on A4), Dan Dugmore (guitar, steel guitar), Phil Everly (harmony singing on A4), Don Felder (rhythm guitar on A2), Danny Kortchmar (guitar), David Sanborn (alto sax), Tom Scott (tenor sax on B5), John Sebastian (harp on A4), Fred Tackett (acoustic guitar on B3), Jai Winding (organ on A2). Produced by J.D. Souther; recorded by Lee Herschberg, additional engineering by Loyo Clifft.
The Pictures
Art direction by Jimmy Wachtel. Cover photography by Jim Shea. Sleeve photography by Laurie Bird and Gayle Simon.
The Plastic
Released on elpee and 8-track in 1979 in the US (Columbia, JC/JCA 36093), the UK (CBS, 83753) and Japan (CBS/Sony, 25AP-1632) with picture innersleeve. Reached #41 on the US charts.
- Re-issued on compact disc in the US (Columbia, CK 36093).
- Re-issued on compact disc in 2011 in the EU (Floating World, FLOATM6113).
