Customer Reviews

Black Rose

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Clearly Souther's best and most dense album, it also illustrates why Souther never became a full member of the Eagles and that insiders' assumptions about Souther 'just not being a group person' were widely justified at the time. He presents himself at the peak of his writing ability and, supported by Peter Asher's sensitive production, also in full creative control. In spite of numerous cameo appearences (by Andrew Gold, David Crosby and the Eagles) the album failed commercially like on most other instances Souther decided against the role of the man in the background. Many of the songs feature re-recorded (and better) versions of songs he had previously recorded with Linda Ronstadt, others (like the irresistable Doors Swing Open) are clearly meant for his own use, so unapplicable are they to the Eagles' or Ronstadt's patterns. There is a commodity of patience and density here which gives the album the taste of a burried treasure, a yet largely undiscovered classic. The recent re-issue on CD might enhance that reading of his work, even though other notable attempts (such as his last full-scale album Home By Dawn, which was only re-released in Japan, and is not available elsewhere, not even on Amazon) seemed to be denied this kind of slow appreciation. Highly recommendable.

I always thought it was pretty cool that ol' JD never really hit it. I was a HUGE fan, and he was kind of my (and my friends)little secret. Amazing voice and songwriting, but somehow the masses never bought in. He seemed to always have this too cool for school posture that was probably difficult to pidgion hole. I first saw him (and his band) at the old Cellar Door in Washington DC, in the spring of 1976, just as Black Rose was released. My date and I got in with fake id's. Sitting at a round table, drinking rum and cokes, and watching/listening to him finger picking a Martin D-35, playing jazz chords while singing in this perfect-pitch Texas drawl. James Dean couldn't have struck a cooler pose.

After that night, I kept Black Rose in heavy rotation on my turntable for a very long time. It was the soundtrack for most of my college years and served as my personal musical refuge in a world of disco and Firefall. For me, just about every song hit, but it was "Doors Swing Open" that trancended mid-70's formula and turned into something much much better. "You'll get dreams that are broken, and run down your face...." Always the vocalist and a truly GREAT harmony singer, but those few bars in that song were about a good as I've ever heard. JD, for whatever reason, didn't keep it going. "You're only lonely" and "Home at Dawn" (or whatever), were released with too much time in between and not enough effort (in my critical opinion). Sometime's I'll hear someone like Ryan Adams and think, "there it is", but it never is.

I betcha 'ol gravel voice has a few gems stored up after all these years. Wouldn't it be nice if he let us hear them?

I have had a copy of this, periodically renewed, since it was issued. It sits alongside a handful of other recordings (like Pet Sounds) that continue to beguile and delight years after their release.

This is one of the best albums of its period, although less known than others. It contains only one arguably weak track, "Midnight Prowl"; the balance of the album's songs stand up very well to repeated listening.

The high quality of Souther's songwriting is demostrated, in part, by the songs from this record that were covered by other artists, most notably "Faithless Love', a classic. The other, less-well-know songs demonstrate Souther's beautiful melodies over interesting chord changes as well as his insightful and touching lyrics.

The songs are solidly performed by the cream of the LA country rock musicians of the time.

All the above is capped by Souther's lovely voice. He has a wide range coupled with a plaintive quality that perfectly complements his very romantic songs.

JDS is without a doubt a very talented singer/songwriter. This album has good mix of soft and hard songs ("Silver Blue" being a wonderful example of the former and the title track for the latter). I'd put it up there with 70s albums by Andrew Gold (who also appears on this album) - his "All This And Heaven Too" and the Eagles.

Great songs, great performances. In all honesty, J.D. Souther writes and performs exceptionally good music. I don't know if this CD ever made it to the top of the charts, but I'd select it, any day, over a stack of the other stuff.

This is the perfect complement to anyone's Eagles, Jackson Brown, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt era collection of late '70 country rock that began with Poco and peaked with the Eagles. JD Souther was the collaborator on some of the Eagles greatest hits and this is and underratewd class from
"Your Turn Now" to "Banging My Head Against the Moon" to the title cut. Great stuff for old fans and for new fans who found out about the Eagles on the "Hell Freezes Over Tour". Souther is a great songwriter with a soulful voice and great back up musicians.

I've LOVED music for over 40 years and this is the best album that I have! A truely great musical and artistic performance! If I could give this a million stars I would. I've listened to this hundreds of times and it never gets old and it's as great as the first time I heard it. I don't have any other music that I can say that about. Great Great stuff. You absolutely will not be disappointed.

I stumbled upon J.D. Souther when I started digging into music from the 70's L.A. Country-Rock scene. The Eagles may have had the greatest success in this scene, but without the likes of J.D. Souther they would never have been as big("New Kid In Town", "Heartache Tonight", "Best of My Love", "Sad Cafe", "Victim Of Love", "James Dean", "Doolin Dalton")
"Black Rose" is J.D.'s best album. His own version of "Faithless Love" is as good or better than Linda Ronstadt's version. "Banging My Head Against The Moon" (aside from the stereotypical mid-70s guitar riff) is as cool as Steve McQueen. And the best song here is "Simple Man, Simple Dream", beautifully written, and underscored by a "simple" acoustic guitar, and eloquent steel guitar "fills".
Forget the Eagles, J.D. Souther(The Eagle With No Name) is what people need to hear.

1976 was a big year for what is loosely called "West Coast" music - Eagles' 'Hotel California' and Jackson Browne's 'The Pretender' are just two that come to mind - but my favourite of the lot has to be 'Black Rose'.

The album combines Souther's astonishing songwriting prowess with superb performances both by Souther himself and by a galaxy of backing musicians, including Danny Kortchmar, Waddy Wachtel, Jim Keltner, David Crosby, Art Garfunkel, Andrew Gold, Glenn Frey, Kenny Edwards, Russell Kunkel, Linda Ronstadt, Joe Walsh, Ned Doheny and Don Henley.

Making extensive use of strings, and beautifully produced by Peter Asher, this is very much the best of Souther's four solo albums.

It's tough to pick stand-out tracks in such a strong line-up, but 'Faithless Love' and 'Simple Man, Simple Dream' are reportedly amongst JD's own favourites, the title track sounds very like the Eagles on top form, and 'Doors Swing Open' is a personal favourite and deserves a very special mention.

A string of other artists have had hits with JD Souther compositions - amongst them Eagles ('New Kid In Town', 'Heartache Tonight', etc), Linda Ronstadt and many others - but in this superb album the artist demonstrates his ability to perform his own compositions to maximum effect. A truly remarkable album.

J. D Souther's "Black Rose" has been in my collection since 1976. An album of masterful songwriting and engaging slow, mellow mid 70's rock that is perfectly suited to Souther's soulful voice.My favorites songs here are "Silver Blue", "Midnight Prowl",Faithless Love" and the title track.Souther was sort of an "unofficial" Eagle during this time but I am glad he never became a member--his style would have been compromised and probably submerged by the battle of egos that became their demise at the end of the 70's.Four and a half stars.