Customer Reviews

You're Only Lonely

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Of course, Souther was never an Eagle..and may never really have desired to be. He did co-write several hits for the group, and even continued into Henley's solo career (Heart of the Matter).
Of the talent that all seems to have taken at least one orbital spin around Linda Ronstadt..including her excellent sideman, and later solo artist, Andrew Gold (remember "Lonely Boy"?) one has to wonder, as the Eagles put it " why fortune smiles on some, and lets the rest go free".
Souther has a style and voice that evoke love or hate. I for one, have been a fan, along apparently with many other musicians. Even Nashville's Dixie Chicks cover a Souther song on their first album..
Yet of all the covers, none do a song justice like JD Souther..great range, and a smooth, silky voice. His third album, "You're Only Lonely" is another group of well crafted, thoughful songs that have excellent harmonies, Souther's trademark voice, some very rememarkable tunes.. catchy, some soulful..all brimming with hooks.
This is a great introduction to Souther , a must have for fans, and certainly Eagles fans will appreciate most of Souther's work. Black Rose is also a must have, while his self titled debut did not enthrall me like most Souther fans, I do own it. His 4th album, (Home by Dawn?), is even better, but for whatever reason, has not been released on CD.
Souther has another excellent song, possibly titled "Shining Star", a track in a forgetable movie dealing with the serious subject of teen suicide..but it is not available at all. (as far as I can tell). If you like the "Southern California" style of music, ..try JD Souther.

John David Souther is most well known for his association with The Eagles. He appeared on the back cover of the band's Desperado album, has toured and sang backup with them and most notably has co-written many of their most well known songs including the number one hits "Best Of My Love" and "New Kid In Town". In fact, Mr. Souther's greatest triumphs have come as a songwriter. But he has released some fine solo albums, with the biggest being You're Only Lonely. Mr. Souther has a smooth and easy voice that floats effortless through his songs. The title track is far and away his biggest solo hit, peaking at number seven, and deservedly so. It is a gorgeous song with an easy rhythm and beautiful harmonies. Other strong tracks include "The Moon Just Turned Blue", "Til' The Bars Burn Down" and "Trouble In Paradise".

John David Souther's only significant chart hit (not counting his 1981 duet with James Taylor, "Her Town Too"), the title track of this album, came in 1979, as the whole California country-rock scene was winding down and New Wave was the new trend. (In 1980, Linda Ronstadt would release her Mad Love album, to mixed reviews, while the Eagles continued the disintegration which had begun with the departures of Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner prior to Hotel California...) Nevertheless, the album featured some classic country-rock tracks, including "The Moon Just Turned Blue", which I had first heard by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on their 1976 disc Symphonion Dream. "Trouble In Paradise" had been the title track of the second (and last) Souther-Hillman-Furay Band album in '75, but I think I like this version a little better. Unlike some other reviewers, I like the rocker "Til The Bars Burn Down"--it reminds me of other party tunes that his former partner Glenn Frey always seemed to enjoy ("Out Of Control," "The Greeks Don't Want No Freaks," "Partytown," etc.)
The title track is a great record and deserved to be a hit. Finally, though, the highlight for me is "White Rhythm and Blues." Long-time friend Ronstadt had previously recorded this gem on her Living In The USA album in '78, but Souther's version of the song is perhaps my favorite song EVER. Great vocals, great lyrics, great guitars and even harmonica by Dirt Bander Jeff Hanna...thanks J.D.!

ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITE ARTISTS, EVER SINCE I MET JD AND MARSHA AT LA SERE IN THE 70'S. IF YOU LIKE THE EAGLES, ROY ROBISON YOU WILL TRULY RELISH THE LYRICS THE MUSIC THE STRUCTURE AS WELL AS THE STORIES WOVEN BY THESE ELEMENTS.

Here's a late-seventies singer-songwriter at the top of his form - from the title cut (his only top forty hit [#7 in late 1979]), to "White Rhythm And Blues" (covered by Linda Ronstadt on her lp "Living In The USA") to "The Last In Love" (covered by George Strait on "Pure Country"). Does anyone else see a pattern here? Yes, he's been covered frequently (mostly by Ronstadt), but the original still sounds great! Check this one out, you won't regret it!

I was just around 16 or 17 when You're only lonely was on the air, it was, and still is my favorite song ever. I can remember my glorie days the football, the girls, the car, school, freinds, and most of all me. Now I just sit back,close my eyes,and remember.

thank you so much Sluggo

One of Linda Ronstadt's key songwriters, Souther was an early part of LA's slick, studio-oriented country-rock scene. Most of his records are unmemorable and bland, but this one is brilliant. Most of the tracks on here are favorites in my repertoire, particularly the upbeat "The Moon Just Turned Blue" and the mopey, broken-love ballad, "If You Don't Want My Love", which is one of the rare, masterful triumphs of cheesy overproduction -- white boy soul packed with enthusiasm and emotion.

Unfortunately, owing to Amazon's maddening policy of cross-pollinating not only reviews but MP3 downloads across different versions of the same CD title, a disservice is being done to anyone who is interested in the best audio version of this J.D. Souther album. As this review will appear on all versions, it is intended to address only the 2005 Japan mini-sleeve DSD remaster release.

In 2005, Sony Japan released a dedicated DSD remaster which can only be purchased in the mini-sleeve release. It is the best available audio version of the album, and is superior to the U.S. non-remastered edition. Sony utilizes its proprietary DSD mastering mainly for SACD releases, so the process produces excellent results.

The mini-sleeve edition is out-of-print, but availablity surfaces from time to time.

The MP3 download shown on the mini-sleeve page is undoubtedly the domestic, non-remastered release.

WHAT IS A JAPAN "MINI-LP-SLEEVE" CD?

Have you ever lamented the loss of one of the 20th Century's great art forms, the 12" vinyl LP jacket? Then "mini-LP-sleeve" CD's may be for you.

Mini-sleeve CDs are manufactured in Japan under license. The disc is packaged inside a 135MM X 135MM cardboard precision-miniature replica of the original classic vinyl-LP album. Also, anything contained in the original LP, such as gatefolds, booklets, lyric sheets, posters, printed LP sleeves, stickers, embosses, special LP cover paper/inks/textures and/or die cuts, are precisely replicated and included. An English-language lyric sheet is always included, even if the original LP did not have printed lyrics.

Then, there's the sonic quality: Often (but not always), mini-sleeves have dedicated remastering (20-Bit, 24-Bit, DSD, K2/K2HD, and/or HDCD), and can often (but not always) be superior to the audio on the same title anywhere else in the world. There also may be bonus tracks unavailable elsewhere.

Each Japan mini-sleeve has an "obi" ("oh-bee"), a removable Japan-language promotional strip. The obi lists the Japan street date of that particular release, the catalog number, the mastering info, and often the original album's release date. Bonus tracks are only listed on the obi, maintaining the integrity of the original LP artwork. The obi's are collectable, and should not be discarded.

All mini-sleeve releases are limited edition, but re-pressings/re-issues are becoming more common (again, not always). The enthusiasm of mini-sleeve collecting must be tempered, however, with avoiding fake mini-sleeves manufactured in Russia and distributed throughout the world, primarily on eBay. They are inferior in quality, worthless in collectable value, a total waste of money, and should be avoided at all costs.

i hadn't heard the title song in nearly ten years and it just brought back memories. it is truly a hidden treasure. sounds a lot like orbison's only the lonely , don't it?

John David Souther has one of the sweetest voices in country rock. You can hear him backing Linda Ronstadt on a lot of her older recordings, and he wrote several of the tunes she made into hits ("Faithless Love," "Prisoner in Disguise").

I can do without the pseudo-rockers like "Fifteen Bucks" and "When the Bars Burn Down"; JD should stick with the haunting ballads he sings so beautifully. This album is well worth having for the classic title song, as well as "Black Roses (White Rhythm and Blues)."