J.D. Souther

J.D. Souther, born John David Souther on November 3, 1946 in Detroit, Michigan and raised in Amarillo, Texas, is a singer-songwriter and country rock singer.

Souther was greatly influenced by fellow Texan, Roy Orbison, whose sound he tried to emulate. In the mid 1970s, Souther formed the "Souther Hillman Furay Band" with Chris Hillman and Richie Furay.

He is probably best known in his songwriting capacity, having co-written some of the biggest hits for The Eagles, including "Best of My Love", "Victim of Love" and "Heartache Tonight". He also wrote songs for Linda Ronstadt.

His biggest hit as a solo artist was his 1979 Orbison-like song "You're Only Lonely" from the album of the same name, which reached the top 10 of the Billboard charts. A collaboration with James Taylor ("Her Town Too") from Taylor's Dad Loves His Work album, reached number 11 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart.

Discography

  • John David Souther (1972)
  • Black Rose (1976)
  • You're Only Lonely (1979)
  • Home by Dawn (1984)
  • Home by Dawn (2002)

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A collaboration with James Taylor ("Her Town Too") from Taylor's Dad Loves His Work album, reached number 11 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart. More recently, a group of Swing Out Sister fans on the Internet has begun an e-mail campaign to get them on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Late Show with David Letterman. His biggest hit as a solo artist was his 1979 Orbison-like song "You're Only Lonely" from the album of the same name, which reached the top 10 of the Billboard charts. Swing Out Sister has an ardent fan-following, many of whom were there from the start in 1987. He also wrote songs for Linda Ronstadt. The power of Swing Out Sister: "They don't fit niches, because they create their own time and time again.". He is probably best known in his songwriting capacity, having co-written some of the biggest hits for The Eagles, including "Best of My Love", "Victim of Love" and "Heartache Tonight". The first album in 1987 was hailed as "jazzy, horn-coloured pop that puts an '80s techno veneer to the smoky aroma of late-'50s nightclubs"! And while the techno veneer has been toned down since then, their music is still lush and upbeat.

In the mid 1970s, Souther formed the "Souther Hillman Furay Band" with Chris Hillman and Richie Furay.
For more history of Swing Out Sister:. Souther was greatly influenced by fellow Texan, Roy Orbison, whose sound he tried to emulate. GQ Magazine reviewed it and called it "indisputably their finest record to date". Souther, born John David Souther on November 3, 1946 in Detroit, Michigan and raised in Amarillo, Texas, is a singer-songwriter and country rock singer. The UK edition came in July 2004. J.D. The band's latest album, the eighth studio effort, was released in Japan on April 28, 2004: "Where Our Love Grows".

Home by Dawn (2002). Their old recording label, Universal dropped them from their contract in America due to poor CD sales, so they signed on with Shananchie Entertainment. Home by Dawn (1984). This album is a fan favourite. You're Only Lonely (1979). The seventh album, "Somewhere Deep in the Night", was released in May 2001 in Japan with subsequent release in Europe and USA. It is quintessential Swing Out Sister: lush, brassy and stringy arrangements to melodic tunes with pure cinematic sweep. Black Rose (1976). The music is pure and impeccable swingoutsisterish: good swinging tunes, sans the lush arrangements but with a strong emphasis on darker lyrics.

John David Souther (1972). The album was released in Japan in March 1999, and it is still the only album not released in any other country. The sixth album, "Filth and Dreams", proved yet again that Swing Out Sister was eager to reinvent themselves. Producer Paul O'Duffy was back at the helm, and so was the lush arrangements of the first three albums. The fifth album, "Shapes and Patterns", was first released in Japan only in March 1997, but it was released in Europe and USA the year after.

Their song "Now You're Not Here" (from their album "Shapes And Patterns", one of several released only in Japan) was used as the theme to a Japanese TV program, and received a Japanese 'Grand Prix' (the equivalent of a Grammy) for best international single in 1997. But few of the band's releases charted in Western countries after the successful debut album; however, the band had become extremely popular in Japan. Swing Out Sister was now a complete band of ten members, which worked great when going on tour. Long-time producer Paul O'Duffy was replaced by Ray Hayden, combining a "raw" feel to the songs that in most cases were the results of jam sessions in the studio.

The fourth album, "The Living Return", was released in September 1994 and is a departure of sorts. With more danceable rhythms than ever before, it sports a cover of the Dusty Springfield classic "Am I the Same Girl". The third album, "Get In Touch With Yourself", was released in May 1992. It makes you want to drive to Monte Carlo in a mini, and talk like Michael Caine." Today, the album is regarded as one of their finest.

It was more classical in arrangements and songwriting, "a giant rollercoaster of a record. The second album, "Kaleidoscope World", was released in May 1989 to great acclaim. Jackson later worked for Frank Zappa. Jackson left the group during the making of the second album, "Kaleidoscope World"; while the liner notes give "special thanks to Martin Jackson", they also note that "Swing Out Sister are Corinne Drewery & Andy Connell." Drewery and Connell have been the core of the group for all subsequent albums.

"Breakout" went into the top ten in the US as well and was nominated for a Grammy in 1988. Together with their producer, Paul Staveley O'Duffy, they signed with Mercury Records and released their debut album, "It's Better To Travel", on May 11, 1987, which went to #1 on the UK album charts; the singles "Breakout" and "Surrender" were top ten hits in the UK. (The name came from a 1945 movie starring Arthur Treacher, called Swing Out, Sister.) Both Connell and Jackson had been playing in other bands prior to forming SOS, while Drewery was actually a fashion designer before joining up with the band. Swing Out Sister was formed by Andy Connell (keyboards), Martin Jackson (drums) and Corinne Drewery (vocals).

Various listeners have classified their sound as everything from smooth jazz to cool jazz to acid jazz. Swing Out Sister is a rock-jazz-pop musical group best known worldwide for their 1987 song "Breakout", their only song to reach the US top 10. http://www.asterion.se/soshistory.html.