LOSE AGAIN - Shelton live from Balboa Pier

Lose Again

If the name JD Souther doesn’t register, his work will. I’m not a big Eagles fan but he was a cornerstone in their songs I do like (New Kid in Town). He had onlya few hits as a lead singerI, like the beautiful, “You’re Only Lonely,” but most of his contributions were out of the spotlight as a writer, producer, and session jack-of-all-trades. He’s literally everywhere in music history in the vein of Michael McDonald, but better. His beautiful tenor voice perfectly complimented several famous singers as a backing vocalist and duets for songs he cowrote, like “Her Town Too” with James Taylor and Don Henley’s “Heart of the Matter.” Any 70’s-90’s rock/country hit likely had him involved somewhere—if even carving up lines in the green rooms—by the gaunt, sweaty looks of his early photos.

Most of all he was crucial character in the storied career of Linda Ronstadt as her writer, duet partner, and envied lover. His most profound impact on me was an interview I saw with a giggling 25-year-old Linda Ronstadt, describing their meeting at the Troubadour. To paraphrase, “JD approached me from across the room and introduced himself by saying, “You need to cook me dinner.” Linda continued naughtily snickering how they were living together the next day. I’ve studied the legend of JD Souther since.

Here is a Karla Bonoff song Linda recorded in ’76. In the video JD Souther is right in the middle of directing the action by piano, but placing the spotlight on America’s newfound princess of song, and to me the greatest Mexican-American singer ever. I took a break from my originals today and recorded this, thinking about JD, but if you haven’t heard “Lose Again” by Linda Ronstadt, please do. It’s the perfect example of a song JD Souther played a huge part in bringing us, and Linda’s vocal is one of the strongest of all time.