At New Yorks City Winery two years ago, both sides of the lateJ.D.
In an instant, his face grew gaunt, the eyes steely.
All anyone wants to know is who you slept with, he sniped.
J.D. Souther in 1986. In an unpublished interview, the songwriter opens up about the origins of some of the Eagles' defining hits.Paul Natkin/Getty Images
I dont do that that.
The case was undeniably closed.
Henley was a blues singer from east Texas, Souther toldRSin 2016.
I was a jazz kid from the High Plains.
Linda was from Tucson.
Jackson was really the only L.A. guy.
He was part of an early rehearsal for the Eagles but opted not to join.
On the cover ofYoure Only Lonely, he hid his face.
At first the audience was rooting for us, he said.
And as soon as we actually kissed, it was, No, shes pregnant!
You cant do that!
Salinger, and the allusion didnt seem accidental.
A lot of the mythology about outlaws was and is still irresistible for young men of a certain mindset.
The musicians have all been vanquished by the establishment.
Very broad strokes, but you get the idea.
You also co-wrote James Dean with them forOn the Border.James Dean was cool.
Another irresistible story that needed a song.
Jackson started it and we all clambered aboard on first hearing.
It was one room and one window you could open.
I learned a lot about songwriting from Jackson.
Hed play it so many times I would want to throttle him.
It always ended up being the very best version of that phrase or line.
It was a real lesson in patience and program of a real work ethic.
I said, Sure, when?
Okay, see you tomorrow.
Such were the times.
Traveling was easier back then.
After a day or two, I flew back to L.A. make The Best of My Love a hit record by just playing it over and over from the album.
People requested it, more spins, and there you go.
It was the Eagles first Number One single.
I think Glenn said, That could be our first single, John David.
The gunfighter analogy works here too.
Don, as ever, detailed it to the nines and its an amazing vocal by Glenn.
The whole was always greater than the sum of the parts.
As the story went, there was a fight with MPs who detained him and one was killed.
Nearly 40 years later Cindy [Freys wife] was watching an Eagles performance of the song on YouTube.
She said, Glenn, whats this?
And he said, J.D.
wrote that and we used to do it.
And she said, Did you ever record it?
And he said, No.
She said, It sounds like a classic Eagles hit.
Thank you, Cindy.
I cant tell you how much I miss Glenn.
Glenn played it for Seger, and he wrote the chorus.
Joe Walsh brought that intro and brilliant slide guitar of his.
The only thing predictable was that we would stay at it until it was right.
The era wasnt changing any more than the brutish ticking of every clock allows.
We were just growing up and there is a melancholy that accompanies aging.
I love this song and still get a lump in my throat when I sing it.
