The Seventies was a landmark time for popular culture. Movies of the era included The Godfather, Jaws, and Taxi Driver. Brash young directors ruled Hollywood, taking cinema in new directions. The music scene was vibrant and teeming with creative talent, too. People like J.D. Souther, who died in September at 78, co-wrote songs for The Eagles ("Best Of My Love," "New Kid In Town") and some for Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor, helping them burnish their unique sound. In fact, one of The Eagles' signature hits, "Witchy Woman," was actually recorded in Souther and Ronstadt's living room. Honest. They had the moxie to rough it in those golden halcyon days - and succeed.
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J.D. Souther Was Dating Linda Ronstadt In The '70s
They Hung Out With The Guys Who Became The Eagles
Per American Songwriter, "When the Eagles were first forming and writing songs, one of their main rehearsal locations was Ronstadt and Souther's living room. Though, it was on one arbitrary day when the group wrote 'Witchy Woman.'"
Ronstadt Recalled Them Recording The Song In The Informal Setting
She told Billboard via American Songwriter, "They used to rehearse in my house, where I was living with J.D., 'cause we had a bigger living room than they did. I remember coming home one day and they had rehearsed 'Witchy Woman' and they had all the harmonies worked out, four-part harmonies."
She perceptively added, "They had really strong voices, really strong playing, really strong songwriting ideas and they had an extended pool of songwriters. It was just an amazing time. There was no way they could miss with all that going for them."
Linda Ronstadt's observation proved prescient. The Eagles were wildly popular then as now. Their artistic brilliance and consistent craftsmanship are inarguable.
'Witchy Woman' Powered The Eagles' First Album To The Height Of Success
It's Still One Of Their Classics
The song did very well in this country and in Canada. It hit number 9 here, and number 8 in Canada. It is still among the band's signature songs. And to think that it all came from someone's living room!
