1984 Top Ten: Go Ahead and Rain (#10)
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (62475)
United States
April 21, 2024 11:00am CST
Before I head off to see my niece I’ll start the list of the top ten songs I enjoy the most from 1984. You won’t agree with any of these (a lot of these were flops or album cuts), but hey, that’s what makes the world go round. (Yes, individuality and personal tastes, not that scientific stuff they try to blame it on. 
) Here’s the first bomb, I mean, song, from 1984 in the top ten.
#10: Go Ahead and Rain - J.D. Souther
Let’s start with a stat. The Eagles had five #1 hits in their career. J.D. Souther co-wrote three of the five: “Best of My Love,” “New Kid in Town,” and “Heartache Tonight.” Why Souther wasn’t tagged to fill the void in the Eagles caused by Glenn Frey’s death is beyond me. (Probably has something to do with touring…and egos….
)
Anyway, Souther did one of the strangest career moves in music history (not as bad as the Walkers putting out an EP, getting signed on the strength of the EP, then breaking up 
): he released this absolutely stunning gem of an album in 1984…then took up acting. He appeared in thirtysomething, Nashville, and a number of movies (including the TV movie about the rescue of the Pennsylvania coal miners). He didn’t put another album out after this one for twenty five years. Sheesh, J.D., afraid you might get popular? (Heck, I remember reading an interview with him where he said, “People think it’s great for you to be a ‘cult artist’ [someone with a small but very loyal following], until you are one for a few years.” )
Oh, well. I taped this album when I got it (while I was stationed in Hawaii), put R.E.M.’s Reckoning on the other side of the tape, and wore that sucker O U T while driving around Oahu in 1984. This was released as a single (had a video and everything), but didn’t even make the Hot 100.
I’ll still listen to this album, start to finish, occasionally. Not for the memories, but for the music.
Go Ahead and Rain
Written by J.D. Souther
Recorded by J.D. Souther
From Home By Dawn, 1984
This old world will keep spinning around:
) Here’s the first bomb, I mean, song, from 1984 in the top ten.
#10: Go Ahead and Rain - J.D. Souther
Let’s start with a stat. The Eagles had five #1 hits in their career. J.D. Souther co-wrote three of the five: “Best of My Love,” “New Kid in Town,” and “Heartache Tonight.” Why Souther wasn’t tagged to fill the void in the Eagles caused by Glenn Frey’s death is beyond me. (Probably has something to do with touring…and egos….)
Anyway, Souther did one of the strangest career moves in music history (not as bad as the Walkers putting out an EP, getting signed on the strength of the EP, then breaking up ): he released this absolutely stunning gem of an album in 1984…then took up acting. He appeared in thirtysomething, Nashville, and a number of movies (including the TV movie about the rescue of the Pennsylvania coal miners). He didn’t put another album out after this one for twenty five years. Sheesh, J.D., afraid you might get popular? (Heck, I remember reading an interview with him where he said, “People think it’s great for you to be a ‘cult artist’ [someone with a small but very loyal following], until you are one for a few years.” )
Oh, well. I taped this album when I got it (while I was stationed in Hawaii), put R.E.M.’s Reckoning on the other side of the tape, and wore that sucker O U T while driving around Oahu in 1984. This was released as a single (had a video and everything), but didn’t even make the Hot 100.
I’ll still listen to this album, start to finish, occasionally. Not for the memories, but for the music.
Go Ahead and Rain
Written by J.D. Souther
Recorded by J.D. Souther
From Home By Dawn, 1984
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9 people like this
7 responses
@FourWalls (62475)
• United States
22 Apr
Had a great time, even though my great-grandpuppy peed on me.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (62475)
• United States
21 Apr
Yeah, the SHF and Trouble in Paradise. “Fallin’ in Love,” Richie’s opening song on the SHF album, is terrific.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (206582)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Apr
@FourWalls Yeppers. That's one of the songs I would BLAST on my stereo in the old days.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (62475)
• United States
22 Apr
Major bomb, as were most of his own versions of his songs.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (62475)
• United States
21 Apr
Don’t you have a cat staring at you from behind the monitor? 
2 people like this
@NJChicaa (116131)
• United States
21 Apr
@FourWalls not at the moment. He is currently passed out on my bed.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (157243)
• United States
22 Apr
Don't recognize this one at all. Have a good week.
2 people like this
@dgobucks226 (34421)
•
4 May
Ah, J.D. a reluctant rock star he is.... Oh well, with those royalty checks coming in he never had to worry about the next album or touring to pay the bills.
Hypnotic voice, great lyrics and pleasant melodies are a staple to any musical venture Souther is involved in...
J.D. also teamed up with James Taylor on "Her Town Too." Enjoyed the Souther–Hillman–Furay Band collaboration and my favorite solo LP of Souther's You're Only Lonely.
Geesh, J.D. also contributed songs to Linda's album which he produced, worked and contributed to Dan F's Captured Angel and Netherland's LPs, and co-wrote "The Heart of the Matter" for Don Henley's solo album.
Souther "has been everywhere man" in the Country Rock, Folk-Rock, and Pop-Rock world.
Great tune btw... 
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62475)
• United States
23h
There are people who don’t want to deal with “it” (the burdens of working in the industry). With all those royalties he didn’t have to. Plus, he dated Linda Ronstadt in the process!
@FourWalls (62475)
• United States
22 Apr
Does that sound 80s to you? They couldn’t play that next to “Don’t You Want Me” by the Human League.
