Album Notes

Over his prolific 40 year career, Jack Tempchin has written songs with and for legendary artists like The Eagles, Tom Waits, George Jones, Emmylou Harris, Glenn Campbell, Tanya Tucker, Patty Loveless, Trisha Yearwood, Randy Meisner, Richie Havens, and bands like The Paladins, Chris Hillman and The Desert Rose Band and New Riders Of the Purple Sage and others.

From humble beginnings at coffeehouse hootenannies, to having two songs on THE BEST SELLING ALBUM OF ALL TIME, Jack Tempchin has been a principal co-architect of the genre-defining country rock music movement birthed in the 1970's that's come to be known simply as ‘The Southern California Sound’. The San Diego native first caught fire in the 1970s writing his Top 10 hit “Slow Dancing ” for Johnny Rivers.

He went on to deliver two legendary hits for The Eagles: “Already Gone” and “Peaceful Easy Feeling” (two songs on the best selling individual album of all time THE EAGLES: THEIR GREATEST HITS 1971-1975, 30 times platinum according to RIAA).

Throughout the 1980’s he had multiple hits co-writing with his partner and pal Eagle Glenn Frey, including, “True Love” “You Belong To The City”, “I Found Somebody”, “Sexy Girl”, “The One You Love” and “Smuggler’s Blues”.

In 1994, another co-write with Frey called “ The Girl From Yesterday” made it on to the Eagles HELL FREEZES OVER CD.

In 2007, Tempchin landed two more co-writes “Somebody” and “It’s Your World Now” on The Eagles’ latest multi-platinum CD effort, LONG ROAD OUT OF EDEN.

His songs have also been featured in the movies Sgt. Bilko, Thelma & Louise, The Lonely Guy, Bad Seeds, Homer & Eddie, An American Murder, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and The Big Lebowski.



BLOGCRITICS MUSIC REVIEW by David Bowling JACK TEMPCHIN 'SONGS' CD

While this is Jack Tempchin’s sixth studio album, he is best remembered as a songwriter. “Peaceful Easy Feeling” and “Already Gone” by the Eagles; “You Belong To The City,” “Smuggler’s Blues” and “I Found Somebody” by Glenn Frey; “Slow Dancing” by Johnny Rivers; and many other quality songs have all sprung from the fertile mind of Jack Tempchin.

Songs is his latest studio album and consists of new tunes plus a cover of his own “Smuggler’s Blues.” Tempchin has a unique lower register voice that serves him well. Here he brings it to a new series of catchy, well structured songs which are lyrically excellent.

“Out In The Desert” is a superb song in the country/rock tradition. It features a harmonica, thumping bass, and some up-tempo guitar playing which all bring life to its catchy song structure. This is a song that was made for adult contemporary airplay as the melody stays with you.

“Something In The Image” is a love song of yearning that communicates through lyrical imagery. Tempchin wisely adds some background vocals which fills out the sound and pushes this song over the top.

“Waiting” is full throttle rock ‘n’ roll with crashing guitars and pounding drums. At times he pushes his voice toward a higher octave which allows him to sail above the instrumental track.

“It Could Have Been You and Me” is almost a saloon type song. A nice piano sound pushes the song along with some accordion in the background. It is a mid-tempo creation that just smoothly rolls along.

“Box Of Memories” is a poignant country/folk ballad with a viola as a support instrument. It features sensitive lyrics of someone watching another person looking through a box of love letters.

“East Of Eden” is a tune that almost begs for the harmonies of the Eagles. It contains beautiful lyrics with a simple structure that reminds me of “Peaceful Easy Feeling,” which is a good thing.

“Couch Rider” is a funny song with ominous country/cowboy music. It talks about living vicariously through your television set. It is certainly meaningful to all the couch potatoes out there.

Songs is an album of well crafted compositions presented by a talented songwriter who hopefully will receive some personal exposure as an artist. No doubt many of these songs will end up being covered by other artists. All in all, a very listenable album but it always comes back to the quality of the songs themselves.