1763 - Southern Pacific - Greatest Hits (1991)

Southern Pacific
"Greatest Hits"
1991
Warner Bros.
Compilation
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REVIEW
by Al Campbell
Southern Pacific included former members of the Doobie Brothers and Creedence Clearwater Revival who were dedicated to playing modern country music with just a hint of their rock roots. Although the band didn't last long, they did manage to make the country charts on several occasions between 1985-1989. Among the 13 hits included here are "Reno Bound," "New Shade of Blue," "Honey I Dare You," and "Thing About You," which adds Emmylou Harris on vocals.
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1 Any Way the Wind Blows (McFee, Pessis) 3:38
2 Reno Bound (McFee, Pessis) 3:23
3 New Shade of Blue (McFee, Pessis) 3:45
4 Thing About You (Petty) 3:52
Performed by: Southern Pacific, Emmylou Harris
5 All Is Lost (Cook, Gibson, Howell, Karp) 3:37
6 A Girl Like Emmylou (Cook, Goodman, Knudsen, McFee) 3:38
7 Honey I Dare You (Cook, Gibson, Jenkins, Karp, McFee) 2:50
8 Midnight Highway (Howell, McFee) 3:45
9 I Go to Pieces (Shannon) 2:36
10 Perfect Stranger (Goodman, McFee) 4:07
11 Time's Up (Stinson, Waldman, Welch) 3:21
Performed by: Southern Pacific, Carlene Carter
12 Trail of Tears (McFee, Pessis) 3:51
13 Pink Cadillac (live) (Springsteen) 5:54
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Carlene Carter Vocals
Stu Cook Bass (Vocal), Guitar (Bass), Vocals (bckgr)
Tim Goodman Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals
Glen D. Hardin Piano
Emmylou Harris Vocals
Kurt Howell Keyboards, Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
David Jenkins Vocals (bckgr)
Keith Knudsen Percussion, Drums, Vocals (bckgr)
John McFee Guitar (Acoustic), Mandolin, Pedal Steel, Violin, Guitar (Electric), Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
Nashville String Machine Strings
Jim Ed Norman Arranger, Cymbals
Jerry Scheff Guitar (Bass)
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BIOGRAPHY

by Johnny Loftus
Formed 1985 in Los Angeles, CA
Disbanded 1991

Southern Pacific formed in 1983 around vocalist Tim Goodman, guitarist John McFee, drummer Keith Knudsen, bassist Jerry Scheff, and keyboardist Glenn D. Hardin. Both McFee and Knudsen were ex-Doobie Brothers; this rock & roll background would continue to tarnish for some the band's country-rock sound. Despite the adversity, Southern Pacific secured a deal with Warner, who issued its self-titled debut in 1985. A mixed bag, the album featured Tom Petty-penned rock songs alongside more countrified material from songwriters like Rodney Crowell. Former CCR bassist Stu Cook replaced Scheff after the first record; Kurt Howell, who had played with Crystal Gayle, took Hardin's place behind the keyboard. The refurbished Southern Pacific lineup issued Killbilly Hill in 1986, and the album's cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Pink Cadillac" was a minor hit. Goodman departed then, to be replaced by vocalist David Jenkins. He was onboard for 1988's Zuma, which included Southern's biggest hit, "New Shade of Blue," but left soon after, leaving only McFee, Knudsen, Cook, and Howell. The quartet issued County Line in 1989, but it was Southern Pacific's last gasp. Warner released a final greatest-hits collection in 1991. McFee and Knudsen returned to the Doobies; Cook toured with Doug Clifford as Cosmo's Factory; and Howell formed a group called Burnin' Daylight.
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