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Longbranch Pennywhistle Biography

longbranch-pennywhistle

The duo Longbranch Pennywhistle, who made one obscure self-titled album in 1969, are remembered primarily for featuring a pre-EaglesGlenn Frey and J.D. Souther (who of course went on to write much material for the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt). Frey had moved to Los Angeles from Detroit, where he had played with Bob Seger, and hooked up there with ex-Texan J.D. Souther. The two attracted attention in the burgeoning Southern California country-rock scene via gigs at the Troubadour club and were signed by Amos Records. Their lone LP was produced by Jimmy Bowen and featured a wealth of outstanding session musicians, such as James Burton, Buddy Emmons, Larry Knechtel, Joe Osborn, Jim Gordon, Ry Cooder, and Doug Kershaw. Longbranch Pennywhistle is a pleasant yet unthrilling album of modest harmonized early country-rock. Pre-echoes of the sound of the Eagles and 1970s mellow Californian rock can be heard, and Souther would re-record one of the better songs, "Kite Woman," for his early-'70s solo debut. The album sold little and the duo broke up in mid-1970. However, Frey was soon playing in Linda Ronstadt's band and forming the nucleus of the Eagles, to whom Souther would frequently contribute as a songwriter. ~ Richie Unterberger, Rovi

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