Southern Pacific (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Defunct | 1991 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
| Parent | Warner Bros. Records |
Southern Pacific was a United States-based country rock ensemble active between 1983 and 1991. They gained recognition for tracks such as "Any Way the Wind Blows" (1989), featured in the movie Pink Cadillac, and "New Shade of Blue" (1988), which became their most successful single on the charts. Upon their debut, the group earned the title New Country Group of the Year and received a tribute on the Country Music Association's Walkway of Stars located in Nashville, Tennessee.
History
Established in 1983 by former members of The Doobie Brothers, Keith Knudsen and John McFee, along with bassist Jerry Scheff, Southern Pacific's lineup also included vocalist and keyboardist Tim Goodman and keyboard player Glen Hardin. The band secured a contract with Warner Bros. Records in 1984 and released their self-titled debut album Southern Pacific in 1985. Following Scheff’s exit, Stu Cook from Creedence Clearwater Revival took over bass duties, while Kurt Howell succeeded Hardin on keyboards. This configuration produced the 1986 album Killbilly Hill, which featured a rendition of Bruce Springsteen’s "Pink Cadillac."
After their second album, Goodman departed to pursue a solo path; he was replaced in 1987 by David Jenkins, formerly of Pablo Cruise, for their third release Zuma (1988), which included the track "New Shade of Blue." Jenkins left after Zuma, leaving the band as a four-piece for their final album, County Line (1990). This record contained "Any Way The Wind Blows," incorporated into the soundtrack of Pink Cadillac, and featured a guest vocal contribution from The Beach Boys on a cover version of "GTO."
Southern Pacific also recorded a cover of Roky Erickson’s "It's a Cold Night For Alligators" for the tribute compilation Where the Pyramid Meets the Eye: A Tribute to Roky Erickson. Notably, Cook had produced Erickson’s 1979 album The Evil One. The group dissolved in 1991, coinciding with Warner Bros. issuing their Greatest Hits compilation.
Following the breakup, Knudsen, McFee, and Cook formed the supergroup Jackdawg before McFee and Knudsen rejoined The Doobie Brothers. Knudsen passed away in 2005; meanwhile, McFee continues to tour with The Doobie Brothers. Cook performs alongside Doug Clifford as part of Creedence Clearwater Revisited. Goodman remains active with The Magic Music Band and his solo endeavors, while Howell established Burnin' Daylight, collaborating with former Exile member Sonny LeMaire and songwriter Marc Beeson.
In 2003, all four Southern Pacific studio albums were re-released by specialty label Wounded Bird Records as two double-CD sets.
Cook was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 as a member of Creedence Clearwater Revival; Knudsen (posthumously) and McFee received induction with The Doobie Brothers in 2020.
Band members
Final lineup
- Keith Knudsen – drums, percussion, backing vocals
- John McFee – lead guitar, steel guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle, resonator guitar, electric sitar, harmonica, lead and backing vocals
- Stu Cook – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Kurt Howell – piano, synthesizer, lead and backing vocals
Former members
- Tim Goodman – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, synthesizer
- Glen D. Hardin – piano, synthesizer, backing vocals
- Jerry Scheff – bass guitar, backing vocals
- David Jenkins – rhythm guitar, lead and backing vocals
Timeline
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Studio albums
| Album Title | Release Information | Highest Chart Positions |
|---|---|---|
| US Country | ||
| Southern Pacific |
|
25 |
| Killbilly Hill |
|
35 |
| Zuma |
|
27 |
| County Line |
|
42 |
Compilation albums
| Compilation Title | Release Details |
|---|---|
| Greatest Hits |
|
| Rhino Hi-Five: Southern Pacific |
|
Singles
— 19 align=left rowspan=4 |County Line| Year Released | Single Title | Peak Chart Positions | Associated Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Chart | US Adult Contemporary (AC) | Canadian Country Chart | |||
| 1985 | "Someone's Gonna Love Me Tonight" | 60 | — | 40 | Southern Pacific |
| "Thing About You" (feat. Emmylou Harris) | 14 | — | 14 | ||
| "Perfect Stranger" | 18 | — | 24 | ||
| 1986 | "Reno Bound" | 9 | — | 19 | |
| "A Girl Like Emmylou" | 17 | — | 19 | Killbilly Hill | |
| "Killbilly Hill" | 37 | — | 20 | ||
| 1987 | "Don't Let Go of My Heart" | 26 | — | 27 | |
| 1988 | "Midnight Highway" | 14 | — | 16 | Zuma |
| "New Shade of Blue" | 2 | — | 1 | ||
| "Honey I Dare You" | 5 | — | 3 | ||
| 1989 | "All Is Lost" | — | 19 | — | |
| "Any Way the Wind Blows" | 4 | — | 5 | Pink Cadillac (soundtrack) / County Line | |
| "Time's Up" (feat. Carlene Carter) | 26 | ||||
| 1990 | "I Go to Pieces" | 31 | — | 17 | |
| "Reckless Heart" | 32 | — | 23 | ||
| "Memphis Queen" | — | — | — | ||
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | "Killbilly Hill" | Ethan Russell |
| 1989 | "Any Way the Wind Blows" | Not available |
| 1990 | "I Go to Pieces" | Gerry Wenner |
Album appearances
| Year | Song | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | "Shoot for the Top" | Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol |
| 1990 | "It's a Cold Night For Alligators" | Where the Pyramid Meets the Eye: A Tribute to Roky Erickson |
References
- Goldsmith, Thomas. (1998). "Southern Pacific." In The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Edited by Paul Kingsbury. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 497–498.
External links
- [ AllMusic profile]
- CMT.com profile