Southern Pacific (band)
Encyclopedia
Southern Pacific was an American country rock
band that ran from 1983 to 1991. They are best known for hits such as "Any Way the Wind Blows" (1989), which was used in the soundtrack
for the film Pink Cadillac starring Clint Eastwood
and Bernadette Peters
, and "New Shade of Blue" (1988, their highest-ranking single on the country charts in November of that year). Southern Pacific was named New Country Group of the Year when they debuted and have been honored by having their name added to the Country Music Association’s Walkway of Stars in Nashville, Tennessee
.
members Keith Knudsen
, John McFee
and bassist Jerry Scheff
. Additional founding members include, Tim Goodman
on vocals and keyboardist Glen Hardin
. The group signed with Warner Bros. Records
in 1984 to which their debut album, Southern Pacific was released the following year. Scheff left after the debut album and was replaced by Stu Cook
of Creedence Clearwater Revival
, while Kurt Howell replaced Hardin on keyboards. Cook and Howell would join the others in the release of Killbilly Hill in 1986. This album would feature the cover of Bruce Springsteen
's "Pink Cadillac
". Tim Goodman
left after the second album to pursue a solo career and was replaced by David Jenkins
(formerly of Pablo Cruise
) in time for the production of the group's third album Zuma in 1988 where their highest ranking single "New Shade of Blue" was included. Jenkins left after Zuma and the group remained a quartet for the final album County Line (1989) which included the single "Any Way The Wind Blows" that was used in the Pink Cadillac soundtrack and film that same year. The group disbanded and Warner Bros. released their Greatest Hits album in 1991.
After Southern Pacific's breakup, Knudsen and McFee returned to The Doobie Brothers. Knudsen died in 2005 while McFee continues to tour with The Doobies. Cook toured with fellow Creedence Clearwater Revival band member Doug Clifford
with the group Cosmo's Factory (now Creedence Clearwater Revisited
). Tim Goodman
continued to tour and record with his solo project, The Tim Goodman Band. Howell formed his own music group, called Burnin' Daylight
. This group also included former Exile
member Sonny LeMaire and Nashville songwriter Marc Beeson.
Southern Pacific's four studio albums were reissued in 2003 by specialty label Wounded Bird Records
in two double-CD packages.
Country rock
Country rock is sub-genre of popular music, formed from the fusion of rock with country. The term is generally used to refer to the wave of rock musicians who began to record country-flavored records in the late 1960s and early 1970s, beginning with Bob Dylan and The Byrds; reaching its greatest...
band that ran from 1983 to 1991. They are best known for hits such as "Any Way the Wind Blows" (1989), which was used in the soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
for the film Pink Cadillac starring Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
and Bernadette Peters
Bernadette Peters
Bernadette Peters is an American actress, singer and children's book author from Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Over the course of a career that has spanned five decades, she has starred in musical theatre, films and television, as well as performing in solo concerts and recordings...
, and "New Shade of Blue" (1988, their highest-ranking single on the country charts in November of that year). Southern Pacific was named New Country Group of the Year when they debuted and have been honored by having their name added to the Country Music Association’s Walkway of Stars in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
.
History
Formed in 1983 with former Doobie BrothersThe Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers are an American rock band. The group has sold over 40 million units worldwide throughout their career. The Doobie Brothers were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.-Original incarnation:...
members Keith Knudsen
Keith Knudsen
Keith Knudsen was an American rock drummer, vocalist and songwriter.-Career:Knudsen was born in Le Mars, Iowa. He began drumming while attending Princeton High School in Princeton, Illinois, where he graduated from in 1966...
, John McFee
John McFee
John McFee is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist, and long time member of the Doobie Brothers.-Biography:...
and bassist Jerry Scheff
Jerry Scheff
Jerry Obern Scheff is an American bassist, perhaps best known for his work with Elvis Presley in the early 1970s as a member of his TCB Band and his work on The Doors' final recordings....
. Additional founding members include, Tim Goodman
Tim Goodman
Tim Goodman was born in San Francisco in 1952 and briefly spent his high school years attending the American School in London. Upon returning to San Francisco, Goodman began touring and performing during the late 1970s, becoming a mainstay in the genres of Country, country rock and Bluegrass music...
on vocals and keyboardist Glen Hardin
Glen Hardin
Glen D. Hardin is an American piano player, songwriter and arranger. He has performed and recorded with such notable artists as Elvis Presley, Emmylou Harris, John Denver, Ricky Nelson and many others.-Career:...
. The group signed with Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
in 1984 to which their debut album, Southern Pacific was released the following year. Scheff left after the debut album and was replaced by Stu Cook
Stu Cook
Stuart Alden Cook is an American bass guitarist, best known for his work in the rock band, Creedence Clearwater Revival....
of Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival was an American rock band that gained popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s with a number of successful singles drawn from various albums....
, while Kurt Howell replaced Hardin on keyboards. Cook and Howell would join the others in the release of Killbilly Hill in 1986. This album would feature the cover of Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
's "Pink Cadillac
Pink Cadillac (song)
"Pink Cadillac" is a humorous song by Bruce Springsteen which though a minor item in his canon of recorded music was a prominent concert number during Springsteen's 1984-85 Born in the U.S.A. Tour...
". Tim Goodman
Tim Goodman
Tim Goodman was born in San Francisco in 1952 and briefly spent his high school years attending the American School in London. Upon returning to San Francisco, Goodman began touring and performing during the late 1970s, becoming a mainstay in the genres of Country, country rock and Bluegrass music...
left after the second album to pursue a solo career and was replaced by David Jenkins
David Jenkins (musician)
David Jenkins is the lead singer for the California smooth rock band Pablo Cruise. Jenkins was a member of the band at its conception in 1973, and stayed until they disbanded in 1985. In 2004, Jenkins and two other original members of the band re-united with a new member, George Gabriel, to tour...
(formerly of Pablo Cruise
Pablo Cruise
Pablo Cruise is a pop/rock band currently composed of David Jenkins , Cory Lerios , Steve Price and Larry Antonino . Formed in 1973, the band released eight studio albums over the next decade, during which time four singles reached the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart...
) in time for the production of the group's third album Zuma in 1988 where their highest ranking single "New Shade of Blue" was included. Jenkins left after Zuma and the group remained a quartet for the final album County Line (1989) which included the single "Any Way The Wind Blows" that was used in the Pink Cadillac soundtrack and film that same year. The group disbanded and Warner Bros. released their Greatest Hits album in 1991.
After Southern Pacific's breakup, Knudsen and McFee returned to The Doobie Brothers. Knudsen died in 2005 while McFee continues to tour with The Doobies. Cook toured with fellow Creedence Clearwater Revival band member Doug Clifford
Doug Clifford
Doug "Cosmo" Clifford played drums in the American rock band, Creedence Clearwater Revival...
with the group Cosmo's Factory (now Creedence Clearwater Revisited
Creedence Clearwater Revisited
Creedence Clearwater Revisited is a band formed in 1995 by former Creedence Clearwater Revival members Stu Cook and Doug Clifford .-The band:...
). Tim Goodman
Tim Goodman
Tim Goodman was born in San Francisco in 1952 and briefly spent his high school years attending the American School in London. Upon returning to San Francisco, Goodman began touring and performing during the late 1970s, becoming a mainstay in the genres of Country, country rock and Bluegrass music...
continued to tour and record with his solo project, The Tim Goodman Band. Howell formed his own music group, called Burnin' Daylight
Burnin' Daylight
Burnin' Daylight was an American country music band composed of Marc Beeson , Kurt Howell , and Sonny LeMaire . Howell was formerly a member of Southern Pacific, and LeMaire a former member of Exile...
. This group also included former Exile
Exile (American band)
Exile, originally known as The Exiles, is an American band founded in Richmond, Kentucky by J.P. Pennington. They started by playing local clubs which led to touring with Dick Clark’s Caravan of Stars opening shows and providing backup for major rock artists of the period.Their name was shortened...
member Sonny LeMaire and Nashville songwriter Marc Beeson.
Southern Pacific's four studio albums were reissued in 2003 by specialty label Wounded Bird Records
Wounded Bird Records
Wounded Bird Records is a CD only, re-issue record label, that was founded in 1998 in Guilderland, New York. They re-release lesser known albums from both popular and lesser known artists, including Deborah Harry, Chic, David Blue, Marilyn Martin, Gordon Haskell, Jon Anderson, Adrian Belew, Ellen...
in two double-CD packages.
Band members
1983–1986 |
|
---|---|
1986–1989 |
Stu Cook Stuart Alden Cook is an American bass guitarist, best known for his work in the rock band, Creedence Clearwater Revival.... – bass guitar, background vocals David Jenkins David Jenkins may refer to:*David Jenkins , former Bishop of Durham*David J. Jenkins, professor of nutrition at the University of Toronto*David P... – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, background vocals |
1989–1991 |
|
Studio albums
Title | Album details | Peak positions |
---|---|---|
US Country | ||
Southern Pacific |
|
25 |
Killbilly Hill |
|
35 |
Zuma |
|
27 |
County Line |
|
42 |
Compilation albums
Title | Album details |
---|---|
Greatest Hits |
|
Singles
Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
US AC Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States... |
CAN Country RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
|||
1985 | "Someone's Gonna Love Me Tonight" | 60 | — | 40 | Southern Pacific |
"Thing About You" (with Emmylou Harris Emmylou Harris Emmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including... ) |
14 | — | 14 | ||
"Perfect Stranger" | 18 | — | 24 | ||
1986 | "Reno Bound Reno Bound "Reno Bound" is a single by American country music group Southern Pacific. Released in 1986, it was the third single from the album Southern Pacific. The song reached #9 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.-Chart performance:... " |
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 New Shade of Blue "New Shade of Blue" is the title of a song written by John McFee and Andre Pessis, and recorded by American country music group Southern Pacific. It was released in July 1988 as the second single from the album Zuma. The song reached #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.-Chart... " |
2 | — | * | ||
1989 | "Honey I Dare You Honey I Dare You "Honey I Dare You" is the title of a song recorded by American country music group Southern Pacific. It was released in January 1989 as the third single from the album Zuma. The song reached #5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. The song was written by David Jenkins, Stu Cook,... " |
5 | — | * | |
"All Is Lost" | — | 19 | — | ||
"Any Way the Wind Blows Any Way the Wind Blows (Southern Pacific song) "Any the Wind Blows" is the title of a song written by John McFee and Andre Pessis, and recorded by American country music group Southern Pacific. It was released in June 1989 as the first single from the slbum County Line. The song reached #4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.... " |
4 | — | 5 | County Line | |
1990 | "Time's Up" (with Carlene Carter Carlene Carter Carlene Carter is an American country singer and songwriter. She is the daughter of June Carter and her first husband, Carl Smith.... ) |
26 | — | 19 | |
"I Go to Pieces I Go to Pieces "I Go to Pieces" is the title of a song written by Del Shannon which became a Top Ten hit for Peter and Gordon in 1965.-Background and writing:... " |
31 | — | 17 | ||
"Reckless Heart" | 32 | — | 23 | ||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart * denotes unknown peak positions |
|||||
Album appearances
Year | Song | Album |
---|---|---|
1987 | "Shoot for the Top" | Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol is the fourth comedy film in the Police Academy series. It was released in 1987.A group of Police Academy graduates are sent to train a group of newly recruited civilian officers. The original Police Academy cast reprise their roles in the film. Capt. Harris,... |
External links
- [ Allmusic profile]
- CMT.com profile