John David Souther Black Rose: AS 40 Series

John David Souther Black Rose Reissued for the AS 40 Series on Hybrid Stereo SACD: Mastered to DSD from the Original Analog Master Tape

Black Rose stands as John David Souther's defining artistic statement — a lush, soulful record that bridges the California country-rock sound with elegant, jazz-inflected sophistication.

Originally released in 1976 on Asylum Records, this was the moment Souther fully came into his own: a songwriter's songwriter, surrounded by the very best of L.A.'s musical elite. With appearances by Linda Ronstadt, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Joe Walsh, and David Crosby, Black Rose captures that intimate, sunlit West Coast magic like few albums of its time.

Sonically, Black Rose is a marvel — warm, organic, and deeply textured. The original analog recordings deliver that unmistakable '70s Asylum fidelity: silky vocals, airy acoustic guitars, and rhythm sections that feel both loose and immaculate. 

Souther mined themes of heartbreak and grace, love and loss, with precision on Black Rose. Songs such as "If You Have Crying Eyes," "Faithless Love," and the haunting title track embody a blend of vulnerability and effortless cool that defined the era.

Rich, timeless, and radiantly human — Black Rose by John David Souther is a masterpiece that still blooms with every play.