Jackson Browne

I quite like the album with the Nick Hornby song, 'Late For The Sky'.

There are a couple that are really worth having, IMO. His first (eponymous) album, with Jamaica Say You Will and Doctor My Eyes; that one's essential. The second is "Running On Empty", which has several of his hits, and some other good (better?) stuff besides.

His albums are usually hit or miss for me, but these two are as close to definitive as they get.

edit: P.S. - I didn't care much for The Pretender at all.

IMO Jackson Browne is one of the most important and overlooked singer songwriters of the last 35 years. Although he still records, and some of it still captures the old magic, it is in his 70's recordings that he really made his mark.

For me all the first five albums are more than worth having:

Saturate before Using - (as it says on the cover but is actually just called 'Jackson Browne'

For Everyman

Late for the sky

The pretender

Running on Empty

For me 'Late for the sky' is a masterpiece. It is no wonder Scorcese features the title track in a pivotal scene in Taxi Driver - the song captures the mood perfectly. The album is faultless.

Jackson's wife commited suicide in 76 and the pretender album followed even though much of it had been written before her death. If you make an effort to cut through the MOR veneer (get through that!!) you will find some heart breaking lyrics and some very clever observations on the Human condition. The title track describes a man giving up just to be able to move on - heartbreaking stuff.

Running on Empty is a classic record of a very frazzled tour which consists of a number of recorded venues, some of them hotel rooms etc. This makes for a very intimate and unusual record and gives you a snapshot into the mindset of a coke addled tour. The album must have sold well because Mork (mork and mindy) had a poster of it in his living room wall!!

The eightees was not so kind in recording terms although, for me at least, every album has someting worth having it for.

He is still great to see live and actually has a new acoustic live album out this week.

I think his music is really worth th effort. I am finding it difficult to think of a songwriter who most emotively conveys the emotions found in the spaces between peoples desires and their realities. Ok I'll shut up now!!

I'm not a fan, but Nico, who happens to be one of my favourite female singers (poor me!) did a song of his called "Somewhere There's a Feather" on her 1968 "Chelsea Girl" album. Nice song. He must have been rather young then.

The timing of this thread is weird - I was going to start a thread on 'Late For The Sky' having recently re-discovered it - and I can't stop playing it.

Soaring melodies, intelligent thought provoking lyrics, and some beautiful fluid guitar from David Lindley.

It's a bit of a wrist slasher in parts, but 'For A Dancer' is the most eloquent song about death I know.

JB is one of the few artistes who continues to produce great albums to this day. This week; I are mostly been playing:-

'Looking East' and 'The Naked Ride Home' as well.

For those looking for a JB primer; there is an excellent double CD 'Worst Of' which is also well remastered and recorded.

I also note that there is a brand new live acoustic CD released soon.

John.

In my view Running on Empty is right up with the best live recordings ever. Tracks like Nothing But Time (recorded on a moving bus, the exhaust rumble can be clearly heard and really gives the song impetus), the title track and others recorded at various gigs, in motel rooms and at a rehearsal venue are all classics.

I have a Japanese CD-4 (quadraphonic) pressing of Late For The Sky, which is probably a collectors item by now. I recall that this particular (CD-4) disc used to send UK reviewer Paul Benson into something of a frenzy back in the seventies. Hold Out from 1980 is also very good.

The track listing on the live acoustic set looks very tasty, I'll certainly be getting that one.

Yes indeed bazz; me too.

As ever though, I suggest ordering a USA made copy. The EU (Germany) made CD's of American artistes, sound decidedly inferior.

John.

Running on Empty is fabulous. All live although not all on stage and one of the most realistic recordings I've ever heard.

quote:

As ever though, I suggest ordering a USA made copy. The EU (Germany) made CD's of American artistes, sound decidedly inferior.

John.

I know this has probably been covered before but my search is not coming up with too much extra info so....

Why (How) could/would a USA CD sound better that an EU one? How obvious is it? Would I notice the difference on a CD5x? Is there general agreement on this?


Thanks for the suggestions. Running on empty and Late for the sky are going to be in a trolley soon. But will it be Django's or play.com?

SJB;

Bloody good question. I only know that myself and several friends with Naim systems have made the EU/USA manufactured comparison with numerous artistes and CD's.

In some cases, the difference is staggering. One notable example was when a friend brought a USA made copy of Marc Cohn's (Eponymous) first album over to my place - and I still had my original EU made copy.

The USA made disc was cleaner, clearer, more spacious, open and vibrant sounding. The same difference was apparent on Nils Lofgren's wonderful 'Acoustic Live' album.

There are stories of albums being squirted down phone lines in compressed mp3 type formats, to manufacturing plants in other countries.

My favourite and regular USA suppliers are Djangos and Tower. CD's are very often cheaper (including postal charges) and of course, sound better. Beware though - value of goods in excess of £18.00 technically attract UK import duty and VAT.

And Yes, the difference is clearly audible on any decent system.

John.

Thanks John,
Ordered from Djangos!

Thankfully the Irish customs (to date) have never seen fit to bother with up to 6 cd's. If there is an option I usually choose the present or gift option - "a present to myself" but customs won't know that. Fingers crossed - has worked up till now.

quote:

Is there general agreement on this?

There was, in the days when vinyl was still the only source. German LP's had 'no' bass because they were cut for longer life instead of better performance. It was also said that German listeners had speakers with bigger wooofers that got all confused with the big bass that US and UK records produced.

When I look for second hand records of the Seventies I still avoid the German ones if I can. Early 70-ties German (and Dutch!) pressings are OK though.

FWIW,

Willem

quote:

Originally posted by J.N.:

There are stories of albums being squirted down phone lines in compressed mp3 type formats, to manufacturing plants in other countries.

EAC (Exact Audio Copy) has functionality to compare bitstreams so you could compare two versions of the same CD. I used this to prove that my original CDs and copies I made were identical.

I have JB's first two albums and 'Running on Empty'. All are on vinyl but his debut is a real stinker of a pressing with no life at all, may have to get a CD copy. I really like his 70's output and will probably get a few more of his.

I agree with a lot of what's been said. I like old Jackson Browne albums a lot; I can appreciate some of the newer material but just can't get into it, if you know what I mean. Taking nothing away from the first few albums, my favorites are Too Late for the Sky, The Pretender, Running on Empty and Hold Out. Many fans speak of the first five albums, ending with Running on Empty, as his "classic" albums, but I would include Hold Out in that group, as I think it is one of his strongest (and most under-appreciated) albums. I think - but can't recall or check at the moment - that some of his cds have been remastered, or perhaps just on the 2-cd GH album. You may wish to check that out as well (although I think some of his more classic albums are under-represented on it.

Mike

Got the new Solo Acoustic CD today, just JB, ten (count 'em) guitars and a keyboard or two.

Sensational, an instant classic. The Barricades of Heaven, Fountain of Sorrow, The Pretender just to name a few, and a great live recording with a touch of rawness about it. Very highly recommended.

Sorry to be a muppet but what do you mean by 10 guitars?

10 simultaneous guitarists! -(strange for a solo album) or 10 different guitars at the ready and tuned and set to fit particular songs?

Nine guitars in a rack, one in hand.

Too Late for the Sky and Running on Empty now nestling in the cd colection.

My wife grabbed running on empty saying hey I remember this and had it on heavy rotation. very good album as mentioned in thread and sounds good.

Too Late for the Sky (in my system) sounds a bit dead particularily the drums. I don't think there has been any recent or special remasterering done. Some good songs with great lyrics though. Particularily like the evocation of a slight look of weariness in a photo. Not too many people (can) write lyrics like this.

Thanks for the recomendations.

quote:

Particularily like the evocation of a slight look of weariness in a photo. Not too many people (can) write lyrics like this.

That is a classic line! I totally agree that this level of honesty and insight is very rare and is particularly rich in Jacksons work. These songs get under the skin in the best possible way.

Great thread. After reading, I had to pull out the Late For The Sky album last night and give it a spin. Will probably cue up Running on Empty tonight.

Bill

JB is one of the few artistes from the early 70's to have maintained evolving songwriting and performing skills of a very high standard.

'I'm Alive' - (allegedly, emotionally fired by his breakup with Darryl Hannah) is superb from start to finish, and 'The Naked Ride Home' is similarly politically scathing and socially observant.

Listen to the magnificent 'Sergio Leone' in the dark, and one is transported to Arizona, and visions of Lee Van Cleef in a bad mood.

A wonderfully evocative track (and a cinematic history lesson to boot).

John.

I saw JB perform solo and acoustic at the London Palladium last year. Him, umpteen guitars and a keyboard. He was wonderful. Relaxed, funny and of course in total command of the material. His willingness to play "requests" from the audience was most refreshing. Just occassionally though I missed the extra dimension of a band playing with him. When I saw him in upstate New York in 1988 he had a stalwart band with him, including David Lindley and they were fantastic.

I have to say that sky blue and black off 'I'm alive' is classic Jackson.

Seconded Simon.

"And the heavens were rolling, like a wheel on a track. Our sky was unfolding, and it will never fold back".

Wonderful stuff.

John.