Jackson Browne Live Again on Solo Acoustic

The summer I discovered drugs, hitch-hiking and a few other things, I also bought my very first record, Jackson Browne’s road album, “Running on Empty.” I still have that record, and it has a lot of scratches. I’m surprised I didn’t wear it out. I went out and bought the CD years later just so I’d have a clean copy. Jackson has always been one of my favorite songwriters.

When I first heard “Running on Empty” as a mere whippersnapper I was fascinated by the instrumentation, Jackson’s soulful voice and by the energy of a live record. And of course there were the pictures. Open up the album and you get a big booklet with all the road photos and when you’re a kid you think, wow, I want to be just like them. I want to rehearse with my band in a messy studio and play outside for thousands of people, just me and my guitar.

Now I look at it and go, wow, those guys were young. But Jackson is still putting out great music. His recent volumes of live acoustic songs are called Solo Acoustic Volume 1 and 2. I haven’t heard the second yet, but the first is a gem. He plays a lot of his really old songs. Among my favorites are “These Days,” just himself on acoustic guitar, and “For a Dancer,” which he plays on the piano. He’s really an amazing all-around musician.

He’s transposed many of his songs down a few half-steps to match his ever-deepening voice, but he still sounds great and tells a couple of really funny stories and makes some good cracks on the album. If you’re a fan of Jackson Browne from the old days and you haven’t caught onto this album yet, my advice is to run out and get it.

Kristin Kirby

(photo credit: mmewuji)

April 12th, 2009 by admin | Posted in Artisits | (0)