What does it sound like?:
This vinyl reissue was originally slated to appear with the original eight tracks spread over a two LP set, presumably to enhance the sound quality, but in the event has eventually shown up the same way it’s always been, a single album, albeit on 180 gram vinyl. The audio has been remastered, although it doesn’t sound significantly different to me, but that doesn’t detract from the fact that this remains Jackson Brown’s finest album, and I’d go as far as to say one of the best singer-songwriter albums of all time, epitomising the West Coast sound of the early seventies. Originally released in 1974, Browne is joined by David Lindley and his band, along with guests of the calibre of Don Henley and JD Souther for a collection of songs that touch on themes of love, loss and life itself. Look at the songs on here – the classic title track, Fountains of Sorrow, For A Dancer, Before The Deluge and one of my all time favourites, and for me not only the best thing here but one of the best things he ever did, The Late Show. This record sounds as fresh and as good now as it did when it was first released forty odd years since – great playing, great singing and great enduring songwriting. Top Stuff – an all time classic!
What does it all *mean*?
If you don’t appreciate the beauty of these songs then I’m afraid there really is no hope for you.
Goes well with…
Taking it easy.
Release Date:
Might suit people who like…
Laid back West Coast sounds, singer-songwriters of that golden age.
One of the best albums ever made, which would still sound great played through a sock – which is co-incidentally what the original CD version still sounds like. Much better in the remastered CD version, and good to see it out on vinyl again too.
The way the title track swirls around Travis Bickle as he primes himself for his killing spree towards the end of ‘Taxi Driver’ provides a supreme film soundtrack moment of hopelessness and crisis. Just awesome.
Had this on a “two-fer” cassette with The Pretender that I think I picked up for about 99p in WH Smith in Liverpool ca 1981. Played The Pretender a lot, but never really took to this album. Title track is great, but I found the rest pretty bland at the time, maybe I should give it another chance nearly 40 years later (MY GOD!)
I’m staggered you could come to that view @Dai. Dark and morose at times but wonderful lyrics, very strong melodies and excellent musicianship. Instill think it is his best in what was a very strong catalogue up to Hold Out.
In the Top 3 of Best Records Ever Made…
Yes, an exceptional record. My favourite JB album, just edging out “For Everyman”.
The singing and playing are consistently superb, and it contains four songs that are flat-out masterpieces, even by the sky-high standards of Browne’s early work: Late for the Sky, Farther On, For a Dancer and Before the Deluge.
Oh, and let’s have an extra hurrah for Bob Seidemann’s front cover photo and design – perfect!
The first JB album I owned. It was given to me by a good friend in the late `70s (the time not my friend). Bargie`s review caused me to get it out, ha some hope, no sign of it, must have vanished in the great LP diaspora of 1991. So I`m sat listening the new LP remaster at this moment and it sounds very good to my ears.
one of the best singer-songwriter albums of all time
One of the best albums ever made
In the Top 3 of Best Records Ever Made…
an exceptional record
Please forgive the copy and paste, but comments above are pretty high praise for an album thread that only has 7 comments. Not everyone agrees obviously.
I never did get the love that others had for Jackson Browne. I liked him fine, but he was no Neil Young or Paul Simon (etc etc).
I like For Everyman and Late For The Sky much more these days than i did back then. Running On Empty was brilliant, and very brave as it was a live album of new songs…..and we know what happened to Neil’s album of live unheard songs.
I remember buying Lives In The Balance and Lawyers In Love and not finding anything memorable in either. I gave up on him then.
The above statements are bold, and I don’t really agree with them, but I do think it’s a great album. It’s not so often that you get an album where every song is a keeper.
Whaaaat? Nothing memorable on the Lives In the Balance Album!
Apart from the title track there is Lawless Avenues and one of my all time favourite JB songs, In The Shape Of A Heart.
Here’s a live version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDgaLDdOC7Q
Afraid not, certainly not by comparison.
Glad you like it Carl. I don’t. I think as a youngster, I liked him a wee bit because of his association with The Eagles. I loved their guitar based country rock and wanted more. Browne’s stuff was just bland piano ballads to my ears. Running On Empty changed that, as I loved it so my expectations were high with both Lives In The Balance and Lawyers In Love which I bought. Disappointed with both and gave up.
I didn’t buy the early albums……my pals and I used to tape what we had and swap. Got them all now obviously.