Jackson Browne

Clyde Jackson Browne (born October 9, 1948) is an American rock music singer, songwriter, guitarist, and pianist, whose introspective lyrics made him one of the most influential musicians of the confessional, Southern Californian singer-songwriter movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Biography

Born in Heidelberg (his father was an American serviceman stationed in occupied Germany), Browne moved to the Highland Park district of Los Angeles, California at an early age and began singing folk music locally. In 1966, he joined the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

A precociously gifted songwriter, Browne signed a publishing contract with Nina Music, and his songs were performed by Tom Rush, Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, the Byrds and Steve Noonan, among others.

After moving to Greenwich Village, New York, Browne worked briefly in Tim Buckley's back-up band and on Nico's Chelsea Girl. After leaving New York City, Browne formed a folk band with Ned Doheney and Jack Wilce.

In 1971, Browne signed with Asylum Records and released Jackson Browne (1972), which included the piano-driven "Doctor My Eyes", a top ten hit on U.S. pop singles chart. "Rock Me on the Water" from the same album also gained considerable FM radio airplay, while "Jamaica Say You Will" and "Song For Adam" helped establish Browne's reputation as a versatile and original writer with a downbeat-but-romantic air.

His next album, For Everyman (1973), while considered of high quality, was a commercial failure. "Take It Easy", co-written with the Eagles' Glenn Frey, had already been a big hit for that group, "These Days" captured the essence of Browne's youthful, morose angst, and the title track was the first of Browne's studies of personal despair set against the backdrop of a decaying society.

Late for the Sky (1974) consolidated Browne's following, with some fans drawn in purely by the record's intriguing, Magritte-inspired cover. Highlights included the searching, heartbreaking title song, the elegiac "For a Dancer" and apocalyptic "Before the Deluge". The arrangements featured the evocative violin and guitar of David Lindley, Jai Winding's outstanding piano, and the stellar harmonies of Doug Haywood. The title track was also featured in Martin Scorsese's film, Taxi Driver.

Browne's disaffected character struck out even more starkly in his next album, The Pretender, which is arguably his darkest. It was released in 1976, after the suicide of his wife, Phyllis. The album features stronger production by Jon Landau and a mixture of styles, ranging from the Mariachi-inspired peppiness of "Linda Paloma" to the country-driven "Your Bright Baby Blues" to the near-hopelessness of "Sleep's Dark and Silent Gate". Title track "The Pretender" is Browne's magnum opus, a vivid account of romanticism losing the battle with the realities of day-to-day life.

By now, Browne's work had gained a reputation for its compelling melodies, clear, honest, and insightful lyrics, and a flair for composition rarely seen in the world of rock and roll. He was often referred to as "a thinking man's rock star." Also during this time, Browne produced and played on his good friend Warren Zevon's first two Asylum albums.

Browne began recording his next LP while on tour, and Running on Empty (1977) became his biggest commercial success. Breaking the usual conventions for a live album, Browne used all new material and combined live concert performances with recordings made on buses, in hotel rooms, and back stage. Running on Empty contains many renowned songs, such as the propulsive title track (Browne's biggest hit single), "The Road", "Rosie", and "The Load-Out/Stay" (Browne's affectionate and knowing send-off to his concert audiences).

In 1979, Browne was a founding member of Musicians United for Safe Energy.

His next album Hold Out (1980) was commercially successful — his only number 1 record on the U.S. pop albums chart — and the hit single "Somebody's Baby" from the Fast Times at Ridgemont High soundtrack and 1983's Lawyers in Love followed.

Political protest came out full force in Lives in the Balance (1986), an overt condemnation of Reaganism and American policy in Central America. Flavored with new instrumental textures, it was a huge success with Browne fans, though not with mainstream audiences. World in Motion (1989) was even more politically-oriented and polarizing. Browne frequently played benefit concerts for causes he believed in, including Amnesty International (making several appearances on the 1986 A Conspiracy of Hope Tour), Farm Aid, post-Somoza Nicaragua and the Christic Institute. He also sang a duet with Jann Arden, Unloved on her 1995 album Living Under June.

After four years of silence and a break-up with his girlfriend, actress Daryl Hannah, Browne returned with I'm Alive, a critically acclaimed album with a more personal perspective that had no hits but still sold respectably. Looking East (1996) was released soon after, but was not as successful commercially. The Naked Ride Home was released in 2002.

Browne was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. In his induction speech, Bruce Springsteen noted that while the Eagles got to the Hall first, "you ^* wrote the songs they wished they had written". The previous year, three of Browne's albums — For Everyman, Late for the Sky, and The Pretender — had been selected by Rolling Stone magazine as among its choices for the 500 best albums of all time.

Browne participated in the Vote for Change tour in October 2004, playing a series of concerts in American swing states. These concerts were organized by MoveOn.org to mobilize people to vote for John Kerry in the Presidential campaign. Browne appeared with Bonnie Raitt and Keb' Mo', and once with Bruce Springsteen.

Browne's most recent album, Solo Acoustic, Vol. 1, was released in 2005 on Inside Recordings. The album consists of live recordings of eleven previously released tracks and "The Birds of St. Marks", a song that does not appear on any of Browne's studio albums.

Discography

Albums

1972 Jackson Browne aka Saturate Before Using US #53 (Pop Albums)
1973 For Everyman US #43 (Pop Albums)
1974 Late for the Sky US #14 (Pop Albums)
1976 The Pretender UK #26, US #5 (Pop Albums)
1977 Running on Empty UK #28, US #3 (Pop Albums)
1980 Hold Out US #1 (Pop Albums)
1983 Lawyers in Love UK #37, US #8 (Pop Albums) #30 (Billboard 200)
1986 Lives in the Balance UK #36, US #23 (Billboard 200)
1989 World in Motion UK #39, US #45 (Billboard 200)
1993 I'm Alive UK #35, US #40 (Billboard 200)
1996 Looking East US #36 (Billboard 200)
2002 The Naked Ride Home US #36 (Billboard 200)
2005 Solo Acoustic, Vol. 1 US #55

Compilations

1997 The Best of Jackson Browne
2004 The Very Best of Jackson Browne

Singles

"Doctor My Eyes" (1972) #8 US
"Rock Me On The Water" (1972) #48 US
"Redneck Friend" (1973) #85 US
"Here Come Those Tears Again" (1977) #23 US
"The Pretender" (1977) #58 US
"Running On Empty" (1978) #11 US
"The Load-Out/Stay" (1978) #20 US
"Boulevard" (1980) #19 US
"That Girl Could Sing" (1980) #22 US
"Somebody's Baby" (1982) #7 US
"Lawyers In Love" (1983) #13 US
"Tender Is The Night" (1983) #25 US
"For A Rocker" (1984) #45 US
"For America" (1986) #30 US
"In The Shape Of A Heart" (1986) #70 US