Jackson Browne started his music career in his teens. He joined the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and, at 17, he became a staff writer for Elektra Records’ Nina Music. He dated Nico – she covered Browne’s ‘These Days’ on her album Chelsea Girl.
Browne signed with Asylum Records and immediately broke through with the hit ‘Doctor My Eyes’. The 1977 album Running On Empty, featuring new songs recorded live, boosted his profile. He’s continued to release earnest, literary songs.
Browne is especially talented as a lyricist. These ten songs underline his preoccupations – some of his best songs dissect relationships, while a constant search for redemption runs through many of these songs.
I had to leave out some terrific songs from this list. ‘These Days’ is Browne’s signature song, but other artists recorded better versions. I also had no room for the oddball 1983 single ‘Lawyers in Love’ or ‘Rock Me on the Water’ from his debut.
10 Best Jackson Browne Songs
#10 Jamaica Say You Will
from Jackson Browne (Saturate Before Using), 1972
The Byrds covered ‘Jamaica Say You Will’ a year before Browne included it on his debut album. It was also later the title track for Joe Cocker’s 1975 album.
Browne stated that the song was a fable, but also based on real-life experience. Browne was inspired by a girl who worked in an organic food orchard – they broke up when she wanted to go and see the world. Browne’s version features two Byrds – Clarence White on acoustic guitar and David Crosby on harmony vocals.
Jamaica was a sweet young one, I loved her true
She was a comfort and a mercy through and through
Hiding from this world together, next thing I knew
We had brought her things down to the bay — what could I do
#9 In The Shape of a Heart
from Lives in the Balance, 1986
Browne recounts his relationship with his first wife, Phyllis Major, on ‘In The Shape of the Heart’. Major committed suicide in 1976, leaving Browne with a young son.
Browne’s not a great vocalist, but his plainspoken emotion suits this tender self-examination. It’s lovely when he holds the long “I”s leading the chorus.
People speak of love don’t know what they’re thinking of
Wait around for the one who fits just like a glove
Speak in terms of belief and belonging
Try to fit some name to their longing
#8 Sky Blue and Black
from I’m Alive, 1993
Browne split with Daryl Hannah in 1992 – she accused him of domestic violence, although the claims were later dismissed as defamation. ‘Sky Blue and Black’ chronicles the breakup, with a gorgeous piano figure,
The song featured on the pilot episode of mega-successful TV series Friends.
You’re the color of the sky
Reflected in each store-front window pane
You’re the whispering and the sighing of my tires in the rain
You’re the hidden cost and the thing that’s lost
In everything I do
Yeah and I’ll never stop looking for you
In the sunlight and the shadows
And the faces on the avenue
#7 Somebody’s Baby
from Fast Times at Ridgemont High, 1982
‘Somebody’s Baby’ is an uncharacteristically upbeat, straightforward song from Browne. It was the first single from the soundtrack of the teen comedy Fast Times at Ridgemont High
The serious-minded Browne might seem like a strange choice for a 1980s teen comedy, but he does a top-notch job, delivering a sweet, memorable tune.
#6 Stay
from Running on Empty, 1977
Browne covered the oldie ‘Stay’ as part of a medley for Running on Empty. Running of Empty is a live album featuring mostly new material. It’s used here to convince the audience to stay. It’s so fun – the guitar and piano are joyful and propulsive. Browne, Rosemary Butler, and David Lindley’s falsetto tag team the vocals.
#5 For Everyman
from For Everyman, 1973
Browne wrote ‘For Everyman’ in response to ‘Wooden Ships’. ‘Wooden Ships’ was a post-apocalyptic fantasy written by David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Paul Kantner. It was recorded by CSN and by Jefferson Airplane.
Browne spent several months living on David Crosby’s boat, where Crosby and his friends fantasised about sailing to the South Pacific and starting a new civilisation. ‘For Everyman’ was a response to their unrealistic dream. Crosby clearly wasn’t offended, adding his harmony vocals to the chorus.
Everybody I talk to is ready to leave
With the light of the morning
They’ve seen the end coming down long enough to believe
That they’ve heard their last warning
#4 Running On Empty
from Running on Empty, 1977
Browne clearly took some notes from Bruce Springsteen. ‘Running on Empty’ recalls The Boss’s big automotive anthems.
‘Running on Empty’ sounds like a metaphor, but Browne wrote it about forgetting to fill his car. He told Rolling Stone “I was always driving around with no gas in the car. I just never bothered to fill up the tank because — how far was it anyway? Just a few blocks.”
Runnin’ on empty, runnin’ blind
Runnin’ into the sun
But I’m runnin’ behind
#3 Your Bright Baby Blues
from The Pretender, 1976
Unsurprisingly, a lot of 1976’s The Pretender deals with Phyllis Major’s suicide. I didn’t have room for the brief, solemn ‘Sleep’s Dark and Silent Gate’.
Browne assembled a terrific band for ‘Your Bright Baby Blues’:
- Chuck Rainey: bass
- Jim Gordon: drums
- Roy Bittan: piano
- Lowell George: slide guitar, harmony vocals
- Bill Payne: organ.
No matter how fast I run
I can never seem to get away from me
It’s almost gospel with the organ and George’s call-and-response vocals. The third verse is about Browne’s drug sessions with George, trying to numb the pain.
It’s so hard to come by
That feeling of peace
This friend of mine said
“Close your eyes, and try a few of these”
I thought I flying like a bird
So far above my sorrow
But when I looked down
I was standing on my knees
Now I need someone to help me
Someone to help me please
#2 Farther On
from Late for the Sky, 1974
Jackson Browne attained peak Jackson Browness with 1974’s Late for the Sky. It’s a serious meditation on mortality and meaning, culminating in the apocalyptic ‘Before the Deluge’.
‘Farther On’ balances hopelessness and hope, Browne resolving to soldier on despite his doubts and setbacks. It’s like a dialogue between Browne’s boyish, thoughtful voice and David Lindley’s searching lead guitar.
Though I keep a watch over the distance
Heaven’s no closer than it was yesterday
#1 Late For The Sky
from Late for the Sky, 1974
The title track from Late for the Sky is a lengthy meditation on a failed relationship. It’s rumoured to be about Joni Mitchell – Mitchell’s ‘Car on the Hill’ also examines their breakup.
Lindley’s guitar is again a key ingredient, adding some spark to Browne’s romantic dissertation. But the harmonies of bassist Doug Haywood are another key ingredient. Browne later explained:
It has this great harmony part by Doug Haywood that really makes the song. Doug, Don Henley, JD Souther, Dan Fogelberg, and I were really the best of friends back in the ’70s. Everybody has that group of friends in their life at the time they come of age, and these were mine. I had some of the most hilarious times standing around the mike with them.
Jackson Browne in Bego, Mark (2005). Jackson Browne: His Life and Music.
I’m not a very exacting harmony singer and certainly was less so then, so when we did harmonies they’d have to send me on some errand just so they could get it done. “Hey, yeah, Jackson, know what? I left something in my car, would you mind going and grabbing it?” I’d come back and the part would be finished.
How long have I been sleeping?
How long have I been drifting alone through the night
How long have I been running for that morning flight
Through the whispered promises and the changing light
Of the bed where we both lie
Late for the sky
Did I miss your favourite Jackson Browne song?
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An acquire taste for some, I made my peace with JB. Sometimes he may show as a whiny bore, If I’m not in the right mood. I agree on your number 1 choice: once his high pitched vocal shows up makes me think he’s not up to the task of the song, David Lindley’s guitar takes from there and rescues him. I kind of resent people takes a hard pass on “The Load Out “(the most generous depiction of behind stage loborers, and the musicians that make the show you could ever hope for) and stick with the coda of that song (the Mauroce Williams cover) for this is its function in the medley. It’s the celebration, the communion with the audience after the “Behind the music” narrative that comes before. I can’t conceive one without the other. For lenght reasons, American radio decided to chop it, and it’s criminal to me because “Stay” has 1.000 times more power once you have heard all the gears that worked before to get that joyful release at the end. I also have a soft spot for his comeback album, “I’m Alive”.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment. I think my listing of Stay as a seperate song comes from the radio splitting it up – the only Browne songs that classic radio ever played were ‘Running on Empty’ and ‘Stay’.
Yes, that’s how I heard it when I was living in NYC long ago and I was shoked that was the choice for the single. I forgot I also love “Doctor My Eyes”, especially all the things going on with the percussion there (more bongos in songs please!). It’s not like Browne has had many peppy numbers in his career (way too many ballads) and “Rock Me on The Water” is a nice gospel number, unusual for him. And kudos for leaving out “The Pretender” (song) off the list. I know I’m alone in a hill with hating that song and you like that album. To me, it represents what I dislike about him most; telling everyone else how to live. Hippies, good. Yuppies bad!! There had to be less smug ways to lament everyone selling out other than “I’m gonna be a happy idiot and struggle for the legal tender”. But somehow is “Imagine” that is always lambasted as being hypocritical.
I think The Pretender just isn’t as attention-grabbing as Imagine, so way less people have heard it. I just don’t love it musically – there are some decent lines – I’ve always liked:
“I want to know what became of the changes
We waited for love to bring
Were they only the fitful dreams
Of some greater awakening?”
‘Rock Me On The Water’ probably would have been my #11.
Those are couplets that reflect the evocative side of him. But the whole thing is built like a hymn (with those strings growing bigger and more triumphant as the song is ending; like he’s rising ABOVE The Pretender, you know?) and I may prefer my social/political commentary on the side of faster, louder or more colloquial terms like “War” or “Anarchy In the UK” or “Bad Luck” or “Final Solution”. Songs you can also dance about or pogo about without contemplating it like, wow, this is art!! It’s as attention-grabbing as “Imagine” to me as in “hear the lyrics and rhyme scheme, I’m f***good!” and even more so. It’s just people may not know about it, like you said. The hippy dreams he describes also sound naive but, worse of all, too gauche. And I’m not saying he was insincere (neither was Lennon). Just smug.
He’s not normally so condescending, right? Normally pretty compassionate.
I’m not sure “smug” is the right descriptor (which means self-satisfied). I don’t think Browne was trying to be “arty,” his sentiments here can be understood by anyone. “Trite” or “simplistic” might be better. The lyrics are not Dylan, or Joni, but it’s still a good song, to my ears, and coming on the cusp of the Reagan-Thatcher “Make as much $$ as you can and screw everything else” years, it needed to be expressed. At least, they meant something to me, a fucked-up, middle-class, recent college grad whose peers were all turning into yuppies. “The Only Child” is similar, lyrically, but I think better. The whole LP has an introspective world-weariness, but with sparks of hope, that I find satisfying.
I think all of my top 10 would be drawn from his first five albums. “Love Needs a Heart” would be high up there, it’s just so beautiful. “Fountain of Sorrow,” most of The Pretender. I agree that “These Days” was done better by others, notably Nico and Tom Rush. Nico’s, from 1967, predated Browne’s own, and is still my favorite.
I went back and listened to Love Needs a Heart – it’s never really jumped out at me before. Late for the Sky and Pretender are my two favourites – lots of good choices from those two.
Great list! Jackson Browne has been one of my favorite American artists for many moons. He first entered my radar screen with “Running On Empty,” which remains one of my favorite ‘70s albums.
Late for the Sky and The Pretender are even better IMO.
According to Wikipedia “In his speech inducting Browne into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Bruce Springsteen called Late for the Sky Browne’s “masterpiece” and referred to the car doors slamming at the end of “The Late Show”
That car door slamming was from my ’79 Chevy Impala. After college I hit the road and criss-crossed the country for a couple years…road map by my side, Browne’s music in my cassette deck. A lot of us declared our own, individual, Independence days.
That’s super cool!
It’s a solid list….your bright baby blues and running on empty have been my 1 and 2 since 1980. I would have fountain of sorrow, the road, somethin fine, rock me on the water and maybe our lady of the well on my list but can’t quibble with most of yours.
Thanks for writing in! You’ve been a fan about as long as I’ve been alive! Rock Me On The Water might well have been my number 11.
Good list! I’m glad you included Somebody’s Baby which I don’t see on some lists on him. When I think of him I think of Doctor My Eyes and Rock Me on the Water. My favorite would be Running On Empty and The Load Out.
You’re the second person to mention ‘The Load Out’ – always gets overshadowed by ‘Stay’ for me, but I probably should have presented them as a joint entry. Rock Me on the Water would have been #11.
I think of Stay and The Load Out as one song really because thats the way we have heard them. It was brilliant by him to connect them…also I have to mention…thats where I found out about Lindley.