Track Listing

1. The Barricades Of Heaven
2. These Days
3. The Birds Of St. Marks (never before released!)
4. Fountain Of Sorrow
5. Your Bright Baby Blues
6. For A Dancer
7. Too Many Angels
8. For Everyman
9. Lives In the Balance
10. Looking East
11. The Pretender
12. Take It Easy

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5022 in Music
• Brand: Dig
• Released on: 2005-10-11
• Number of discs: 1

Album Description
Presenting twelve songs culled from Browne's extensive and critically acclaimed solo acoustic concerts around the world over the past few years, the disc also captures both spirited and humorous exchanges between Jackson and his audiences, making for a truly intimate listening experience. This new comp, produced by Browne and Paul Dieter, is Jackson's first live release since his 1977 multi-platinum "Running On Empty" album. It also marks the recording debut of a three decades old track, "The Birds Of St. Marks", not previously released in any form. "Solo Acoustic" reaches back to Browne's early years with "These Days" and "Take It Easy", and spans his entire career with other highlights such as "Fountain Of Sorrow", "For Everyman", "The Pretender", and "Looking East". A stirring version of "Lives In The Balance", the title track from Jackson's powerful 1986 album, will be this record's lead single.

About the Artist
Over the course of more than three decades, Jackson Browne has written and performed some of the most literate and moving songs in popular music. With classic albums including Late For The Sky, The Pretender, Running On Empty, and For Everyman, and songs like "Doctor My Eyes," "Rock Me On The Water," and "Lives In The Balance," he has defined a genre of songwriting that is charged with honesty, emotion and personal politics. Along the way, he has touched the hearts and minds of countless fans worldwide.

Jackson’s artistry was recognized with his 2004 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the honor eloquently delivered by friend and fellow Hall of Famer Bruce Springsteen. He also received in 2004 an honorary Doctorate of Music from Occidental College in Los Angeles, for "a remarkable musical career that has successfully combined an intensely personal artistry with a broader vision of social justice."

Browne’s latest album release is 2005’s Jackson Browne Solo Acoustic Vol. 1, presenting twelve songs culled from his acclaimed solo acoustic concerts performed worldwide over the past few years. The disc also captures spirited and humorous exchanges between Jackson and his audience, making for an intimate listening experience. Set for release October 11, 2005, Jackson Browne Solo Acoustic Vol. 1 is Inside Recordings' inaugural release under its direct distribution deal with ADA. Presenting twelve songs culled from Browne’s extensive and critically acclaimed solo acoustic concerts around the world over the past few years, the disc also captures both spirited and humorous exchanges between Jackson and his audiences, making for a truly intimate listening experience. This new compilation, produced by Jackson Browne and Paul Dieter, is his first live release since his 1977 multi-platinum album Running On Empty. Jackson Browne Solo Acoustic Vol. 1 also marks the recording debut! of a song more than three decades old, "The Birds Of St. Marks," not previously released in any form. Featuring solo performances on both guitar and piano, the album's track listing reaches back to Browne’s early years with "These Days" and "Take It Easy," and spans his entire career with other highlights including "Fountain Of Sorrow," "For Everyman," "The Pretender" and "Looking East." A stirring live version of "Lives In The Balance," the title track from Jackson’s powerful 1986 album, will be the new album’s lead single.

Customer Reviews

Poetry with chords...
With nothing more than an acoustic guitar or piano, a quick wit and a voice that's aged like the finest wine, Jackson Browne comes off sounding as youthful and vigorous as he was in his earliest days. These songs are lyrical masterpieces, performed by a truly gifted singer/songwriter/musician.

The poetry of "These Days," "For a Dancer," "Fountain of Sorrow," and "Take It Easy" has yet to be surpassed, even 30 years later. It's just plain fun to hear acoustic renditions of "Lives in the Balance" and "Looking East" (you can ignore the brief, petty political commentary that proceeds them, if you wish). "For Everyman" still remains a lyrical masterwork; and "Your Bright Baby Blues," played in a bluesier fashion, becomes a rejuvenated work of art.

The only problem with this album, really, is that it only contains 12 songs; thankfully, this is SOLO ACOUSTIC VOL. 1; meaning, if there isn't a VOL. 2 in the works, then there are going to be some very disgruntled fans out there. Jackson Browne is a true artist; if you've heard any of his music, you know this. If you haven't, then do yourself a favor and buy this album; if you are a fan of music--whatever genre--you will not regret it.

Browne The Storyteller
Jackson Browne is one of the best songwriters of the past thirty years. His songs are topical, introspective and descriptive. On Solo Acoustic, Vol. 1, he lets those lyrics come to the center stage with just Mr. Browne and his acoustic guitar for accompaniment. Eschewing his biggest hits, the song selection focuses mainly on album tracks from his mid 70's albums For Everyman, Late For The Sky & The Pretender and his 90's albums. Mr. Browne's voice is still in great shape and his passionate readings of "For A Dancer", the superb "These Days", "Too Many Angels" & "Looking East" show off his storytelling skill. The two best tracks are an impassioned version of "Lives In The Balance" which takes on more resonance in these times and a brilliant version of "The Pretender". Hopefully there will be a Solo Acoustic, Vol. 2 and will be as worthwhile as this album.

"Birds" Alone is Worth the Price of Admission
I own every Jackson Browne cd that has been commercially released. With a substantial cd collection, he remains one of my favourite artists. He has however, outdone himself here. From "The Barricades of Heaven" (a song which is fair at best in its original, studio form on "Looking East" but terrific here) through "Take It Easy", Browne gives a scholar's lesson on songwriting and sparse arrangements. With the inclusion of "The Birds of St. Marks", the listener is treated to a gut-wrenching, soul-lifting 5 minutes of pure songwriting genius, apparently 30 years after it was written. That track alone is so good that it prompted me to write this, my first ever review of many great cds in my collection. I suppose it helps to be a Jackson Browne fan to begin with, so if you are, you should pick this up, you won't be disappointed - you should be elated. If you're not a fan yet and you like mellow music, you'll no doubt like this, but it's not necessarily the place I'd start into JB. For that I'd recommend any of "Saturate Before Using", "Late for the Sky" or "For Everyman".