Jackson Browne: Solo Acoustic, Vol. 1 CD Track Listing

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Jackson Browne Solo Acoustic, Vol. 1 (2005)
Solo Acoustic Vol. 1 - Disc 1 of 2\n\nOriginally Released October 11, 2005\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: The opening 28 seconds of Jackson Browne's Solo Acoustic, Vol. 1 are massive crowd applause. Even its volume level gets boosted the way it did on live albums from the 1970s. Guess he wants you to know he still matters to people -- and it's totally unnecessary. The music here speaks for itself. Whether or not one appreciates Browne's recorded catalog is immaterial; his gift as a songwriter is enigmatic, unassailable, and singular. There are 12 songs here from throughout Browne's career, ranging from "These Days" and "For Everyman" to "Lives in the Balance" and "Looking East" and all points in between. There are numerous spoken and instrumental intros to the material; Browne's a fine and comfortable communicator when it comes to sitting naked and alone in front of an audience, though sometimes his humor is cynical and borders on bitter. The versions of "For a Dancer" and "The Pretender" are deeply moving as are "These Days" and "Too Many Angels." It would be easy to live without all the intros, as they merely point toward Browne and what he has accomplished, when the songs so easily speak for themselves and for him. Perhaps on volume two he'll let that happen. Despite his many asides, this is a fine and necessary addition to Browne's catalog. Still one has to wonder, with the double-disc Rhino set that appeared earlier in 2005 and these live retrospectives, when there will be new material coming from a songwriter who has had something to say that mattered in each of the last four decades. Let's hope it's soon. -- Thom Jurek\n\nAmazon.com Product Description\nPresenting 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. \n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nA Conservative Musician on Jackson, June 16, 2006\nReviewer: Michael P. Moore "vmoomic" (Santa Barbara, Ca.)\nThis disc is a special treat in my opinion. I couldn't disagree more with his political talk here and I agree with some others that it's not appropriate in the venue. I will however grant that he has to right to express himself as he chooses, when he wants to. Taken on the scope of his entire career I wish I had just a fingernail full of his songwriting and singing talent. I have listened to, played and, been comforted by his music since the begining of his career. I'm particularly pleased that he released "The Birds of St. Marks", as I have been haunted by that tune since I saw him do it on the Disney special on Showtime, I believe it was. One of his best ever! As far as people getting on him about some of his personal affairs, I wonder how they would feel if the lense was focused on them? We've all done things we're not proud of. I met him in a grocery store years ago and he was charming. I think he is a gracious and talented performer, one of our best, and his body of work speaks for itself. \n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nHey Conservatives, February 20, 2006\nReviewer: ec (Los Angeles, CA)\nHey all you Conservatives who didn't know that Jackson Browne was a liberal and politically active, where have you been? Have you actually listened to any of his songs? You would really have to be a complete MORON to not know WITHIN FIVE MINUTES OF LISTENING TO HIS MUSIC that he's on the right side of the political spectrum as the correct side, as in he's a LEFTY. Stop whining and find a songwriter more your speed. Someone who doesn't care about people. \n\nAs far as this CD is concerned, I was a little disappointed at how short it was and how many great songs were left out. But overall, it's truly beautiful. Looking forward to Vol. 2.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nAN ARTIST WHO HASN'T GROWN IN 30 YEARS COUNTS ON A SIMILAR AUDIENCE , January 10, 2006\nReviewer: V. Rock "mothball raven" (Southern California)\nI was a big fan of Jackson's first three albums. But The Pretender and everything that followed only disappointed me. In fact, when Jackson began his career as a songwriter in the Elektra stable, one could say his work was very mature for his age and experience. Problem is, 30 plus years have gone by and Jackson hasn't grown a bit in terms of his artistry or overall maturity. And he works at a snail's pace!! If anything, he has become a static bore with an even more dull band (gone are the days of Lindley & co.). The man hasn't grown and is wad-shot on ideas. He is a tired old idealist wedded to extremely naive and intolerant political views. He's also a woman basher - yet sooo sensitive. \n\nWhile Running On Empty was a themed live album and had it's share of moments, this new one is just as boring as his acoustic shows over the past few years. Tired uninteresting music for an adoring bunch of boomers who also have failed to grow to higher heights and greater maturity and better artistry. \n\nThis is the sensitive, caring music of hypocrites and knee-jerkers. They are both onstage and in the audience. Summed up in EMPTINESS, SHALLOWNESS masquerading as POETRY! C'mon!! Jackson's audience doesn't know what poetry is. And all those claims in Rolling Stome magazine about JB being the poet of rock during the 1970's were jive even then. \n\nAll this stuff has been done better before. Jackson is a very limited player. Intimate? I don't know. I've been dragged to enough of his fund raisers to realize that this set is pretty programmed. There is very little that is spontaneous about a Jackson show. \n\nOnly justification for this release is to put more product on the shelf - part 2 is on the way I'm sure. And I'm sure neither cd will be maxed out on time. But it does have Birds Of St. Marks, which may be the only saving grace here. \n\nI'm sure Jackson fans will embrace this with an almost religious fervor. All I'm asking these fans to do is think about what it is they find so great about this guy. I know he's cute, but is he as deep as you think he is? Some of his latter day stuff just blows. I don't care if you're his stunning mystery companion or not. \n\nHow about a box set of unreleased gems instead? \n\nJackson needs to take himself and all of his causes less seriously and re-introduce us to his Redneck Friend! \n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nBlech!, January 7, 2006\nReviewer: hrtshpdbox (Harrisburg, PA) \nBrowne's been quite successful, for decades, in getting starry-eyed college girls to sway along to those three chords he plays. And the lyrics? Well, Browne is probably the only person who can rhyme "pretender" with "ice cream vendor" and get people to think it's poetry. This master of the insipid and banal had the gall to say that Joni Mitchell is "a bitter old woman who never had a great album". Gee, Jacko, I think Blue is better than any of your pablum by a factor of about a zillion. And I'm not even going to MENTION Daryl Hannah. Oops. Don't support creeps, leave this drivel on the shelf.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nA heathen and a pagan on the side of the rebel Jesus, December 7, 2005\nReviewer: Travis Dubya McGee Bickle "elitist duffer" (Texas Quail Hunting Camp)\nNice assaying of the hits by good ole Jackson. All done in a completely acoustic format, with all sounds on the record being made by Mr. Browne (at least that's what I'm led to believe). I'd never heard "Birds of St. Marks" before and it lives up to its rep as one of the great unheards...I could've lived without the totally uncatchy "Lives in the Balance"...he's always lost me when he's tried to do the polemic stuff. But not to harp on the negative - the classics are represented beautifully here - including such all time chestnuts as "Fountain of Sorrow" (one of his best) and "For A Dancer" (his absolute best, if you ask me)...Several songs even gain from the acoustic format - I think the version contained here of "Bright Baby Blues" surpasses the original... \n\nAnd, last but not least, and just in time for the season, a somewhat polemic tune that I can recommend: "The Rebel Jesus"...its message is even more topically relevant in today's political climate than when he first wrote it.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nDefinitive Solo Performance!, November 24, 2005\nReviewer: James Taylor "apreacher" (Miami, FL USA)\nThis is a brilliant album, and one of the best reasons I've had lately to continue buying CDs. It's a showcase of a performer at his peak, and ample justification of his now-legendary status. \n\nI must first commend Jackson on his courage. Few major artistes are brave enough to expose themselves and their musicianship in a live, solo effort. There is no backing band, no backup vocalists, and no studio gimmickry to cover mistakes. It's just the performer and his audience. This has to be the toughest type of performance, and Jackson nails it. \n\nBrowne is a superb communicator, keeping his audience riveted to his music, and entertained between songs with his funny stories and off-handed quips. Browne gives his all to his audience, and the audience loves him back. The energy is palpable. \n\nThis CD has not left my changer since it first arrived. I've played it almost every day for the past month, and each time I find something new to enjoy. There are so many great tracks, that picking one song isn't easy, but my current favorite is Fountain of Sorrow, with its sensitive interweaving of romantic illusion and reality. \n\nHaving recently suffered bereavement, of special significance to me is, For a Dancer, a song about death. The words resonate with me as I consider the loved one I lost, and the inevitability of my own death, "...in the end there is one dance you'll do alone." \n\nBrowne's versatility on both piano and guitar is impressive. His piano work on tracks like Birds of St. Marks, Fountain of Sorrow, and For a Dancer is soulful and understated, while his playing on bottle-neck and regular guitar shows that even after thirty years, the brother still has his chops. While his voice betrays hints of the weathering of age, it exhibits a richness and depth of expression that often accompanies artistic maturity. \n\nThis magnificent set concludes with a rocking rendition of one of Browne's most popular songs, Take it Easy. Having grown up with the Eagles' recording of this classic, Browne's rendition is my new favorite. \n\nMy only criticism of this CD is the absence of liner notes. When and where did these performances take place, and what's the background to these songs? We'd certainly like to know. That aside, this CD was worth every penny, and I can't wait for Volume 2. \n\nHalf.com Details \nProducer: Jackson Browne, Paul Dieter \nDistributor: Alternative Dis. Alliance \n\nAlbum Notes\nPersonnel: Jackson Browne (vocals, guitar).\n\nRecording information: Groovemasters, Santa Monica, California (2005).\n\nRecorded live in front of an enthusiastic audience, 2005's SOLO ACOUSTIC VOL. 1 presents revered California singer/songwriter Jackson Browne performing many of the finest tunes from various eras of his career. Here Browne is on stage alone, accompanying himself on either acoustic guitar or keyboards, relating humorous tales about his music and life in between songs. This minimal setting allows Browne to get to the heart of these celebrated tunes, from early-1970s classics such as the achingly beautiful "These Days" and the thoughtful "For Everyman" to the later politically minded tracks "Lives in the Balance" and "Lookin' East."\n\nBrowne's clear, charismatic vocals shine in the spare context, and his alternately introspective and socially conscious narratives both benefit in this scenario. Listeners will be especially pleased to hear the closing track, "Take It Easy," which, of course, was a much bigger hit for the Eagles than for Browne himself. Some fans may bemoan the absence of "Running on Empty" and "Doctor My Eyes," but it's likely that the foreshadowed VOL. 2 will pick up on those and other missing Browne hits.\n\nIndustry Reviews\n...[His] dogged sincerity sounds pretty damned good in 2005.... - Grade: B+\n\n\n3.5 stars out of 5 - ...Browne's strength has always been songwriting, and SOLO ACOUSTIC delivers those songs with no extra baggage.\n\n\n4 stars out of 5 - [H]ere's all the slipping dreams and empty beauty of Southern California life.\n\nOld and new Browne fans should be well pleased with this bright-sounding, tastefully compiled release. YEAR: 2005
This rock cd contains 20 tracks and runs 70min 48sec.
Freedb: 12109614
Buy: from Amazon.com

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