Written: 30th December 2024
Jackson Browne has been part of my musical life for close to forty years. I was introduced to him in the mid-eighties (between the release of Lives In The Balance and World In Motion) by a friend whose father was a huge fan. With Late For The Sky and For Everyman being the first albums I heard, I was immediately enraptured by his profound, evocative lyrics and reflective, introspective songwriting. He remains one of my favourite solo artists of all time.
Within some of my other ranking lists, I included - and obviously ranked at the bottom - albums I do not like much at all; however, every album included here has at least something to offer and so this list (the collation of which was no easy task) goes from the fair to the good, to the great to the classic.
As with all of my other ranking pieces, my introduction to each album, the time they appeared in my life and my personal resonance with them has played a part in their placement. With some of the albums towards the middle of the list, there is such a small gap between them that they could easily swap places on another day. I also consider how many tracks on an album I rate highly and how the album flows and makes me feel as whole.
Remember, ranking albums is purely subjective and no list is any more valid that any other. Comment and leave your own thoughts at the end!
15: World In Motion (1989)
At my time of becoming a fan of Jackson Browne, I was introduced via his earliest albums and it was not until after the release of I’m Alive that I went back and filled in some of the gaps in my collection. Even a cursory listen to World In Motion revealed that it diverged from his albums of the seventies, leaning increasingly into social and political commentary. He should be commended for expressing his deep concern for justice and environmental issues and while I have never really had a problem with him doing so, I believe his strongest material focusses on personal, emotional depth. With World In Motion, I have always found Side One to be far stronger than Side Two. Nevertheless, there is still enough of interest to warrant on occasional listen.
Three favourite tracks: World In Motion, Enough of the Night, Lights and Virtues
14: Hold Out (1980)
Although it contains some moments of magic, such as Call It A Loan – a hauntingly beautiful ballad co-written with David Lindley - Hold Out ultimately falls short of the lofty expectations set by Browne’s previous work. On an album that seems to split the fanbase, it sees him aiming to musically embrace the arrival of a new decade while retaining some of his signature lyricism. Despite some wonderful guitar work by Lindley during some tracks, Hold Out is an uneven album that fails to capture the imagination across its length.
Three favourite tracks: Hold Out, Of Missing Persons, Call It A Loan
13: Time The Conqueror (2008)
An album that oscillates between moments of lyrical sagacity and some commendable ideas, Time The Conqueror ultimately lacks the indelible resonance that characterises Browne’s best songs. There is nothing to inspire complete dislike but equally there is not a lot that is memorable. While writing this ranking, I realised just how many years it had been since I listened to this in its entirety and that perhaps, that is an indication of its failings, as does the fact that my three favourite tracks are the first three on the album. Across its length, it fails to imbue the majority of songs with the dynamism required to leave a lasting impression. Lyrically, it is often tied to the politics of the time, thus robbing it of the timelessness found in the albums much higher in this ranking.
Three favourite tracks: Time The Conqueror, Off To Wonderland, The Drums Of War
12: Lawyers In Love (1983)
With a notable shift in his musical and thematic approach, Jackson started to merge social commentary with a more polished pop-rock sound. This seems to be an album I can easily split into two; the three tracks I name below as my favourites are, in my opinion, far better songs than the other five. It is not an album that I return to often but when I do, I feel that Browne made a reasonable, if not entirely successful attempt, to fully embrace the eighties.
Three favourite tracks: Lawyers In Love, Tender Is The Night, For A Rocker
11: Looking East (1996)
Following the virtually flawless I’m Alive, Looking East moved back towards a balance of personal and social themes. While not quite reaching those heights, this is the first album in this ranking that ranks above the purely average, teetering into the mostly good. Barricades of Heaven remains one of his best songs from any album and despite (once again) the first three songs being the best and it then dipping in quality a little in the middle, I enjoy it significantly more than Lawyers In Love.
Three favourite tracks: Looking East, Barricades of Heaven, Some Bridges
10: The Naked Ride Home (2002)
Sometimes appearing lost in Browne’s back catalogue, The Naked Ride Home signified the longest gap between releases – up to that point at least. However, I believe that this is one of the most underrated albums of his career. An album that takes its time to reveal its charm, The Naked Ride Home – from the brooding Casino Nation to the internal questioning of the title track - feels like a more relaxed, organic and natural collection of songs than its predecessor. If you have not listened to this one for a while, maybe now is a prime opportunity to give it another chance.
Three favourite tracks: The Naked Ride Home, The Night Inside Me, Walking Town
9: Lives In The Balance (1986)
Being someone that grew from eight to seventeen during the 1980s, I perhaps have a different viewpoint (more forgiving) on some of the production techniques that date so many of the songs from that period. Lives In The Balance is one such example. A prime example of discovering an album at the right time for it to find a special place in my heart – many fans would not rank it this highly. However, I do not love all of it (namely Candy and Till I Go Down) but for all its overtly political lyrics and cheesy synths, I find a lot of it irresistible listening.
Three favourite tracks: In The Shape Of A Heart, Lawless Avenues, Lives In The Balance
8: Downhill From Everywhere (2021)
Almost fifty years on from his debut, Jackson Browne’s fifteenth (and most recent) album found him continuing to explore global landscapes, assessing his internal musings and exploring the depths of his soul. There is a variety within the songs and the lyrics; he uses upbeat tempos and a more whimsical approach on My Cleveland Heart and complements tender explorations of love and connection on tracks such as Minutes to Downtown.
Three favourite tracks: Still Looking For Something, My Cleveland Heart, A Little Too Soon To Say
7: Jackson Browne (1972)
Jackson Browne’s eponymous debut album is an outstanding achievement for an artist releasing their first material. With an emphasis on song structure, infectious lyrical themes and with songs ranging from the plaintive to the catchy, it laid the foundation for his illustrious career and began his legacy as one of the preeminent songwriters of his generation.
Three favourite tracks: Song For Adam, Doctor My Eyes, From Silver Lake
6: Standing In The Breach (2014)
In The Breach marked a triumphant re-emergence of Jackson’s artistry. Perfectly hitting the balance between personal reflection and socio-political commentary, it showcases his unwavering approach to both songwriting and activist principles. With The Birds of St. Marks finally recorded for a studio album almost fifty years after it was originally written, I (like many fans) was hooked from the outset.
Three favourite tracks: The Birds Of St. Marks, Walls and Doors, Standing In The Breach
5: Running On Empty (1977)
Partly due to its iconic title track, Running On Empty is Jackson Brown’s best selling album. A bold shift from traditional study recordings, it captures various moments from Jackson Browne’s tour. When I first heard the album at the age of fifteen, I was enthralled by the atmosphere of the album, which gave the feeling of connecting with Browne and his band during the moments he chose to record these tracks: The Load Out – for example – providing an intimate look into the ups and downs of a musician’s life on tour.
Three favourite tracks: Running On Empty, You Love The Thunder, The Load-Out
4: For Everyman (1973)
For Everyman was the second Jackson Browne album I heard - almost forty years ago - and one that stands the test of time admirably. An exemplary collection of songs full of lyrical insightfulness and melodic sophistication, it regularly appears high in any ranking of his albums. Having obtained the album on vinyl during those first months of listening to him, I enjoyed diving into Jackson’s masterful, intricate narratives which still resonate to this day.
Three favourite tracks: Take It Easy, These Days, For Everyman
3: I’m Alive (1993)
Although World In Motion was the next release after I started listening to Jackson, it was not until the release of I’m Alive that I bought my first ‘new’ album as a fan. I had read several excellent reviews and all seemed to be heralding it as a return to form. Upon hearing it, I had to agree with the critics of the time, each track casting a magical spell during those initial listens. It remains one of my most played Jackson Browne albums and my love of I’m Alive was cemented by seeing him live three times on the accompanying tour.
Three favourite tracks: Too Many Angels, Take This Rain, Sky Blue and Black
2: The Pretender (1976)
Standing as a poignant and introspective work, The Pretender captures Jackson Browne at a crossroads in his life, marked with deeply personal themes, a grappling with loss, existential questions and the search for meaning in an increasingly complex world. With melancholic and thoughtful lyrics, it is full of incisive lyrics and memorable melodies. It is testament to the majesty of the album at number one in this list that a collection of songs as great as this “only” makes number two.
Three favourite tracks: The Fuse, Sleep’s Dark and Silent Gate, The Pretender
1: Late For The Sky (1974)
The first Jackson Browne album I heard, owned and loved, Late For The Sky is impeccable, from its stunning songwriting and virtuosic performances to its lyrics drenched in emotive eloquence. Having played it again and again during my discovery of this work of genius, it has become one of my top twenty albums of all time, with an unparalleled depth and beauty within Browne’s discography. The lush but understated production allows the emotional weight of the songs to take centre stage and the contributions of musicians such as David Lindley and Doug Haywood add warm textures enhancing the compositions without overshadowing them. A masterpiece.
Three favourite tracks: Late For The Sky, Fountain of Sorrow, Before The Deluge
Listen to my Jackson Browne Through the Years playlist featuring my three favourite songs from each album in chronological order. I also added Stay to the playlist as it does not feel right to miss it off after the The Load-Out.
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