If you've not had the fortune of seeing one of the series of solo acoustic concerts Jackson Browne has performed around the world the last few years, his new Solo Acoustic, Vol. 1 brings some of it into your living room or vehicle.
The solo shows were often in smaller, intimate venues. It was not uncommon for fans to call out song titles and for Browne, alone on stage with a piano and approximately a dozen different acoustic guitars, to play whatever request struck his fancy.
Released on Inside Recordings, an independent label Browne founded in 1999, the disc attempts to capture the tone and feeling of these shows. It contains 12 cuts and is just what the shows consisted of --- the songwriter alone with a piano and his acoustic guitars and engaging in a variety of exchanges with the audience. By including songs from throughout his lengthy career, Browne makes this an effort to reach as many fans as possible. In addition, the CD also marks the commercial debut of "The Birds of St. Marks," a song more than 30 years old but not previously commercially released.
Given the setting of their original recordings, some of the songs — "These Days" and "Everyman" for example — seem to naturally fit a solo acoustic performance. Yet whether with his voice, his playing or both, Browne seems to instill them with a variations in nuance and feel. Other songs adapt remarkably well to an acoustic version even though they were originally recorded in a band setting. A prime example is "Lives in the Balance." Not only does the song seem to have more emotion with Browne performing alone on acoustic guitar, it is, sadly, as politically relevant as it was when originally released in 1986. Likewise, the title track to 1996's Looking East seems to reveal more in this setting that in the version recorded with a band.
Article comments
1 - John Robinson
As a fan of Jackson Browne for 34 years, I was indeed delighted to buy this CD. Jackson is not only a tremendous performer and talented songwriter/musician, he is sincere. He is a humanitarian, and he is also very humble which makes him very special in my book. It's a pity that a DVD of his concerts along with backstage interviews is not available because he is a wonderful person to listen to. May he continue to write and play meaningful songs and inspire a new generation of musicians who are indeed looking for musical inspiration. Jackson is certainly up there amongst the best of his generation.
2 - John Robinson
As a fan of Jackson Browne for 34 years, I was indeed delighted to buy this CD. Jackson is not only a tremendous performer and talented songwriter/musician, he is sincere. He is a humanitarian, and he is also very humble which makes him very special in my book. It's a pity that a DVD of his concerts along with backstage interviews is not available because he is a wonderful person to listen to. May he continue to write and play meaningful songs and inspire a new generation of musicians who are indeed looking for musical inspiration. Jackson is certainly up there amongst the best of his generation.