Jackson Browne Albums Ranked

Clyde Jackson Browne (born October 9, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has sold over 18 million albums in the United States. Coming to prominence in the 1970s, Browne has written and recorded songs such as “These Days”, “The Pretender”, “Running on Empty”, “Lawyers in Love”, “Doctor My Eyes”, “Take It Easy”, “For a Rocker”, and “Somebody’s Baby”. In 2004, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, and given an honorary doctorate of music by Occidental College in Los Angeles, California. In 2015, Rolling Stone ranked him as 37th in its list of the “100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time” Here are all Jackson Browne albums ranked.

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10. Looking East (1996)

“This song captures the turmoil in the Middle East and tries to reconcile all of the untold horrors and misery caused by war and famine in that region. I applaud Mr. Browne for his courage to speak out against this war.”

9. Standing In The Breach (2014)

“Yeah 5 stars, I love this album. His voice is top notch and the music is very well written and played. This is music that should be played on the radio these days. I’m a fairly conservative fella but I know where he’s coming from and respect him for hanging it out there all these years. You know he’s not going to compromise his personal philosophy to make a commercial record. If you remotely like Jackson Browne you will not be disappointed with this album.”

8. Lives in the Balance (1986)

‘This album has a great variety of songs and the theme truly reflects societal and personal issues that are still relevant to any listener.” This is my favorite Jackson Browne album. His music is crisp and bold and his aim is true … He is a profoundly powerful voice for humanity and righting the wrongs of our country.”

7. Hold Out (1980)

“This album is unfairly criticized. So what if it only has seven songs on it, they’re seven of the best songs you’ll ever listen to. Unlike anything else JB has ever done, Hold Out is a serious aversion from its predecessors, but its not worse than they are, just different. It is unjust that people criticize an artist for expanding his musical field instead of just dallying in the same sound.”

6. I’m Alive (1993)

“t’s said that great artists find inspiration in life’s trials and tribulations, and that sure helps to explain the single best album Jackson Browne has produced in the last twenty years. Written while suffering from the well-publicized breakup of a long affair with a most beautiful blond bombshell of an actress, Browne’s fervently fertile mind uses the palpable heartache to deliver a song cycle overflowing with blue-eyed California soul. From the opening lines announcing that to his own growing bemusement and amazement “I’m Alive”, Jackson lets us know that this is the best that can be hoped for under the circumstances. This is the ultimate in a modern concept album, one that painfully, faithfully and artfully essays the emotional realities of a long-term relationship and giving us a rare view into the interior of life in the emotional fast lane.

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5. Saturate Before Using (1972)

“People may talk about Late For the Sky or Running On Empty, but Jackson Browne’s career starts right here with Saturate Before Using. In this, his first album, Browne proves to be a mellow musician, but an imaginitve and thoughtful writer. To me, Jackson hits his stride with musical productin on Late For the Sky, and then fills his potentials vocally on The Pretender, but he steps directly on to the scene with his greatest asset, songwriting. All ten songs on this album paint images in your mind that will bring the words to you as Jackson intended them. While his later works do become more accomplished, this album shows the mark of one of the most gifted songwriters ever.”

4. Running on Empty (1977)

“Jackson has some good lp’s but this one may be the best–one of at least. when recorded it was a totally new concept. sort of a live/studio lp. we went to see Jackson touring behind this album and he was fantastic. he was also vulnerable and candid and bruised from his wife’s suicide and the title reflects his driving around the city and no remembering to fill the tank he was so distracted. he pretty much put it right out there “heart on my sleeve” and while I sympathized I also liked him for his courage.”

3. For Everyman (1973)

“This is an album for `everyman”, the definitive statement by Jackson Browne of his disturbing and apocalyptic view of contemporary society, and his hopes and fears for its future. It is also a lovely, stirring, and evocative song cycle that illuminates Jackson Browne’s unique vocal and instrumental arrangements, and sends one running for the door to buy more of the albums of the early “JB” variety. My personal favorites on this wonderful album are “Our Lady of the Well”, a interesting and fetching suggestion of Browne’s social and political concerns blended with a celebration of the common rural peasantry of Latin America, “Take It Easy” written with Glenn Frye of the Eagles and recorded by both Browne and the Eagles, “These Times You’ve Come” about an old pair of lovers who still see each other romantically after parting, and of course, the combination song cycle of “Sing My Songs” and “For Everyman”, which like “The Deluge” on another album, sets out Browne’s fear of a pending eco-disaster and apocalypse. “

2. The Pretender (1976)

“Up until I heard this album I hated Jackson Browne’s music. With art your reaction to it can be a matter of timing, and where are you in your life can dictate your response to a song. I guess I really didn’t get Browne until I hit middle age. His songs on this album are so full of pathos and an almost resignation about what life really is. It blew me away.”

1. Late for the Sky (1974)

“Personally, I think this album helps to solidify Jackson Browne as one of the greatest solo artists of all time. “Late For The Sky” is not the commercial success of the other Jackson Browne albums so it’s flown under the radar of all but the truly faithful for many years. This newly remastered version is a must-have for Jackson Browne fans new and old. From an audiophile’s perspective, the freshened-up CD is stunning on the right equipment featuring a true high-end DAC. So many 40-year-old albums sound tired or the songs themselves can’t stand the test of time. Trust me – you won’t be disappointed…the first time or one hundred listens later.”