Late for the Sky Songs Ranked

Late for the Sky is the third studio album by American singer–songwriter Jackson Browne, released by Asylum Records on September 13, 1974. It peaked at number 14 on Billboard’s Pop Albums chart. In 2021, the album was deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry. Browne has publicly acknowledged that the cover art for Late for the Sky was inspired by the 1954 painting L’Empire des Lumieres (“Empire of Light”), by Belgian surrealist René Magritte. The album itself contains the credit, “cover concept Jackson Browne if it’s all reet with Magritte”. The original photograph was shot on South Lucerne Avenue just south of West 2nd Street in Windsor Square, about 10 miles southwest of Browne’s childhood home, the Abbey San Encino, in Highland Park, California. Designer and front cover photographer Bob Seidemann said, “I spoke to Jackson in 1980 and he told me he thought it was his favorite cover. Lest the jacket appear too funereal, a mood-defusing photo of a relaxed Jackson, almost smiling and looking as though he has a surprise to share, occupies a small square of the back cover.” Here are all of Late for the Sky songs ranked.

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8. Before the Deluge

“The closing track is an odd choice, Before The Deluge is essentially an eco song long before they became the hip calling card of all liberal rock stars but it could also be seen as a metaphor for the relationship that is in it’s final days, Lindley again envelopes the song with his gorgeous, heartbreaking violin melodies and Browne sings and writes with all the conviction of a man for whom this is not merely rock star guilt or good publicity but a genuine, lifelong concern”

7. For a Dancer

“For A Dancer on the other hand is both heartbreaking and yet incredibly uplifting, it sounds like the most obviously personal of all the material here and Browne is almost sensing that he has lost Phyllis for good, David Lindley again comes up trumps this time with a beautiful violin solo, For A Dancer is a truly gut wrenching piece of music but it also ends with the first signs of hope and acceptance.”

6. The Late Show

“The Late Show also gets close to that quality, again Lindley’s guitar matches the mood of the music effortlessly and for the first time there seems to be a glimmer of hope in Browne’s outlook.”

See more: Jackson Browne Albums Ranked

5. Fountain of Sorrow

“If anything Fountain Of Sorrow actually surpasses it, arguably Browne’s finest recording of his entire career, Fountain Of Sorrow is one of the saddest tunes ever consigned to vinyl, cracked memories and broken dreams stalk the song like a rejected lover and again Lindley’s guitar work is a pure perfection, another masterpiece.”

4. Walking Slow

“Jackson Browne has everything going for him on this album. The singing is good, the passion is there; the backing is superb yet subtle. Everything works on this album as Browne deals with the usual theme of love, life and loss.”

See more: Jackson Browne Songs Ranked

3. The Road and the Sky

“Brownes lyrics are ok though , deeper than the eagles for example which makes it a bit frustrating that he opted for something so painstakingly worthy . Yet on the couple of occasions things get more energetic the album gets even worse.”

2. Farther On

“Farther On continues the albums mood of loss and regret, the maturity in Jackson’s words here are truly astounding from a man of his age, it’s less effective than the opening 2 songs but not by much and The Late Show also gets close to that quality, again Lindley’s guitar matches the mood of the music effortlessly and for the first time there seems to be a glimmer of hope in Browne’s outlook.”

1. Late for the Sky

“The title track is one of the finest openers to any album from that decade, utilised to perfection by Martin Scorsese for Taxi Driver, Browne’s tale of love lost and chances missed is painfully real, add to that a sublime, soul wrenching solo from the magnificent David Lindley and Late For The Sky is as deep, painful and as emotionally charged as anything in rock music, a true masterpiece.”