Hi, everyone. Welcome to another edition of Music Monday.
(Image found online. Original source unknown.)
Happy 75th birthday to Jackson Browne. Born on October 9, 1948 in Germany where his father was stationed, the family moved to California three years later and Browne has called that state home for nearly all of his life. His professional music career started in 1966 when he joined the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and became part of the Laurel Canyon music scene. His songs were recorded by several artists including Linda Ronstadt, The Eagles (Browne co-wrote “Take It Easy” with Glenn Frey), Gregg Allman and others.
By 1971 Browne was signed to Asylum Records. Despite his well received 1972 self-titled debut album, it was his 1977 album, Running On Empty, that put Browne on the map. His days as an advocate for social and political change started in that decade as well, marked by his participation in the 1979 “No Nukes” concerts in New York City.
As much as I like many of his songs-“Running On Empty” (featured so wonderfully in Forrest Gump), “You Love The Thunder”, “Tender Is The Night”, “Somebody’s Baby”-Browne is one of those artists who stays on my periphery much more than he should, especially for such a talented singer & songwriter. And today’s track proves that so beautifully.
“I’m gonna find myself a girl
Who can show me what laughter means
And we’ll fill in the missing colors
In each other’s paint-by-number dreams“.
Top: Jackson Browne sometime in the 1970’s. Bottom: Brown circa 2022. (Images found online. Original sources unknown.)
Jackson Browne: “The Pretender” (1976, written by Jackson Browne).
Stay safe and well.
Lilacs & Rust 