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Jackson Browne | Tunes + Guitar Lessons

Jackson Browne combined introspective lyrics with effortless melodies to become one of the defining voices of the ’70s singer-songwriter era!

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Jackson Browne: The Songwriter’s Songwriter

At just 16 years old in 1964, Jackson Browne wrote These Days, a song that would go on to have a life of its own. Three years later, Nico, guided by Andy Warhol, recorded it. This caught the attention of other artists like Tom Rush and Gregg Allman, who would record their own versions in the early ’70s. Eventually, Jackson himself included it on his second album.

By the time of his self-titled debut in 1972, Jackson had already established himself as a rising star. The album’s hit single Doctor My Eyes was a breakthrough, with backing vocals from Crosby, Stills & Nash.

On his second album, Everyman (1973), Jackson co-wrote the well-known Take It Easy with Glenn Frey. Though Jackson’s version didn’t make much of an impact, the Eagles‘ version became their breakthrough single. The biggest difference between the two was the backing vocals—Jackson’s version is more laid-back, lacking the intensity of the Eagles’ harmonies.

Following Everyman, his next two albums, Late for the Sky (1974) and The Pretender (1976), didn’t perform as well commercially, though The Pretender went on to sell 3 million copies. The title track, however, only charted at #58, but it remains a beloved track among his fans.

Jackson’s fifth album, Running On Empty (1977), became his most successful, with the title track reaching #11 on the charts. Decades later, it remains his most streamed song on Spotify, solidifying its place in his musical legacy.

Jackson Browne: From Running On Empty to Timeless Influence

Running On Empty (1977) was a live album that became Jackson Browne’s biggest hit, though its most successful track, Stay, was never released as a studio single. This classic song, originally by Maurice Williams, had already been covered by the Hollies in 1963 (reaching #8) and The Four Seasons in 1964 (#16). It also appears in its original version in the film Dirty Dancing.

While it might seem unusual that a live album had such commercial success, the ’70s was a time when live albums dominated. Frampton Comes Alive (1976) and Thin Lizzy’s Live and Dangerous (1978) also experienced similar success.

Jackson’s next album, Hold Out (1980), marked his best charting effort, reaching #1. However, it didn’t produce any major hit singles, likely benefiting from the momentum of Running On Empty‘s success.

Before releasing his next three albums, Jackson penned Somebody’s Baby for the 1982 film Fast Times at Ridgemont High, which became one of his most beloved tunes.

The ’80s saw Jackson release three more albums—Lawyers in Love (1983), Lives in the Balance (1986), and World in Motion (1989)—but none produced hits on the same level as his ’70s work. By this time, Jackson Browne had already reached his peak.

Throughout the ’90s and beyond, he released six more studio albums. While the albums were well-received and featured accomplished songwriting, none captured the public’s attention like Running On Empty, Doctor My Eyes, and Take It Easy did.

Despite this, any established songwriter holds Jackson Browne in the highest regard. He remains, without a doubt, the songwriter’s favourite songwriter.