Lawyers in Love
Encyclopedia
Lawyers in Love is the seventh album by American
singer/songwriter Jackson Browne
, released in 1983 (see 1983 in music
). It reached number 8 on the Billboard Pop album chart and number 30 on the Billboard 200
. It was Browne's fourth straight Top 10 album and stayed on the charts for 33 weeks. Out of eight tracks, five were released as singles. The title song was a top-twenty pop hit for Browne, and was accompanied by one of his first music videos released on MTV
.
song of the same name
at the end of the song.
Lawyers in Love was the first album without David Lindley
appearing since 1973's For Everyman
.
The album was certified as a Gold record in 1983 and Platinum in 2001 by the RIAA
.
Critic Robert Christgau
called the album "A satire on, celebration of, and lament for the upper-middle classmates an Orange County liberal knows like he knows his neighbor's backyard..."
Production notes:
Singles - Billboard (North America)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer/songwriter Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne
Jackson Browne is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has sold over 17 million albums in the United States alone....
, released in 1983 (see 1983 in music
1983 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1983.-January-April:*January – ZTT Records is founded.*January 8 – The UK singles chart is tabulated from this week forward by The Gallup Organization...
). It reached number 8 on the Billboard Pop album chart and number 30 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. It was Browne's fourth straight Top 10 album and stayed on the charts for 33 weeks. Out of eight tracks, five were released as singles. The title song was a top-twenty pop hit for Browne, and was accompanied by one of his first music videos released on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
.
History
In the intervening years since 1980's Hold Out and the release of Lawyers in Love, Browne released the single "Somebody's Baby" which became his biggest commercial hit to date. In the track "Downtown", he ad-libs a line to the melody of the Petula ClarkPetula Clark
Petula Clark, CBE is an English singer, actress, and composer whose career has spanned seven decades.Clark's professional career began as an entertainer on BBC Radio during World War II...
song of the same name
Downtown (Petula Clark song)
"Downtown" is a pop song composed by Tony Hatch which, as recorded by Petula Clark, became an international hit – No. 1 in the US and No. 2 in the UK – at the end of 1964.-Original recording:...
at the end of the song.
Lawyers in Love was the first album without David Lindley
David Lindley (musician)
David Perry Lindley is an American musician who is notable for his work with Jackson Browne, Warren Zevon, and other rock musicians. He has worked extensively in other genres as well, performing with artists as varied as Curtis Mayfield and Dolly Parton...
appearing since 1973's For Everyman
For Everyman
For Everyman is the second album by American singer/songwriter Jackson Browne, released in 1973 . The album peaked at number 43 on the Billboard 200 chart and the single "Redneck Friend" reached number 85 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart...
.
The album was certified as a Gold record in 1983 and Platinum in 2001 by the RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
.
Reception
Although "Lawyers in Love" and "For a Rocker" were successful singles, the album received a lukewarm reaction by critics. In his review for Allmusic, William Ruhlmann referred to Browne's often overlooked songcrafting, but wrote "...the craft, and the familiar tightness of Browne's veteran studio/live band, couldn't hide the essentially retread nature of much of this material."Critic Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
called the album "A satire on, celebration of, and lament for the upper-middle classmates an Orange County liberal knows like he knows his neighbor's backyard..."
Track listing
All songs written by Jackson Browne, except where noted- "Lawyers in LoveLawyers in Love (song)"Lawyers in Love" is the first single and title track of Jackson Browne's 1983 album of the same name, Lawyers in Love. Though not as successful as Browne's previous single "Somebody's Baby", it nonetheless peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 US charts, making it one of Browne's highest...
" – 4:18 - "On the Day" – 3:56
- "Cut It Away" – 4:45
- "Downtown" – 4:37
- "Tender Is the NightTender Is the Night (song)"Tender Is the Night" is a song by Jackson Browne released in 1983 as the second single from his album Lawyers in Love. The song peaked at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100, #18 on the US Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and #24 on the US Adult Contemporary. Unlike the next single, "For a Rocker", it is...
" (Browne, Danny KortchmarDanny KortchmarDanny "Kootch" Kortchmar is a guitarist, session musician, and songwriter. Kortchmar's work with singer-songwriters such as David Crosby, Carole King, Graham Nash, Carly Simon and James Taylor helped define the signature sound of the singer-songwriter era of the 1970s...
, Russ KunkelRuss KunkelRussell Kunkel , also known as Russ Kunkel, is an American drummer and producer who has worked as a session musician with a number of well-known artists.Kunkel was born in Pittsburgh, PA...
) – 4:50 - "Knock on Any Door" (Browne, Craig DoergeCraig DoergeCraig Doerge is an American keyboard player, songwriter and session musician.He began playing in a college band at Hartford, Connecticut, and then moved to Los Angeles in the mid-1960s to work as a studio player and songwriter with A&M Records, and with Jim Keltner and others playing on cartoon...
, Kortchmar) – 3:39 - "Say It Isn't True" – 5:20
- "For a RockerFor a Rocker"For a Rocker" is a 1983 single by Jackson Browne. It charted at number eight on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The third single released from his seventh album, Lawyers in Love, it's also the eighth and last track on it....
" – 4:05
Personnel
- Jackson Browne – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, keyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Craig DoergeCraig DoergeCraig Doerge is an American keyboard player, songwriter and session musician.He began playing in a college band at Hartford, Connecticut, and then moved to Los Angeles in the mid-1960s to work as a studio player and songwriter with A&M Records, and with Jim Keltner and others playing on cartoon...
– synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, keyboard - Bob GlaubBob GlaubBob Glaub is an American bass player and session musician. He's played with such artists and bands as Journey, Jackson Browne, Bee Gees, Eric Carmen, Linda Ronstadt, Leo Sayer, Warren Zevon, Rod Stewart, Donna Summer, Bonnie Raitt and many others....
– organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, guitar - Doug Haywood – organ, bass, vocals
- Danny "Kootch" KortchmarDanny KortchmarDanny "Kootch" Kortchmar is a guitarist, session musician, and songwriter. Kortchmar's work with singer-songwriters such as David Crosby, Carole King, Graham Nash, Carly Simon and James Taylor helped define the signature sound of the singer-songwriter era of the 1970s...
– guitar, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - Russ KunkelRuss KunkelRussell Kunkel , also known as Russ Kunkel, is an American drummer and producer who has worked as a session musician with a number of well-known artists.Kunkel was born in Pittsburgh, PA...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Billy Payne – organ
- Rick VitoRick VitoRick Vito is a guitarist and singer. He was part of the band Fleetwood Mac between 1987 and 1991.Vito and Billy Burnette took over as guitarists after Lindsey Buckingham left Fleetwood Mac....
– guitar, vocals
Production notes:
- Jackson Browne – producer
- Greg LadanyiGreg LadanyiGreg Ladanyi was an American record producer and recording engineer, known for his work with many musicians, including Jackson Browne, Warren Zevon, Type O Negative, The Church, Anna Vissi, Toto, Fleetwood Mac, Hollywood Undead, Don Henley and Jeff Healey.-Biography:Ladanyi co-produced the Behind...
– producer, engineer - James Geddes – engineer
- Ed Wong – engineer
- Brian Reed – production assistant
- Dawn Patrol – design, art direction, cover design
- Jimmy Wachtel – design, art direction, cover design
- Matti Klatt – photography
- Randee Saint Nicholas – photography
Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Pop Albums | 8 |
| 1983 | The Billboard 200 | 30 |
Singles - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | "Cut It Away" | Mainstream Rock | 37 |
| 1983 | "For A Rocker" | Mainstream Rock | 7 |
| 1983 | "Lawyers in Love" | Adult Contemporary | 24 |
| 1983 | "Lawyers In Love" | Mainstream Rock | 4 |
| 1983 | "Lawyers In Love" | Pop Singles | 13 |
| 1983 | "Tender Is the Night" | Adult Contemporary | 24 |
| 1983 | "Tender Is the Night" | Mainstream Rock | 18 |
| 1983 | "Tender Is the Night" | Pop Singles | 25 |
| 1983 | "Tender Is the Night" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 25 |
| 1984 | "For a Rocker" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 45 |