The Very Best of Jackson Browne
Encyclopedia
The Very Best of Jackson Browne is a double-disc compilation album
by Jackson Browne
, released on March 16, 2004 by Rhino Entertainment
and Elektra Records
in celebration of Browne's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
a day earlier. It reached number 46 on The Billboard 200.
, while competent, had been missing many essential songs by the singer-songwriter, such as "Rock Me on the Water" and "The Load Out"/"Stay". Thus, The Very Best of Jackson Browne is seen by many as the more complete of the two.
Disc 1 encompasses the material from Jackson Browne's early career (1972–1977) and Disc 2 contains the material from his later years (1977–2002).
The album was certified as a Gold record in 2006 by the RIAA
.
Nigel Williamson of Uncut
wrote "Browne's default mode has always been delicious melancholy, as this double-CD collection proves once again... for a one-stop career retrospective, this is hard to beat."
.
Original recordings produced by:
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
by 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 on March 16, 2004 by Rhino Entertainment
Rhino Entertainment
Rhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty record label and production company. It is owned by Warner Music Group.-History:Rhino was originally a novelty song and reissue company during the 1970s and 1980s, releasing compilation albums of pop, rock & roll, and rhythm & blues successes...
and Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
in celebration of Browne's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
a day earlier. It reached number 46 on The Billboard 200.
History
1997's earlier Browne collection, The Next Voice You Hear: The Best of Jackson BrowneThe Next Voice You Hear: The Best of Jackson Browne
The Next Voice You Hear: The Best of Jackson Browne is a greatest hits album by the singer-songwriter Jackson Browne released in 1997.- History :...
, while competent, had been missing many essential songs by the singer-songwriter, such as "Rock Me on the Water" and "The Load Out"/"Stay". Thus, The Very Best of Jackson Browne is seen by many as the more complete of the two.
Disc 1 encompasses the material from Jackson Browne's early career (1972–1977) and Disc 2 contains the material from his later years (1977–2002).
The album was certified as a Gold record in 2006 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
Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine praised the release, writing "the collection does contain the great majority of Browne's best and best-known material in an attractive, engaging fashion... and for listeners who want a comprehensive overview without purchasing individual albums, this suits the bill nicely."Nigel Williamson of Uncut
UNCUT (magazine)
Uncut magazine, trademarked as UNCUT, is a monthly publication based in London. It is available across the English-speaking world, and focuses on music, but also includes film and books sections...
wrote "Browne's default mode has always been delicious melancholy, as this double-CD collection proves once again... for a one-stop career retrospective, this is hard to beat."
Disc one
- "Doctor My EyesDoctor My Eyes"Doctor My Eyes" is a 1972 song written and performed by Jackson Browne and included on his debut album Jackson Browne. Featuring a combination of an upbeat piano riff coupled, somewhat ironically, with lyric about feeling world-weary, the song was a surprise hit, reaching number 8 on the...
" – 3:20 (from the album Jackson BrowneJackson Browne (album)Jackson Browne is the self-titled debut album of singer Jackson Browne released in 1972. It peaked on the Billboard 200 chart at number 53. Two singles were released with "Doctor My Eyes" peaking at number 8 on the Pop Singles chart and "Rock Me on the Water" reaching number 48.-History:Browne had...
) - "Jamaica Say You Will" – 3:24 (from the album Jackson Browne)
- "Rock Me on the Water" – 4:13 (from the album Jackson Browne)
- "Take It EasyTake It Easy"Take It Easy" is the title of a song written by Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey, and most famously recorded by the Eagles . It was the band's first single, released on May 1, 1972. It also was the opening track on the band's debut album Eagles and it has become one of their signature songs, included...
" – 3:41 (from the album For EverymanFor EverymanFor 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...
) - "These DaysThese Days (Jackson Browne song)"These Days" is a song written by Jackson Browne and principally recorded by Nico, Gregg Allman, and Browne himself in three distinctly different musical styles...
" – 4:39 (from the album For Everyman) - "Redneck Friend" – 4:01 (from the album For Everyman)
- "For EverymanFor Everyman (song)"For Everyman" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Jackson Browne. It is the title track to his second album For Everyman, released in 1973.- Origin :...
" – 5:58 (from the album For Everyman) - "For a Dancer" – 4:45 (from the album Late for the SkyLate for the SkyLate for the Sky is the third album by American singer/songwriter Jackson Browne, released in 1974 . It was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1975. It peaked at #14 on Billboard's Pop Albums chart...
) - "Fountain of Sorrow" – 6:51 (from the album Late for the Sky)
- "Late for the Sky" – 5:36 (from the album Late for the Sky)
- "Before the Deluge" – 6:21 (from the album Late for the Sky)
- "Your Bright Baby Blues" – 6:03 (from the album The PretenderThe Pretender (album)The Pretender is the fourth album by American singer/songwriter Jackson Browne, released in 1976 . It peaked at #5 on Billboard's album chart. The singles from the album were "Here Come Those Tears Again" which reached number 23 and "The Pretender" which peaked at number 58...
) - "The PretenderThe Pretender (Jackson Browne song)"The Pretender" is a song by American rock performer, Jackson Browne and featured on his 1976 album The Pretender.- History :"The Pretender" was composed in a number of locations; Los Angeles, within a rented store-front in North Hollywood and a "tacky" hotel in Hawaii being two of them...
" – 5:52 (from the album The Pretender) - "Here Come Those Tears Again" – 3:37 (from the album The Pretender)
- "The Load-OutThe Load-Out"The Load-Out" is a song by Jackson Browne from his 1977 album Running on Empty. It is a tribute to his roadies and fans. The song was recorded live at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland....
" – 5:35 (from the album Running on EmptyRunning on Empty (album)Running on Empty is the fifth album by American singer-songwriter Jackson Browne. Released in 1977, the album reached #3 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart in 1978 and stayed on the charts for 65 weeks...
) - "StayStay (Maurice Williams song)"Stay" is a doo-wop song recorded by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs. The song was written by Williams in 1953 when he was 15 years old. He had been trying to convince his date not to go home at 10 o'clock as she was supposed to...
" – 3:24 (from the album Running on Empty)
Disc two
- "Running on EmptyRunning on Empty (song)"Running on Empty" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Jackson Browne. It is the title track to his 1977 live Running on Empty album, recorded at a concert at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, on August 27, 1977...
" – 4:59 (from the album Running on Empty) - "You Love the Thunder" – 3:55 (from the album Running on Empty)
- "Boulevard" – 3:21 (from the album Hold OutHold OutHold Out is the sixth album by American singer/songwriter Jackson Browne, released in 1980 . Although critically the album has not been as well received as other Browne recordings, it remains his only album to date to reach #1 on the Billboard chart.-History:Hold Out contains the fewest tracks of...
) - "Somebody's BabySomebody's Baby"Somebody's Baby" is a 1982 song written and recorded by Jackson Browne for the 1982 Fast Times at Ridgemont High movie soundtrack. Reaching #7 on 1982's Billboard Hot 100, the track would be Browne's last top ten song as well as the highest-charting single of his career...
" – 4:24 (from the soundtrack to Fast Times at Ridgemont HighFast Times at Ridgemont HighFast Times at Ridgemont High is a 1982 American coming-of-age teen comedy film written by Cameron Crowe and adapted from his 1981 book of the same name...
) - "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...
" – 4:53 (from the album Lawyers in LoveLawyers in LoveLawyers in Love is the seventh album by American singer/songwriter Jackson Browne, released in 1983 . 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,...
) - "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...
" – 4:20 (from the album Lawyers in Love) - "In the Shape of a Heart" – 5:47 (from the album Lives in the BalanceLives in the BalanceCritical press focused on the political direction of Lives in the Balance. Music critic William Rulhmann wrote "...if Browne sounded more involved in his music than he had in some time, the specificity of its approach inevitably limited its appeal and its long-term significance." Critic Robert...
) - "Lawless Avenues" – 5:39 (from the album Lives in the Balance)
- "Lives in the Balance" – 4:15 (from the album Lives in the Balance)
- "I Am a Patriot" – 4:05 (from the album World in MotionWorld in Motion (album)World in Motion is the ninth album by American singer/songwriter Jackson Browne, released in 1989 . It peaked at number 45 on The Billboard 200 and was Browne's first album to obtain neither Gold nor Platinum status...
) - "Sky Blue and Black" – 6:05 (from the album I'm Alive)
- "I'm Alive" – 5:10 (from the album I'm Alive)
- "The Barricades of Heaven" – 5:40 (from the album Looking EastLooking EastLooking East was considered somewhat of a letdown after the success of I'm Alive even after reaching the Top 40 of The Billboard 200. Critic William Ruhlman agreed, writing that the album "is a highly referential work from an artist who started where most end and has been earnestly seeking the...
) - "Looking East" – 4:56 (from the album Looking East)
- "The Naked Ride Home" – 5:58 (from the album The Naked Ride HomeThe Naked Ride HomeThe Naked Ride Home is the twelfth album by American singer/songwriter Jackson Browne, released in 2002 . It peaked at number 36 on The Billboard 200 chart...
) - "The Night Inside Me" – 4:39 (from the album The Naked Ride Home)
Production
Compilation produced by Jackson BrowneJackson Browne
Jackson Browne is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has sold over 17 million albums in the United States alone....
.
Original recordings produced by:
- Jackson Browne
- Glenn FreyGlenn FreyGlenn Lewis Frey is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as a founding member of the Eagles. Frey formed the Eagles after he met drummer Don Henley in 1970 and the two eventually joined Linda Ronstadt's backup band for her summer tour. The Eagles formed in 1971 and...
- Richard Sanford Orshoff
- Al SchmittAl SchmittAl Schmitt is a recording engineer and record producer.-Early career:Schmitt grew up in New York City. After serving in the U.S. Navy he began working at Apex Recording Studios at the age of 19. In the late 1950's Schmitt moved to Los Angeles and became a staff engineer at Radio Recorders on Santa...
- Jon LandauJon LandauJon Landau is an American music critic, manager and record producer, most known for his association in all three capacities with Bruce Springsteen.He is currently the head of the nominating committee for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame....
- 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...
- Scott ThurstonScott ThurstonScott Troy Thurston is an American guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, and session musician. He is currently a member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, in which he sings harmony vocals and plays guitar, keyboards, and harmonica....
- Kevin McCormick
Chart positions
Billboard (North America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | The Billboard 200 | 46 |