The Very Best Of Jackson Browne [Original recording remastered]

Of course, Jackson Browne is most famous for his beautiful, low key, shining, stunning emotional tracks that filled the first 10 years of his career, before he became America's unheard political spokesman. Just about all the classics are here, opening with the joyous and yet slightly pessimistic, 'Doctor My Eyes' driven by a terrific piano line, shortly joined by drums and guitars and layered vocals that were scattered throughout his work since. 'Jamaica Say You Will' is a standout ballad, supremely relaxed and mournful in a feel-good way, it is one of the best 'morning songs' ever written. 'Take It Easy' which is more famously an Eagles song, is recorded superiorly by Browne is also included, as well as the all time classic, searching, 'These Days'. The not quite so effective attempt to step into the country market of the 70's, 'Redneck Friend' is a good intervention, before the likes of 'Fountain Of Sorrow' and the beautifully tragic, 'Late For The Sky' and the song for every man and woman out there working hard, 'The Pretender' glide back in to smooth the surface. Indeed the album 'Late For The Sky', Jackson's third album, was seen as the one that might kill him. His first two albums were mainly songs that had been written years before, and 'Late For The Sky' was his first newly written album. It was a critical and musical triumph, and sales started to come in throughout America and reached its peak with the on-the-road album, 'Running On Empty'. Included from Jackson's on the road journal on songs are the favourites, 'The Load-Out' an ode to the roadies, followed by 'Stay' one of the few songs that Browne didn't write on this collection, as well as the infamous hit title track.

Disc 2 is a more rocking volume of work mainly consisting of the previously mentioned political albums. To some this was a means to stop buying Jackson's records. Indeed they were nowhere near as good as his debut, or the mournful 'Late For The Sky', or many of his albums from the 70's where Jackson was at his peak. There are some fine songs on there; they are just brought down slightly by the 80's style he picked up. That doesn't mean Jackson Browne decided to go dance-pop synth style: he just used a few of the eighties effects. The hit single 'Somebody's Baby' was one of the few shining lights for Browne throughout the eighties, remaining timeless despite the eighties style vocal effects on the chorus, and the strange flute style noises in the background. 'In The Shape Of A Heart' as previously said was a nice break in the sometimes tedious ways of Jackson's political beliefs, but the 90's offered a much more interesting proposition. The release of 1994's 'I'm Alive' a return to Jackson's roots, was greeted by many fans as a triumph, and the gorgeously touching title track deserves it's place on this compilation. I have never heard a track about losing a lover that is so uplifting and yet reflects exactly how the individual must be feeling, presented by the most experienced man there is. Indeed, 'I'm Alive', the album, was an album about losing love, spite, acceptance, forgiveness, refinding love and finally commitment, and one of the tracks of commitment is deservedly featured in 'Sky Black And Blue' one of Jackson's finest ballads. You always knew he was still there hiding behind the politics, you just weren't sure...

But still Jackson Browne was one of those rare artists who did what he wanted and did it well. Although his eighties works were not greeted well, it didn't put him off and has been doing as he pleases since. Even on 2002's slightly disappointing, 'The Naked Ride Home' (of which two tracks are taken, the title track and the bitter 'The Night Inside Me') and the previous album, 'Looking East' (of which two tracks are extracted, again the title track and the truly beautiful reminiscent, 'The Barricades Of Heaven') Jackson always sounded like he was doing it his way. And despite one or two missing beauties, such as the reggae infused mega-catchy, 'Everywhere I Go' and the title track from 'Hold Out' and the wonderful 'That Girl Could Sing', both fans and new to-be fans will be very pleased by 'The Very Best Of Jackson Browne' as it contains every emotion and power that made Jackson Browne one of the greatest singer songwriters of the 70's, if not of all time.

4.5 Stars.