Jackson Browne - Fan Letters & Reviews
January 2002
Dear Russ,
Please place this ad up on your web-site. I need a concert ticket to Jackson Browne's benefit concert at the Lobero Theater in Santa Barbara, California on January 31, 2002. The concert is already sold out. If anyone has an extra ticket, please e-mail me at: rabbitinthegarden@yahoo.com and call me at: 310-428-3971.
Thankyou,
Sincerely
I recently started listening to my Jackson Browne collection again. I always am amazed at how easily I slip into a Jackson Browne mode. The songs are ALL brilliant, but I wanted to draw attention to one that has been overlooked in the comments section so far: "For America."
This song seems so close to what I feel when I think of what our government is doing in response to 9/11. It was prophetic and it needs to be heard by more people. "For America," speaks the truth.
The truth has always been a hallmark of Jackson Browne's lyrics.
"...and there are lives in the balance."
Hi Russ: Love your website. I am also looking for 2 tickets for the Jackson Browne concert in Santa Barbara on the 31st of January. I can be reached at
I need a ticket for Santa Barbara. I am travelling from Texas. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help.
Thanks so very much for your consideration.
Reach me at austin32798@cs.com.
"Standing alone each has his own ticket in his hand..."
Peace
Just wondering...
Is there any grassroots movement afoot to (rightfully) get Jackson into the R&R Hall of Fame?
Webmaster's Reply:
The best thing that Jackson's fans can do to help get Jackson into the R&RHoF is to write letters to newspapers and music publications. The more people that do this around the country, the better... You see, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is an institution, and you can't write letters to an institution -- few if any of the voting committee members are actually at the R&RHoF. The members of the nominating committee and those who vote in these things are spread all across the country. The only way to write to them -- where at least some would be sure to see it -- is in publications.
Anyone who released an album or single more than 25 years ago is ELIGIBLE to be nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Jackson became "eligible" for the first time in 1997. (Voting in one year is actually for the induction ceremony of the following year.)
All the eligible artists of any note have their names put on a big list each year and a special nominating committee votes to narrow this list down to a smaller list. I'm under the impression that an artists has to make two cuts to get to the FINAL BALLOT of nominations. This past year was the very first time that Jackson Browne made it to the final list of nominees... and thus the first time he was "officially nominated."
So the hard part up to this point was getting the people on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's nominating committee to vote for him. I understand that in the last round prior to the final balloting, each member of the committee gets only 3 votes. There are a lot of very qualified candidates out there and everyone has their own taste in music. For an artist to get this far is quite an honor in itself.
Those who vote on the final ballot are members of some kind of R&RHoF committee. People who are important in the music industry in one form or another. Big name critics, producers and industry moguls, for the most part. But others in the music industry as well. These people are spread out across the country.
If you know anyone in the music industry, find out if they have a vote or if they know anyone who does. Then give them a commercial for Jackson's music and the impact it has had on you personally. Make a tape of your favorite Jackson Browne songs and get it to them. (I'm not advocating bootlegging here; but you get the idea.)
Also, the upcoming R&RHoF induction ceremony will get plenty of press. Articles are bound to appear in all sorts of newspapers and magazines around the world. WRITE A LETTER!!! Send a letter to the editor of any music publication you can think of. Send a letter to the editor of any newspaper that mentions the story in any way. Write in and say "JACKSON BROWNE SHOULD BE IN THE R&RHoF" And tell them what Jackson's music has meant to you personally and why. MAKE YOUR LETTERS PERSONAL -- they'll have more impact that way.
If your letter gets printed, it has a chance to be seen by someone who might actually have a vote. Even if your letter isn't printed, it is possible that someone at that publication has a vote and might still see it!!
Will this make any difference? I don't know. Will it help sway a few votes? I don't know. But one reasonable criteria for voting a musician into the R&RHoF has to be the influence that they have had. We fans are among the best representatives for the impact Jackson Browne's music has had on the world.
Russ
HI . HAVING GOOD TIME BY LISTENING JACKSON'S MUSIC SINCE EARLY SEVENTIES THANK TO AN EX US GIRLFRIEND. SINCE MANY MUSIC CAME TRUE AND I HAD THE CHANCE TO HEAR HIM IN FREIBURG/ GERMANY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. STILL WAITING FOR A NEW ALBUM.
I HAVE A FIEW WORDS FOR ANOTHER ARTIST MAYBE JACKSON KNOWS HIM I MEAN IAIN MATTHEWS WHO HAS FINE LYRICS. JACKSON IAIN AND MAYBE JOHN HIATT WOULD BE A GRET BAND. HEY WHY NOT REBUIT A NEW CSN+ YOU OR ME???
A FRENCH FAN / JEAN MARC CAMEHL / SCHERWILLER ( STRASBOURG )
FRANCE.
Beleive it,I just started using the Internet. I found you! I'm a great fan of Jackson. I actually met him backstage in 1989 in Barrie, Ontario, just outside of Toronto. He's a great guy; he really is. Ty Braswell was his manager at that time. Like all of you, I can't understand why he hasn't been inducted into the Hall. When will this happen? I've been waiting for a new CD like everybody else. He's sooo underrated, I can't beleive it. I'll be checking these pages from here on in. Wow!!... It feels great hearing from Jackson's fans!! Any Canadians out there?
re: January 26th Nader Rally
Jackson, DO THREE (.....or more!) Thanks!
P.S. Russ, I really like what you wrote about the R&R Hall of Fame. Sounds like a plan! I request local DJ's to play JB songs. Do you think this helps? It's gonna happen real soon. We're just impatient!
Webmaster's Reply:
It couldn't hurt. It was unfortunate that Jackson hadn't released a new album in 6 years when the voting came up in late 2001. It would have helped if his name and music were in people's minds when they were voting.
Maybe next time.
Russ
Hello everyone,
Just wanna to let ya'll know that we here in Amsterdam, Holland in Europe also are fans of Jackson Browne.
Now and than there are artists who play music of him, but never so good as the master himself. Although Kipp Lennon performes well with his brothers (Venice) the song 'For a dancer' which they sang with JB on there Album 2 meter sessies. And are singin when they're here.
Still I (18 year old) hope mr Browne will do a tour trough Europe.
Kind regards,
Webmaster's Reply:
Hi Ray. Thank you for the chance to talk about one of my very favorite bands, Venice. Jackson Browne and David Crosby have been long-time supporters of this wonderful band from Southern California. Their 4-part harmonies remind me of early Eagles, Crosby Still Nash & Young, and Fleetwood Mac.
People can learn more about Venice on their website at www.venicecentral.com
Russ
The Ralph Nader "Power To The People" Rally Review ( including a personal introspective entitled - "Words and Music Can Never Touch the Beauty That I've Seen Looking Into You")
by Jude Williams - with a little help from lyrics by Jackson Browne (my apologies)
..."I'm gonna tell you something I found out whatever you think life is about
whatever life may hold in store
things will happen that you won't be ready for"...
And never a truer word was spoken! There we were in Austin, Texas, about 300 miles from our home. With our $10 tickets in hand, we headed into the Toney Burger Center to observe and participate in the rally. Doors opened at 5.30pm but the rally wasn't due to start until 7pm. The interim time was meant to be filled with visiting the many stalls and information booths set up by numerous grassroots foundations, all run by concerned, interested citizens. Information abounded and if the enthusiasm and spirit of the people there could be captured, what a power source we would have!
There were T-shirts on sale, advertising the rally - a bargain at $15 each. My friend and I were looking at these trying to decide whether to buy one now or wait until after the show. While I'm browsing, my friend whispers, "There he is." I looked up at him and said, "What? There who is?", as I started looking in the direction he was indicating. Then my eyes found "him" - Jackson - just standing there all on his own at the side of the stage looking around at what was going on. God, talk about ..."the years that I've spent looking for your eyes; now I'm sitting here wondering what to say"... Finally I realize ..."awake to understand I am not dreaming"... but in my dilemma of whether to be so bold as to disturb the privacy of the man in question, I missed my chance - he turned and entered the back stage section. Aah ..."but the moment has passed by me now"... ..."my dreams have come up torn and empty"...
I wandered off and met up with my husband, Rodney. After buying said T-shirt, we go off to check out more of the surrounding offerings. It's getting close to starting time and there we are standing on the other side of the stage area. I turn and look behind me - there he is again!!! - just standing on his own, quietly watching. ..."you in your life, me in mine"...
I decide I'll ask him to autograph my T-shirt, but the security guy says he can't let us through to that section. As Jackson was only a few feet away, the guy says that we can call out to him if we want. I said to Rodney, "There's no way I'm yelling out to him; that would just be too embarrassing." But my husband surprises me and says, "Well I will then." But luckily as he moved forward to speak, Jackson turned in our direction and Rodney caught his eye. He said, "Would you mind if I took a photo of you with my wife?" Jackson walked over and said to me, "Okay, but you'll have to do it quickly, I have to be somewhere - I've got to do something" ..."here I stand at the edge of my embattled illusions looking into you"... I thanked him and we turned towards the camera ..."here we stand and without speaking"... and I feel his hand upon my back ..."I must be a fool; cause when I'm near you I cannot be cool; I can't quite make sense when I talk to you"... I looked at him and asked if he could sign my shirt. He smiled, ..."and when you smile I forget everything I knew"... and said "Sure." Rodney said, "We're really looking forward to the rally" and Jackson answered with, "It should be good. I hope you enjoy it." I thanked him again, ..."I'm not sure what I'm trying to say"... and he walked away.
That was it!!! My defining moment! What was I thinking? What happened to all the profound things I would have liked to tell him? What about the witty repartee I should have been able to impart? ..."It's such a clever innocence with which you show myself to me, as if you know how it feels to never be who you wanted to be"...
We moved back to our seats, about 15 rows from the front of the stage. The rally begins - great liberal thoughts and democratic ideals are thrust upon you by inspirational speakers. Molly Ivins, a class act if ever there was one - such a storyteller. Jim Hightower, with his unique, down-home style of humor that somehow packs a powerful message.
Jackson, with solo acoustic guitar, played a short, very politically flavored set. He began with "World In Motion" - a big applause from the crowd when he sang:
... things like hunger, greed and hatred one way or another
gonna be eradicated...
Next was his beautiful version of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song". This was followed by, "The Next Voice You Hear", which sounded very sparse without the trumpet. He finished with Little Steven's, "I Am A Patriot", after a humorous introduction about it being hard to imagine "Silvio" from The Sopranos, writing such a song!
Patti Smith, with a lone guitarist, was great! I have never really been a fan of her music but tonight she really impressed. Such passion and commitment is not easy to dismiss. ..."that girl could sing"...
Ralph Nader, for whom everyone was waiting, did not disappoint. He appears so shy and awkward until he gets behind the podium and then he just explodes into a vibrant and impassioned speaker. I find him truly inspirational. He makes me want to be active - he makes me want to agitate ..."I'm not gonna shut my mouth; I'm for the truth to come out"... I Know I am biased - I love his politics - I love the direction he envisions as the ideal. I truly believe the seeds of change he is planting now will be the way of the future. ..."It's whatever it is you see, that life will become"... I have to believe that for my own peace of mind ..."in attempts to understand a thing so simple and so huge"...
A rousing chorus of "People Have The Power" brought everyone back on stage for the finale. A wonderfully enjoyable evening on many levels. Get out - get involved - ..."you never know what will be coming down"...
FOOTNOTE: (1) To all who can't believe I didn't seize the moment to say something, anything!! of importance, to Jackson ..."Don't confront me with my failures, for I have not forgotten them"...
(2) To Jackson - ..."It (was) good to see your smiling face tonight"...