by Russ Paris
August 21, 2005

JACKSON BROWNE SOLO ACOUSTIC VOL. 1 is the first new release from the California based singer-songwriter since his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2004. It is also his first live collection since his 1977 multi-platinum album RUNNING ON EMPTY.

This new live acoustic album is simply stunning. It's unusual that a live album is able to capture the energy and vibrancy of a performance. Generally, a concert is one of those "you just had to be there" events.

JACKSON BROWNE SOLO ACOUSTIC VOL. 1 is one of those very rare albums that captures the vigor and magnetism of the live performance. The obvious connection between Jackson and his fans is left intact. The potency of his humor and talent shine through in a way that accurately captures his recent solo acoustic tours. The sound quality is excellent.

The album, produced by Jackson Browne and Paul Dieter, features live performances from Jackson's solo acoustic tours over the past couple of years. It starts off with a strong rendition of "The Barricades of Heaven" from his 1996 LOOKING EAST collection. In a stark acoustic rendition, this beautiful song -- with its reminiscing on where he came from -- establishes the album's tone and structure. We're on a journey of song and verse. The focus is on the song and the voice, harking back to his singer-songwriter roots.

"The Barricades of Heaven" also showcases some very fine guitar work by Jackson, which is often overshadowed in concert by Browne's band performances where others often play lead guitar.

Jackson's early hits like "These Days," "Fountain of Sorrow," and "The Pretender" are all refreshing in their energy and passion. The brilliantly simple guitar and keyboard arrangements allow the listener to hear the words behind the songs and to rediscover the sheer magnitude of Browne's songwriting brilliance.

The album includes many of Jackson's best album cuts such as "Your Bright Baby Blues," "For Everyman," "Too Many Angels" and "Lives In The Balance," the later of which is the first single to be released to radio stations. The CD also includes a beautiful rendition of "The Birds Of St. Marks," a song Jackson wrote more than 30 years ago, but which has never appeared on any of his albums until now.

In the glitz and paparazzi of today's music scene, we sometimes lose sight of the fact that great music is based on great songwriting. JACKSON BROWNE SOLO ACOUSTIC VOL. 1 should be required listening for songwriters who want to study the peak of their craft. Listen to the words of "For A Dancer" from 1974's classic LATE FOR THE SKY album as a fine example of what a song can and should be. No song has ever explored the mysteries of death in such a clear and profound manner.

I don't know what happens when people die
Can't seem to grasp it as hard as I try
It's like a song I can hear playing right in my ear
That I can't sing
I can't help listening

If the warmth of Jackson's vocals doesn't reach you, the lyrics certainly will. The album concludes with "Take It Easy," a song Jackson co-wrote with Glenn Frey of the Eagles, who made it their first hit. Over the years, Jackson has fluctuated in concert between his own version and the better-known Eagles version. This one is a special version he shares with his fans, who can be heard singing along.

Jackson Browne's fans will undoubtedly offer up debate over the song selection and which of their favorite songs were not included. There will be little argument over the fact that this collection showcases his talents at the top of their form, providing a legacy worthy of his Hall of Fame induction, showcasing his songwriting talents as deserving of mention along side fellow inductees Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, and Paul Simon.

Jackson is reportedly in the studio working on an album of new material for possible release next year. With the release of SOLO ACOUSTIC VOL. 1, his fans are sure to be looking ahead to Solo Acoustic Volume Two!

JACKSON BROWNE SOLO ACOUSTIC VOL. 1 will be released on October 11, 2005 by Jackson's own Inside Recordings label. You can pre-order the CD from his website at www.jacksonbrowne.com beginning September 6th.

by Terry Perkins
October 18, 2005

Copyright 2005 St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Inc.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Missouri)

It's been 28 years since Jackson Browne released his last live recording, "Running on Empty," in 1977, a time when he was regarded by many as one of the most gifted, eloquent singer-songwriters in an era filled with such major talents as Joni Mitchell and Neil Young.

Browne turned in a new direction in the 1980s, writing about politics and activism on "Lives in the Balance" and "World in Motion" and losing most of his mainstream audience in the process.

Since then, he's made something of a comeback. Several well-crafted tunes on his uneven 2002 release, "The Naked Ride Home," indicate Browne can still conjure up the lyrical magic found on early albums such as "Late For the Sky," "For Everyman" and his eponymous debut.

With "Solo Acoustic: Vol. 1," culled from solo performances across America and Europe in 2004 and released on his own label, Inside Recordings, Browne performs classic material from early in his career ("These Days," "Fountain of Sorrow," "For A Dancer," "The Pretender" and "Take it Easy"), mixing in neglected '90s tunes such as "The Barricades of Heaven" and "Too Many Angels."

Alternating between an array of acoustic guitars and keyboards, Browne turns in stripped-down performances that at times are even more emotionally powerful than the original recordings. In between some songs, Browne's insightful, often hilarious comments to the audience add to the live ambiance.

Browne's Web site says a new studio album will be released next year, as well as a second live acoustic recording. Let's hope that "Solo Acoustic: Vol. 1"-- which in many ways sums up his past -- indicates Browne is ready to move forward, bringing his immense talent to center stage once again.

UPI
October 21, 2005

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Jackson Browne released his new live album, "Solo Acoustic, Vol. 1," as a gift for his fans.

"Since I started doing these acoustic shows in the late 90s," Browne says, "people were saying, 'You're recording this, right? This is gonna be a record, right?' My fans would say this. The people at my shows would say 'We're gonna be able to get this, right?'

"This is me finally taking the time to listen through the tapes and find the moments I like the most."

The 12-track album -- released on Browne's own Inside Recordings label -- includes favorites such as "Take it Easy" and "The Pretender," as well as "The Birds of St. Marks," which Browne wrote 30 years ago but has never released.

Browne plans more "Solo Acoustic" albums in the future, and he's starting work on his next set of new songs.

By Ed Bumgardner
November 3, 2005

Copyright 2005 Relish

Jackson Browne would have qualified for induction into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame had he done nothing more than discover and produce Warren Zevon. But what earned Browne his place in Cleveland (hmmm) is his status as one of the modern era's premier songwriters. He may have been lumped in with a cadre of 1970s California cowboys (the Eagles), but the singularity and depth of his work put him in a class all his own - something evident on Solo Acoustic Vol. 1.

The disc, recorded live, finds Browne singing, playing acoustic guitar and piano, and talking to the audience with conversational intimacy. He's fun to listen to, but what matters is how he denudes such songs as "For Everyman," "Fountain of Sorrow," "The Pretender" and "For a Dancer" to reveal timeless works of immaculate craftsmanship and complex emotion. Every performance is a revelation as Browne demands that his work, and the pow-er gleaned from soul-bearing performances, be viewed anew. Take a listen. You'll be glad you did. Browne sounds as relevant today as he did in 1972 - maybe more so.