Forgotten Album Friday #26 Jackson Browne - I'm Alive

This 1993 album is an absolute stunning piece of work by Jackson Browne but probably overlooked somewhat because of the classic albums Late For The Sky, For Everyman, The Pretender and Running On Empty. To my mind I'm Alive is the equal of that great body of work.

Lucky for us and pity for Jackson but it follows a down period in his personal life which always leads him to those wonderful songs of love, sorrow, regret and maybe a wee piece of redemption. It certainly came at the time as quite a departure from the political albums which immediately preceded it.

The opener and title track  "I'm Alive" sets the scene and tone of the album both musically and lyrically- "now I'm rolling down California 5/with your laughter in my head/gonna have to block it out somehow to survive/cos those dreams are dead, but I'm alive".

There are many great tracks on the album but the real high water mark is the stunning Sky Blue and Black.  In one track he pulls together love, longing, regret and hope for redemption. It is an absolute classic.

Key tracks

I'm Alive
My Problem Is You
Too Many Angels
Sky Blue and Black
Two of Me, Tow Of You

 

Sky Blue and Black

 

I'm Alive

New Jackson Browne Live DVD

Jackson Browne has a new live DVD / Blue Ray coming out. Great tracklisiting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=YNMEnd9rA_Y

Jackson Browne-I’ll Do Anything: Live In Concert DVD track listing:
1. Black And White - 7:14
2. I'm Alive - 5:40
3. Farther On - 5:18
4. The Naked Ride Home - 8:06
5. Live Nude Cabaret - 4:34
6. Sleep's Dark And Silent Gate - 2:35
7. The Pretender - 7:01
8. A Child In These Hills - 6:02
9. Tokyo Girl - 4:54
10. These Days - 6:29
11. In The Shape Of A Heart - 6:32
12. The Late Show - 6:26
13. I'll Do Anything - 6:18
14. Running On Empty - 6:15
15. Take It Easy - 5:28
16. Rock Me On The Water - 6:01
17. Before The Deluge - 10:00

Total Running Time: 1 hour, 45 mins

Jackson Browne Concert Mini Review

I have to say another excellent concert. Jackson Browne was on stage from 8pm to 10.50pm with a half hour break and played a great set mixing some old favourites with a health amount of new and newish material. But with a back catalogue like his there will be some omissions but its a pretty small gripe when the set included Fountain of Sorrow, Running On Empty, For A Dancer, The Pretender amongst many others.

I thought the band were great, more or less the same touring band he has had for about 15 years now and it shows. Mark Goldenberg(?) is a great guitarist and fills the hall with a wonderful sound a bit of a cross between Mark Knopfler and the ambient sound filling that Buddy Miller would provide.

Rubbish clip sorry!

Jackson Browne

Tonight Jackson Browne is playing at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, I am really looking forward to the gig as Jackson normally puts on a great show. You can read a review of his performance in Sheffield hear and the set lists looks superb:

http://www.jacksonbrowne.com/news/2009/03/31/concert-review-jackson-browne

Time The Conqueror I have to be fair is not as strong as his previous studio albums but is by no means a dud either.