This album was released on April Fool’s Day back in 2014 and it’s one I’ve kept close at hand. It sort of came and went without making much of a splash, another tribute that gets lost like dust in the wind.
For a couple of decades I pretty much forgot about how much I like the music of Jackson Browne. During the ’70s I bought and listened to all his albums, but I think he became oversaturated with too much airplay on FM radio which made him part of that giant generational soundtrack rather than a singular artist. After time I just moved away from his work, but thatnks to this one I rediscovered the songs..
Browne’s name is Clyde. He was born in Germany and raised in Orange County, California. For a couple of months in 1966 he played in the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band when they were doing jugband music. He moved to Manhattan, where his friend Tim Buckley got him a gig accompanying Nico after she left the Velvet Underground. He plays guitar on several tracks of Chelsea Girl and she covered “These Days.” For a short time they were a thing.
When signed as staff writer for Elektra Record’s publishing company in 1967, his songs were recorded by the Dirt Band, Tom Rush, Gregg Allman, Joan Baez, The Eagles, Linda Rondstadt, and The Byrds. He didn’t release his own album until 1972.
Here’s the track list and although it was panned by Rolling Stone for not having a younger generation lineup, but I think it’s pretty good.
1 Don Henley Feat. Blind Pilot- These Days
2 Bonnie Raitt and David Lindley- Everywhere I Go
3 Bob Schneider- Running on Empty
4 Indigo Girls- Fountain of Sorrow
5 Paul Thorn- Doctor My Eyes
6 Jimmy Lafave- for Everyman
7 Griffin House- Barricades of Heaven
8 Lyle Lovett- Our Lady of the Well
9 Ben Harper- Jamaica Say You Will
10 Eliza Gilkyson- Before the Deluge
11 Venice- for a Dancer
12 Kevin Welch- Looking Into You
13 Keb Mo- Rock Me on the Water
14 Lucinda Williams- the Pretender
15 Lyle Lovett- Rosie
16 Karla Bonoff- Something Fine
17 Marc Cohn Feat. Joan As Police Woman- Too Many Angels
18 Sean and Sara Watkins- Your Bright Baby Blues
19 Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa- Linda Paloma
20 Shawn Colvin- Call It a Loan
21 Bruce Hornsby- I’m Alive
22 Joan Osborne- Late for the Sky
23 J.D. Souther- My Opening Farewell