In our previous series of articles we analyzed why Jackson Browne's album The Pretender was ranked among the top 500 albums of all-time by Rolling Stone magazine. The combination of honest songwriting, performance and production (not to mention sheer star-power contributed by thirty-plus musicians) was the recipe for this Grammy-nominated record. But The Pretender was not the first Jackson Browne album listed on Rolling Stone's top 500. Its predecessor, released three years prior in 1973, received the same honor. And for good reason. For Everyman is a classic Jackson Browne album.
The album opens with the infectious tune "Take it Easy" which Browne co-wrote with Glenn Frey, a founding member of The Eagles. Frey used this track to open the Eagles' debut album in 1972. Glenn Frey's version of the song was more pop-oriented (thus more radio-friendly) while Browne's take on the tune was less slick and tended more towards "acoustic" or "folk/rock". This made "Take it Easy" the perfect choice for opening For Everyman. It essentially foreshadows the "formula" of the album: Acoustic instruments, bass, drums, piano and our introduction to slide guitar and string-wizard David Lindley.
In addition to slide guitar Lindley (who was to become a key component in Browne's subsequent bands) played acoustic guitar, fiddle, violin and electric guitar. Drummer Russ Kunkel and bassist Leland Sklar were also key elements and (like Lindley) would prove to play important roles in Browne's music appearing on subsequent tours and records. Guest musicians included Elton John, Bonnie Raitt, David Crosby, Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Jim Keltner and Joni Mitchell.
The core band helped provide a cohesive sound to For Everyman. And Browne's honest lyrics and accessible melodies did the rest. The album has the feel of a single song with small gaps between beats (or thoughts.) "Take it Easy" seamlessly segues into "Our Lady Of The Well". Similarly, at the end of the record "Sing My Songs to Me" give way to the closing track "For Everyman" and the transition is so effective it is difficult to determine where one song ends and the other begins.
For Everyman received mixed reviews. Some critics wrote Browne had his entire life to compose his critically acclaimed debut album (referred to as "Saturate Before Using") thus resorting to "secondary" material for this sophomore effort. Of course these reviews fly in the face of Rolling Stone magazine listing For Everyman among its top 500 albums of all-time. Critic William Ruhlmann was wise enough to note Browne's "secondary" material is "still better than most people's best and, ironically, more accessible..."
With the benefit of almost-forty years hindsight it is difficult not to categorize For Everyman as one of Browne's finest albums. It is a "must" for any music fan looking to discover this brilliant artist.
Kenn Morr http://www.kennmorr.com/ is an internationally acclaimed Singer/Songwriter, Performer, Producer and Author with six albums to his credit. Originally from Long Island, NY Kenn lives in the foothills of New England's Berkshire Mountains with his wife and two young sons.
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