Customer Reviews

Late for the Sky

5 star:		(77)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What do you say about an album you had to replace twice on vinyl before finally scoring a hit on a CD that is still with you? That this is likely the single best album he ever produced? That the song cycle, singing, and instrumentation here is what still distinguishes Browne as a singular singer/songwriter/artist from all the others? That you still smile every time you hear the last several lines, "Look, you're standing in the window/ Of a house nobody lives in/ And I'm sitting in a car across the way /Let's just say an early model Chevrolet/ You go pack your sorrows/ The trash man comes tomorrow / We'll throw 'em on the curb/ And then just sail away"

This best-selling album will sail on forever. From "Late For The Sky" to "Fountain of Sorrow" and all the rest of the wonderfully intimate, strikingly autobiographical, personal, and evocative songs he introduced to the waiting world with this album, this is one everyone should have in their CD collection. It is a cleverly innocent Technicolor snapshot picture taken on clear, cool Southern California night, just like the album cover. It is a faithful, memorable, and absolutely artistic reproduction of a moment in contemporary culture made by someone who has built a whole musical career by being the ultimate self-acknowledged dreamer and world-watcher. Spin it and enjoy. I still do.

After 26 years, LATE FOR THE SKY still stands as Jackson Browne's finest effort, and this a monumental statement, considering the body of work Browne has produced. The intensely personal lyricism evident here was virtually uncharted territory in 1974.

The classic title track, "Fountain Of Sorrow," the tear-jerking "For A Dancer" and the brilliantly phrased "The Late Show" are all examples of Browne's willingness to pour out his heart for the world to hear.

It was my pleasure to give this CD to a young musician friend, who was only vaguely aware of Jackson Browne, a couple of years ago. Since then, he has devoured all of Browne's recordings, as have many others over the past three decades.

This is an absolutely essential album by one of the great talents of our time.

Oh my oh my, what an achingly, devastatingly, stunningly beautiful piece of work this album is. While not wishing to offend my friends in the RUNNING ON EMPTY camp, there is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that LATE FOR THE SKY was, is and will always be Jackson Browne's masterpiece. Listening to it is such an sublime, tragic, raw, beautiful, purely EMOTIONAL experience. "For A Dancer", supposedly written in reaction to a friend's death (a la "Song For Adam") is the best song he's ever written--and one of the best songs ever written, period. Certainly one of the most poignant. Although "Dancer", "Fountain of Sorrow", the monumental title track, and the death-of-hippie epic "Before the Deluge" garnered the most attention, don't overlook the two songs at the end of side one--"Farther On" and "The Late Show" form a mini song cycle that entails some of the most deeply personal introspective songwriting imaginable. Even in the jaunty "throwaway" track, "Walking Slow", Jackson is thinking deep thoughts.

After twenty-five years, I could not imagine my life without this music.

With Jackson Browne's 3rd album, 1974's "Late For The Sky", he came up with a whole lot more than just another album--he came up with one of THE very best & most moving albums ever made. It seems as though he was absolutely determined to make the world a better place through his music & provide comfort to a world full of disillusioned twentysomethings (or folks of any age). What he came up with is a truly mesmerizing, bittersweet, uplifting work of art. This album is overall extremely mellow, & if you listen to it for the first time in haste, you might completely miss the brilliance of it. Giving the record your close attention, it grabs a hold of you & doesn't let go. It's a record for when you're really questioning your own place in the world, a record to lift you up when you're feeling burnt out, a record filled with sorrow yet brimming with hope & passion for life. The album brilliantly follows through on its intent. A big key to the album is Jackson's warmth--as personal as the songs may be, Jackson is not whiny or annoyingly self-indulgent on here, & he isn't just filling the album up with nonsense wordplay that sounds "important" without actually having any considerable meaning. There really is not a wasted word on the album--occasionally he'll briefly use something simple or cliched as a setup for something that simply blows your mind just a few lines or so later. It's truly incredible how much sincerity & heart he packs into the album. That said, I think you'll know what I mean when I say this is the kind of record that gets better & better with repeated listenings--it's an extremely deep & rich listening experience. The first three tracks alone all rank among the most brilliant songs ever written (& everything here is written by Jackson alone)--they each feature wondrous melodies and Jackson's world-weary, yet expressive & wistful vocals. The soaring, dramatic title track & the easy-riding "Fountain of Sorrow" (with gorgeous, rich harmony vocals courtesy of Dan Fogelberg, Don Henley, J.D. Souther, & Doug Haywood) are penetrating, incredibly moving & insightful examinations of personal relationships--lyrically they're very expansive touching on more than just romance/ friendship. The title track finds Jackson expressing that, even in the face of apocalypse, we must never give up, never stop searching for the things that make life worthwhile--the concept alone sounds deep, and Jackson, being the incredible human being that he is, goes way beyond merely pulling it off--the impact is absolutely incredible. With "Farther On", Jackson hits upon, in beautifully sad & poignant fashion, his characteristic theme of wishing that life could somehow live up to the expectations we have in our minds--the way he expresses so much hard-hitting emotion in just a handful of lines from the song is astonishing. There are a pair of awesome fun rockers on here, too--the high-flying "The Road and the Sky" is sonically and stylistically identical to "Red Neck Friend" from the previous album, but it's a way, way better song, plus it shows that although Jackson is no David Lindley, he can still tear it up on slide guitar in his own right; and then there's the strutting feel good tune "Walking Slow"--these 2 tracks change the pace to delightful effect, rocking things up, yet they also make perfect sense within the context of the album. The album is a tad flawed, but in a very minor way that doesn't greatly reduce its impact--for instance, on "For A Dancer", the opening vocal melody is extremely obvious & leaves a little to be desired, although its obviousness does grab your attention--that said, my "complaint" here ends up sounding rather like a compliment. And you know that's a great album when you're basically praising it even when you're pointing out its weaknesses. "The Late Show" features uncanny lyrics about the soullessness of standard day-to-day living & finding a "real friend", & "For A Dancer" is a deeply moving, profound, loving tribute to a departed friend with a magnificent build up to the gorgeous chorus, & additionally punctuated by perfectly fitting fiddle from David Lindley. As you can see, one can go on & on praising this gem of a record. I also want to point out what a wonderful singer Jackson is--expressive, straight from the heart, taking the great words & melodies to another level--he utterly wins you over on with his charisma & warmth. This album is truly a gift from Jackson to anyone with ears to listen--the record, as sad as it is in spots, is a marvelously uplifting experience. The album closer, the before-and-after apocalypse tale "Before the Deluge" is, one on hand, extremely bleak, yet the startlingly profound way in which he expresses to us that ultimately "life goes on" is overwhelmingly powerful. If you're looking for an album that cuts DEEP, this is it--this is as deep as it gets. Listening to the whole album leaves one with the feeling that Jackson is one of the smartest & coolest people in the world to know & spend time with, & with the record being so wonderfully intimate, on a certain level you REALLY ARE spending time with him by listening. Jackson's lyrics, the mostly mellow, major-keyed music (with acoustic guitar & acoustic piano used consistently on track after track), the beautiful melodies & Jackson's voice are an absolutely winning, captivating blend. This is a record they could easily teach at schools--you could go on at length discussing the individual tracks. On the other hand, it's actually a hard album to discuss in the sense that it simply speaks for itself in breathtaking fashion--you can really FEEL its impact, but it kinda leaves you speechless & wanting to listen again and again. I'm just 23 years old, so I certainly wasn't around when this came out, but I can easily relate to this album & see how it means so much to so many intelligent listeners. I don't think there's any question about it that this has been a hugely influential record. For instance, clearly Jackson was strongly influenced by Bob Dylan, yet, it also seems quite clear that Dylan was, in turn, inspired by Jackson--this record, originally released in September of 1974, predated Bob Dylan's "Blood on the Tracks" which came out quite shortly afterward in January of 1975, & I'd have a hard time believing that Dylan didn't give this album some good solid listens & was even probably deeply inspired by it, & with all due respect, this record is unquestionably superior. Even the album cover is uncanny, tying in perfectly with the music. I can only hope future generations will continue to yield the rich rewards of "Late for the Sky", because this record is every bit as relevant as it ever was--it's truly timeless & beautiful, & its uplifting power on the human spirit cannot be underestimated. And like I said, don't be hasty about it--give the album a fair chance, let it work its magic. Furthermore, I'd like to add that if, like myself, you missed out/ weren't around during this time & are curious to explore the whole late '60s to mid '70s "singer-songwriter"/ "soft rock" scene (and you should be), this should be one of the first records you dig into. Jackson's first two albums demonstrate his ambitions, and this third album finds him fulfilling them in a big, big way--in other words, the third time was definitely the charm. After this album, Jackson's first wife would go on to commit suicide, and his music would change drastically as well, making "Late For The Sky" the end of what I consider to be his 'early period'. Jackson Browne isn't just one of the best artists of the era or genre--he's simply an artist of the very highest rank, & "Late For The Sky" is a quintessential record from a man who is unquestionably a master.

I don't remember the 70s. Not for the reasons people usually cite--no, I was busy being conceived and born.

But I can relate to a lot of it, particularly the whole early-70s-Southern-California-singer/songwriter scene peopled by musicians like Neil Young, Warren Zevon, and Jackson Browne. The narcissism, the alcoholism, the world-weary cynicism--these are my people, and their stories are my stories. And "Late for the Sky" is one of the very best albums any of them recorded.

During his speech inducting Jackson Browne into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame, Bruce Springsteen said that Browne wrote the songs that the Eagles wished they'd written. It's a telling judgment--the Eagles aren't terrible, but they aren't great either; you understand their songs the first time you hear them, and that understanding never deepens. Whereas these songs are everything great music should be--complicated and deep, but still accessible; great on the first listen, but even better on the tenth.

There's a beautiful liquid simplicity to Browne's guitar playing; the songs sound fat and juicy and delicious, but easily digestible. Still, it is the lyrics that keep me coming back. The Eagles sang for others, and at them, and it shows in the superficiality and judgment of songs like "Witchy Woman" and "Desperado". But Browne sings for himself, and with such honesty and thoroughness that it feels like he's singing for all of us--or at least for me. (When he describes "the hollow sound of your own steps in flight," I can relate. When he speaks of having a "world of illusion and fantasy in the place where the real world belongs," I can relate. And Lord help me, but when he sings to a soon-to-be-ex-lover: "I don't know what you loved in me...maybe the picture of somebody you were hoping I might be," I can most definitely relate.) These are conversations I've had, and these are lies I've told--the most dangerous lies of all, the kind that I thought were the truth, because I told them to myself too, and believed them.

Springsteen not only called this "Jackson's masterpiece," he also called it "essential in making sense of the times." I couldn't agree more--this is one of the best albums of the 70s, period--but it is more timeless than that, far too full of heart and soul to be a mere document or period piece. Whether or not this album ever finds the respect it deserves in the 70s music pantheon, I'll still be listening to it when I'm in my 70s. To paraphrase and invert yet another singer/songwriter: I really think these songs are about me.

The feeling that this album gives me is indescribable! Its a wonderful album about life and love:) If I could've given it more stars I definitely would've. It never fails to make me smile. Highly recommend it.

Rarely does anyone capture the hopless and scared emotions of fear and sorrow on an album. Nothing really springs to mind actually. Some may point to Neil Young's On The Beach to counter this point, but after listening to album, you find old Neil is just pissed and lost like he's always been, not in pain. Late For The Sky so captures the feelings above, that the album comes across as startling and scarey at times. But besides showing the feelings of one man, everyman can relate to this Jackson Browne tragedy. As day turned to night on the Woodstockers, and the angst of the mid 70s came along, hoplessness followed. Jackson Browne showed everyone how hopless it had become.

The first four tracks are some of the most beautiful music you may ever find. All have David Lindley, playing a creaking, pained guitar that moans with the same sorrow as Jackson. All four also carry gorgeous harmony, each voice echoing as if they all are lost. But these ones just bring you down for what comes soon. The fifth track, "The Road And The Sky" is a groovy rocker, an optimistic sounding tune that makes you feel like the damage is over and all is back in order.

But then track six comes along.

"For A Dancer," number six on Late For The Sky, contains so much pain, and so much sadness. It's hard to get through it, actually. But in the pain, there is so much beauty, Jackson's pleading voice looking for answers to the questions we all have, asking what happens to all of us at the end. Again, Lindley helps to catch Jackson's sorrows, but this time with an eerie fiddle.

Most every song on this album starts with deep sadness and distress. Many songs on here make you want to cry. Many will remind you pains you have felt yourself. But the experience this album will give you may very well change you. Each song gets a little more optimistic as is goes on, not so much as to forget the sorrows of before, but to remind us all that we just have to keep moving on. As Jackson himself sings on the For A Dancer,

"Don't let the uncertainty turn you around; the world keeps turning around, and around."

I cannot think of another album that had such an effect on my life as did Late for the Sky. I discover Jackson Browne through this album, and both quite by accident. Back in 1975 I was rumaging through some of my older brothers albums, and I found a compilation album from Warner Bros. that had several "B" sides on it of their artists. I listened to the first side. One of the songs on that compilation was "Fountain of Sorrow". The first time I heard it, I felt like someone just opened a window to my soul. I must have listened to that track 30 times. Eventually, I bought the full album, Late for the Sky. That album has been played over and over by me in the last 25 years.
It still holds up today. I have yet to hear another album that, song after song, is so profound.

Others reviews here have praised several songs on "Late For the Sky", but the greatest of them all is virtually ignored. Perhaps because its meaning is slightly elusive, "Farther On" doesn't get the attention given the rest of the admittedly amazing songs on this album.
"Farther On" is, quite simply, a masterpiece of a song. Browne's lyric traces the transition from an early period in which he derived a sense of the emotional life from others' experience ('books and films and songs') to a growing maturity, realizing that life is a forward-moving journey that can be trusted to reveal its own meaning. All this from a man of 26!

What makes the song truly great is its magnificent descending melody and the harmonic structure given to it. Browne's singing is at its height of emotional candidness as well. This could be called Jackson Browne's "Back Pages". A timeless song worth owning any album for, not to mention such a superlative collection as "Late For the Sky"

Indispensible

My father recently introduced this peticular album to me, both of us were having a bit of a hard time dealing with my grandpa's death. ( his step-father )

Jackson Browne really seems to have a deep understanding and he writes that extremely well into his music, this album will continue to bring tears to people's eyes and will continue to touch people's hearts in that special way.

The Eagles singing back-up on "For A Dancer", the reference to his cover on one of the tracks, it's all just genius.