"Solo Acoustic, Vol. 1" (10/11/2005) Rock & Pop Browne, Jackson, Inside RecordingsPersonnel: Jackson Browne (vocals, guitar). Audio Mixer: Paul Dieter. Photographers: Andrea Blackwelder; Nels Israelson; Alan Kozlowski. A solid follow-up to 2005's SOLO ACOUSTIC VOLUME 1, this sequel was recorded at various concerts across several continents in the last few years, providing a wide overview of Jackson Browne's career as both a songwriter and a performer. Ranging across the breadth of Browne's lengthy career, from 1972's "Something Fine" to a handful of songs from 2002's THE NAKED RIDE HOME, SOLO ACOUSTIC VOLUME 2 is lighter on the instantly recognizable radio hits, although "Somebody's Baby" and "In the Shape of a Heart" are both accounted for. Even more appealing for longtime fans, over half of the 12 songs feature lengthy, at times rambling, but always entertaining introductions about the songs themselves or the circumstances of their writing. Recorded live in front of an enthusiastic audience, 2005's SOLO ACOUSTIC VOL. 1 presents revered California singer/songwriter Jackson Browne performing many of the finest tunes from various eras of his career. Here Browne is on stage alone, accompanying himself on either acoustic guitar or keyboards, relating humorous tales about his music and life in between songs. This minimal setting allows Browne to get to the heart of these celebrated tunes, from early-1970s classics such as the achingly beautiful "These Days" and the thoughtful "For Everyman" to the later politically minded tracks "Lives in the Balance" and "Lookin' East." Browne's clear, charismatic vocals shine in the spare context, and his alternately introspective and socially conscious narratives both benefit in this scenario. Listeners will be especially pleased to hear the closing track, "Take It Easy," which, of course, was a much bigger hit for the Eagles than for Browne himself. Some fans may bemoan the absence of "Running on Empty" and "Doctor My Eyes," but it's likely that the foreshadowed VOL. 2 will pick up on those and other missing Browne hits.
