Monday 6 March 2017

March #9: Jackson Stays Up Late


Now that's an album cover, isn't it? I'd have bought that from the charity shop even if I hadn't recognised the artist. Don't you just want to be there, standing out on that street in the early 70s twilight, waiting for the world to take you somewhere interesting? No? Just me then.

Apparently the image is based on a Rene Magritte painting from the 50s...



Lovely too, but I prefer Jackson's homage...


9. Jackson Browne - The Late Show

My love affair with the 70s continues. It is now my favourite decade, musically. It's aged a lot better than the 60s, the 80s, even the 90s. In my humble opinion. Particularly American rock and pop, much of which seems timeless from that decade. Not the case quite so much in the UK: both glam and punk are sounding a little creaky now, much as I still enjoy them. But let's not get started on The Bay City Rollers.

It's an age thing too. I tried getting into Jackson Browne 10, 15 years ago. Bought myself an Essential Collection or somesuch. A couple of the songs hit their mark, most notably Running On Empty, but I don't think I was ready. And now I am. Picked this "classic" album up in a 5 for a quid sale a few weeks back and haven't looked back. It's a time machine I can use to escape the horrors of 2017 back to a simpler, more innocent time. I mean, it's not like there was a psychopathic con man in the White House back in 1974...

What?

Oh.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Forget all that. Just listen to the music. That smoky, late night piano. Those gorgeous harmonies (including Don Henley and Dan Fogelberg). The plaintive steel guitar. The car door slamming towards the end. Who'd ever think a slamming car door could sound so good?





8 comments:

  1. That album cover makes me just so nostalgic as it reminds me of my best friend from school (sadly no longer with us). It was her favourite album for a while and always sat out in her room.

    Interesting about the painting as well but like you think I like the Jackson Browne homage version best. Funny how we have a love affair with different periods of music - Last year for me it became the late '60s but because I think I've overdosed on it a bit too much I'm now ready to move on, possibly to this very era of JB & Co.

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    Replies
    1. Yeah. Come and wallow in the 70s with me!

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  2. Yes, I do want to be in the picture! But I've always wanted to be in the painting by Magritte too, one of my long-time favourite artists. I love the dreamy eeriness of an impossibly simultaneous day and night.

    If we were talking originals vs covers when it comes to art, Magritte wins this one for me! (Now there's an idea for a series.... strokes chin)

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    Replies
    1. Go for it, C, that'd be a great idea for a series.

      Delete
  3. I like quite a lot of the Laurel Canyon set which Jackson frequented

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  4. if the 70s began in 1977 the it could just about qualify as my favourite decade.

    JC

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