Proof of my Swiss cheese memory. I remember the album from Jackson Browne, "Lawyers in Love" quite well in 1983. However, it took me listening to this album after so many years to realize that during my tour of 1980, I missed out his then album, "Hold Out." Thing is, I liked that album too and fondly remember the song "Disco Apocalypse" because it was talking about the death of disco, or at least that's what I thought. Maybe it was just the fact that none of the songs on the mentioned album stuck out like the title track on "Lawyers in Love" did for me in 1983. It was the lyrics in the second verse that have lingered in the back of my mind for over thirty years.
"God sends his spaceships to America, the beautiful
They land at six o'clock and there we are, the dutiful
Eating from TV trays, tuned into to Happy Days
Waiting for World War III while Jesus slaves
To the mating calls of lawyers in love"
"Lawyers in Love" is more of a light rock sound. It doesn't veer too far away from his best known single and my personal favourite, "Running on Empty." While none of the songs reach the level of "Running on Empty," there are still some good songs on it. "Tender is the Night" may give the impression that's it going to be some sort of ballad, but the song does have a great hook with the guitar. It's one of those songs you want to sing along to while you're driving in the car or carrying out some mundane activity. It makes such tasks less so mundane. "Downtown" is a pretty cool song too. I have to say that while none of the songs are ones to bang your head to, there was enough of a rock hook to reel me in on just about all of them. The best rocker is probably the closer, "For a Rocker."
Another thing which turned my ear more to Jackson Browne was he was getting more political with his music in the 1980s. In 1983, on account of my experiences in the marines and when I came out, I was getting more politically aware and paying more attention to such songs. "Say It Isn't True" is probably the best example of this. While Jackson was called naive by some for this anti- war song, it made a statement. It didn't make me go out and attend no nukes rallies but it made me think, as did the title track. But that's just me.
Track Listing:
- Lawyers in Love
- On the Day
- Cut it Away
- Downtown
- Tender is the Night
- Knock on Any Door
- Say It Isn't True
- For a Rocker
Jackson Browne- lead vocals, guitar
Craig Doerge- synthesizer, piano
Bob Glaub- bass, organ
Ross Kunkel- drums
Billy Payne- organ on "On the Day"
Rick Vito- lead guitar, vocals
While I was headbanging most of 1983 away, Jackson Browne's album "Lawyers in Love" provided a light break in the action. It's a good album to just listen to. Not a headbanger but has plenty of cool hooks that appealed to metalheads like me back in the day.
Next post: Joe Jackson- Night and Day
To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com
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