Late for the Sky

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.


a gently cathartic,bittersweet masterpiece by Jackson Browne   October 12, 2004
Dave (United States)
53 out of 59 found this review helpful

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.


STILL HIS BEST   February 6, 2000
48 out of 48 found this review helpful

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.


SIMPLY THE BEST   June 9, 1999
23 out of 23 found this review helpful

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.


"Let Metamorpho Reveal Life's Secrets..........by and by..."   February 3, 2006
!Metamorpho;) (N.J.)
12 out of 13 found this review helpful

Yes People, I have been away. Forgive me? Admittedly it is hard to review something unless you take the time to "reflect". Folks have told me that by being a Seer I am taking on a huge responsibility. This might be true. But certainly no more than the artists I review. They all deserve Metamorpho's praise (or jeers), but are always worthy of respect for trying to produce worthy music. But, let's move on to Mr. Browne and forget about Metamorpho's musings, shall we?
I did state that, in the 70's, I found two albums worthy of bi-polar soul searching. One was Springsteen's "Darkness On the Edge of Town" (see my review). And the other was this fine masterpiece. I even had a friend who had a breakdown and she listened to this in order to gain perspective and calm. I have to admit, that Jackson has produced many, many fine albums over the years. But, somehow, for me, this one is the most effective in conveying heart and soul. For anyone who has been in a relationship and is hit with "the moment" when they realize it's over and lost, "Late for the Sky" is that moment, heart-wrenching and bleeding with truth. It is the moment when you have to level with yourself about the basis of "love". "I never knew what I loved in you, I don't know what you loved in me. Maybe the picture of somebody you were hoping I might be". Jackson struggles to hold on to his love, but realizes it is useless, just an illusion. Jackson serves up so much introspection here, and also questions about his (and our) mortality that have no answers. He revels in the joy of life, knowing it is what he must do and that it doesn't last forever, ie; "In the end there is one dance you'll do alone" (For a Dancer) and "If I die a little farther along, I'm expecting everyone to carry on" (Walking Slow). The sadness and depression of "Fountain of Sorrow" give way to "but now you're alright, and it's good to see your smiling face tonight". Even the disaster of being swept "Before the Deluge" gives way to hope, "when the light that's lost within us, reaches the sky".
I really can't say enough about the songwriting here. Polished, professional and excellent. Jackson is capable of setting a mood, but expertly saves you from melancholy time after time. There is also the theme of releasing your burdens and finally breaking free of them, as in "The Late Show" and "The Road and the Sky". This is beautiful, accessible pop music done by an extremely talented craftsman. Quite possibly his best as a thematic whole. The very first time I heard this album, I knew that it was something special and rare. Many years later, I still feel the same and more than likely will always love it. This album is an old friend of mine. Has never lied to Metamorpho, and has always told it like it is. Seriously, if you want to experience contemplative, intelligent and first class music in the pop genre, you owe it to yourselves to investigate. Metamorpho usually likes to lighten up his reviews every now and then (like balancing on a Rubik's Cube!), however, this is one album I respect highly and the comedy will have to wait for the next review. Love and Happy Valentines to All! Be back soon People!