| For Everyman | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by Jackson Browne | ||||
| Released | October 1973 | |||
| Recorded | 1973 at Sunset Sound, Studio One | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 41:13 | |||
| Label | Asylum | |||
| Producer | Jackson Browne | |||
| Jackson Browne chronology | ||||
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For Everyman is the second album by American singer/songwriter Jackson Browne, released in 1973 (see 1973 in music). The album peaked at number 43 on the Billboard 200 chart and the single "Redneck Friend" reached number 85 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 2003, the album was ranked number 457 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
Contents |
For Everyman marks the debut of multi-instrumentalist David Lindley's long association with Browne. Guest artists included David Crosby, Glenn Frey, Elton John (credited as Rockaday Johnnie), Don Henley, Joni Mitchell and Bonnie Raitt.
The title track was written by Browne in response to the apocalyptic "Wooden Ships", a song written by Crosby, Stephen Stills and Paul Kanter. His own version of "These Days" appears here after having been previously covered by Nico and Gregg Allman. Nico was the first to record the song in 1967.[1] Browne later commented "When [Allman] did it I thought that he really unlocked a power in that song that I sort of then emulated in my version. I started playing the piano. I wasn't trying to sing it like Gregg; I couldn't possibly. I took the cue, playin' this slow walk. But it was written very sort of, kind of a little more flatpicking."[2] "Take It Easy" was written by Browne and Frey and became the Eagles first single, released on May 1, 1972.
At two points during the album, Browne crossfades tracks into one another. The opening track, "Take it Easy" is crossfaded into the next track "Our Lady of the Well." The scenario repeats again at the end of the recording when the second to the last track, "Sing My Songs to Me" is crossfaded into the title track, "For Everyman." This technique was popularized by The Beatles across the second side of the Abbey Road LP. It was later used by Lindsey Buckingham & Keith Olsen in 1973 throughout the mastering of both sides of the Buckingham Nicks album.
For Everyman was certified as a Gold record in 1975 and Platinum in 1989 by the RIAA.[3]
The cover is a depiction of Browne's childhood Highland Park, California home, "The Abbey".
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic | [4] |
| Robert Christgau | (B) [5] |
| Rolling Stone | (no rating) [1] |
Acknowledging that Browne had a large task ahead of him in following his debut Jackson Browne in his review for Allmusic, William Ruhlmann claimed Browne "turned to some of his secondary older material, which was still better than most people's best and, ironically, more accessible..." and summarized the album as a "less consistent collection than Browne's debut album. But Browne's songwriting ability remained impressive."[4]
In a 1999 Rolling Stone review, Anthony DeCurtis claimed the album as uneven and that "Browne is still searching for his true voice on For Everyman. Is he the genial rogue of "Red Neck Friend" or the mystical dreamer of "Our Lady of the Well"? He will find that voice the following year on his masterpiece, Late for the Sky. But on For Everyman, he was testing his various talents with obvious joy, because, like his audience, he was just discovering them."[1]
Music critic Robert Christgau gave the album a B grade, writing "Even as he lists toward the pretentious and the vague, the reflective evenness of Browne's delivery sets up an expectation of cogency that on this album is satisfied only by such relatively unambitious songs as "These Days," "Red Neck Friend," and the charming "Ready or Not." Which save it for me."[5]
All songs by Jackson Browne, except where noted
Production notes:
Album - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Pop Albums | 43 |
Singles - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | "Redneck Friend" | Pop Singles | 85 |
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