Happy 2008 Video Birthday to Jackson Browne

by Robert Wilkinson

Yes, Jackson Browne actually shares the same birthday (but not year) as the stellar John Lennon! This guy has given us some of the most memorable songs in history, including "Take It Easy," "Running on Empty," and "Lives in the Balance," a song with such a powerful message that the video was banned from tv during the Reagan years. Today we send a huge birthday salute to a great songwriter and social conscience. Videos below the fold.

I'm glad that when I was working for ACTV in Austin I could put the original "Lives In The Balance" video into heavy rotation, even though I was challenged by Republicans who took exception to the images of the Central American death squads turned loose on an innocent population by Reagan and his criminal henchmen, including Elliot Abrams, Don Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, and others still in government today. May the warmongers pass from this Earth as soon as possible.

This year's 60th birthday celebration includes a bunch of great videos of Jackson performing live. Thanks for all the great tunes and inspiration over the years, Jackson. May you live long!

Okay folks, for your enjoyment:

Here's the re-edited music video of Lives In The Balance, not the same as the original in the 80s, but updated for our times and no less powerful.

Running On Empty Live in 1979

Here's Running On Empty with Bruce Springsteen

Bruce and Jackson doing The Promised Land. As I mentioned in the birthday celebration for Bruce Springsteen, I saw them do this in Central Park in 1982 at the largest anti-nuke rally in history, and the Earth literally shook when they broke into this song.

Jackson doing his first hit, Doctor My Eyes

The Pretender

A 1986 performance of Tender is the Night

And we close with the song he wrote (with Glenn Frey adding a verse) that was the Eagles' debut single, Take It Easy

© Copyright 2008 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[Jeri]

Thanks for leaving these video gifts for us while you're out on the road. Hope you're having a great adventure!

The updated "Lives In The Balance" makes me cry every time I see and hear it. Four years ago, and it is still our ugly truth.

I saw Jackson Browne along with Bonnie Raitt and Keb Mo in October 2004 as part of a MoveOn.org fundraiser in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They were all phenomenal and full of hope and message, not to mention all putting on one hell of a show.

Maybe we'll get the start of our change in 2008.

Jeri

[BritLitChik]

After a hard day at work, with the car windows down, there is nothing like hearing "Running on Empty" at full tilt over and over again with the wind blowing in your hair to rid yourself of the load of the day.

A vehicle CD staple. If you don't keep a copy of ROE or some other Jackson Browne in your car, I highly suggest it. Somehow fits the bill every time and suddenly you won't care what the local rush hour traffic report has to say...

[Robert]

Hi Jeri - Yes, it's one of the more powerful videos ever made. Anyone with a conscience can learn from it. The change has begun to blow through....

Hi BritLitChik - Glad you like it and I could find it. And truly, the entire world system is "running on empty...."