For Everyman: Jackson Browne. Asylum Recording.

Reviewed by Pat O'Dea.

Browne has been around for a long time, having his songs recorded by artists as disparate as the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Tom Rush as far back as 1968. His own delayed appearance on record in 1971 saved him from the unfortunate effects that over exposure had on other solo artists with similar inclinations like Cat Stevens and James Taylor.

Browne has said that his voice is naturally plain bad. Judging by the vocals on "Everyman" he has been practising hard and has found out what works and what doesn't.

At first his songs appear pretty run of the mill, but subtle variations of timing and melody slipped in here and there work miracles of transformation: his music has the same unique qualities that you find in the Stones—it sounds so easy to do, but just let anyone else try to improve on them!

Listen, for example to his version of the tune that first cropped up on the Eagles' LP "Take it Easy", or the bittersweet, melancholic "I Thought I was a Child"; and the record's rocker is "Red Neck Friend".

Also, a word about the excellent musicianship of everybody involved on this album. Among the better-known names are Sneaky Pete, as brilliant as ever, Jim Keltner, Joni Mitchell, and, singing harmonies, Glenn Frey. And, unlike so many of the records of 1973, issued with a flood of hype and forgotten after a dozen playings, this one is for keeps. Many LPs are a lot flashier than this one, but damn few are any better.