Maps of Music

I'm Alive (1993)

Where the lyrics of I'm Alive take you, and where it was really made.

Browne's tenth album swung back from political songwriting to romance, and longtime fans welcomed the change.

Key places

Recorded and mixed at Groove Masters (1993)

Recording site Groove Masters — The album was recorded and mixed at Groove Masters in Santa Monica, California. The Italian Wikipedia entry and the Discogs credits both name this studio. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• I'm Alive: tenth album by American singer-songwriter Jackson Browne
• Released in 1993 by Elektra Records
• Title track reached No. 18 on the Album Rock Tracks chart and No. 28 on the Adult Contemporary chart
• Other singles: 'Everywhere I Go' (UK No. 67) and 'Sky Blue and Black'
• Ten tracks, all composed by Browne
• Produced by Browne and Scott Thurston on most tracks, with Don Was on 'My Problem Is You' and 'Too Many Angels'

Background

• Browne's two previous albums leaned heavily toward political songs
• On this album he returned to his earlier style of romantic songwriting, which longtime fans welcomed
• The album was considered somewhat of a comeback for Browne
• Browne said 'I'll Do Anything' was originally written as the title song for a James L. Brooks movie of the same name

Recording

• Recorded and mixed at Groove Masters in Santa Monica, California
• Mastered by Gavin Lurssen and Doug Sax at The Mastering Lab in Hollywood, California
• Paul Dieter engineered most tracks; Rik Pekkonen engineered 'My Problem Is You' and 'Too Many Angels'
• 'Too Many Angels' features backing vocals by Jennifer Warnes, Valerie Carter, Doug Haywood, Katia Cardenal and Ryan Browne
• 'All Good Things' features backing vocals by David Crosby and Don Henley

Cover

• Art direction by Robin Lynch, photography by Bruce Weber

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Career

• Clyde Jackson Browne, born October 9, 1948 in Heidelberg, Germany, is an American rock musician, singer, songwriter and political activist.
• He began as a teenage songwriter in mid-1960s Los Angeles and became a staff writer for Elektra's publishing company, Nina Music, before he was eighteen.
• His songs were recorded early by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Joan Baez, Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, the Byrds and others.
• He signed with David Geffen's Asylum Records in 1971 and released his self-titled debut album in 1972, which included "Doctor My Eyes" and "Rock Me on the Water".
• Running on Empty (1977), recorded on tour, is his signature work and his biggest commercial success, peaking at number 3 on the album chart.
• Hold Out (1980) was his only number 1 album on the US pop albums chart.
• "Somebody's Baby" from the Fast Times at Ridgemont High soundtrack became his biggest hit, peaking at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.
• He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, inducted by Bruce Springsteen.
• Rolling Stone ranked him 37th on its 2015 list of the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time.

Activism

• Browne co-founded the antinuclear organization Musicians United for Safe Energy in March 1979.
• He performed frequently at benefits in the 1980s and campaigned for causes including Farm Aid and Amnesty International.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Stephen Holden of The New York Times called it a striking return to romantic subject matter
• Holden called it Browne's finest album in nearly two decades and compared it to Late for the Sky (1974)
• Critic William Ruhlman agreed it was a return but did not consider the album as strong
• Ruhlman found the imagery stock and the expression unoriginal, and said Browne did not make a full comeback despite a couple of well-constructed songs
• Kara Manning in the original Rolling Stone review from 1993 said Browne had resurrected his persona of twenty years earlier
• Manning praised the record's gallows humor and self-deprecation

Reappraisal

• The Rolling Stone Record Guide wrote that Browne returned to his forte, the personal joy and agony of day-to-day human interaction

Records

• The album was in Q's list of The 50 Best Albums Of 1993
• Voted number 456 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums
• Placed 40th on the Billboard Pop-rock albums chart in 1993
• Certified gold by the RIAA in 1995

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• 'Sky Blue and Black' was also featured in the pilot episode of the sitcom Friends
• The Disney Channel aired the television special 'Jackson Browne: Going Home' on June 25, 1993, to coincide with the album
• Browne said 'I'll Do Anything' was a comedic song originally meant for the James L. Brooks film, to be sung by Albert Brooks as a man begging a test audience for good reviews
• David Crosby's appearance on the album was credited as courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corporation
• The album was voted number 456 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

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