Maps of Music

World in Motion (1989)

Where the lyrics of World in Motion take you, and where it was really made.

Jackson Browne's ninth album was the first of his records to fail to earn gold or platinum status, and it took three years to finish.

Key places

Recorded and mixed in Santa Monica (1989)

Recording site Groove Masters — The album was recorded and mixed at Groovemasters in Santa Monica, California, according to the release credits. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Additional recording in New York (1989)

Recording site Power Station Studio — Additional recording for the album took place at the Power Station in New York, according to the release notes. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Track recorded in London (1989)

Recording site Wild Bunch Studios (London) — The release notes say that all tracks except "When the Stone Begins to Turn" were recorded at Island Studios in London. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Additional recording in Paris (1989)

Recording site Pathé Marconi studios — Additional recording for the album was made at Studio Devout in Paris, according to the release notes. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• World in Motion: ninth album by American singer-songwriter Jackson Browne
• Released in 1989
• Peaked at number 45 on the Billboard 200
• Browne's first album to obtain neither gold nor platinum status
• Took three years to complete
• Makes statements about nuclear disarmament and the "secret" government that brought forth Oliver North and the Iran-Contra scandal
• Ten tracks; producers Jackson Browne and Scott Thurston

Background

• Similar to the previous album Lives in the Balance, political themes continue in the songs
• The political content generally centers on criticism of the foreign policy of the Reagan administration
• Several musicians took part, including Walfredo Reyes Jr., credited with drums on "Anything Can Happen"
• Title track co-written by Browne and Craig Doerge
• Bonnie Raitt sings harmony on the title track; David Crosby sings harmony on "The Word Justice"
• Salif Keita provides Malian vocals on "When the Stone Begins to Turn"

Recording

• Recorded and mixed at Groovemasters in Santa Monica, California
• "When the Stone Begins to Turn" recorded at Island Studios in London
• Additional recording at Power Station in New York and at Studio Devout in Paris
• Reyes recorded his drum part during the spring of 1988
• Reyes asked for a second pass to accent one section; Browne first resisted, then agreed
• Browne was dissatisfied with the original cabasa part, so Alex Acuña re-recorded it
• James Geddes and Ed Wong are among the engineers; David Tickle mixed the album
• Mastered by Doug Sax at The Mastering Lab in Hollywood, California

Cover

• Photography by Annie Leibovitz
• Paintings by Francisco Letelier
• Art direction and design by Dawn Patrol and Jimmy Wachtel

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

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

• William Rulhmann wrote that, apart from the gloomy viewpoint, the album made the Jackson Browne of his first few albums hard to recognize
• Rulhmann added that even readers who agreed with the political stance found it disappointing
• Robert Christgau commented that the best songs were the ones Browne did not write
• Rolling Stone wrote that Steven Van Zandt's "I Am a Patriot" is the only truly memorable song on Browne's trilogy of protest albums
• Cash Box said the title track was a struggle to sit through, citing late-'80s production and a literal political lyric, despite Bonnie Raitt's presence

Records

• Peaked at number 45 on the Billboard 200
• First Browne album without gold or platinum status
• Released by Elektra/Asylum Records in the United States and by WEA International outside the United States

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ko.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Reyes insisted on recording a second drum pass; Browne first resisted, then relented after Reyes explained he wanted to accent one section
• Browne was dissatisfied with the original cabasa part and had Alex Acuña re-record it
• Salif Keita sings Malian vocals on "When the Stone Begins to Turn"
• Cash Box criticized the title track's late-'80s production by Scott Thurston and the artist

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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