PRE-ORDER CD FROM AMAZON.COM
Few singer-songwriters embodied the late-’70s California sound as much as Jackson Browne. He started out writing for others in the previous decade, but broke onto the scene as a solo artist with his 1972 self-titled debut (sometimes referred to as Saturate Before Using). Five years later, he made waves with Running On Empty, a collection of 10 new songs recorded live during his 1977 tour. Several tracks were taken from the band’s performance at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Maryland and the Garden State Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey. But further tracks were recorded in more intimate spaces — various hotel rooms, rehearsal spaces, or “on a bus (a Continental Silver Eagle) somewhere in New Jersey.”
No matter the space, Browne and his band (featuring David Lindley on lap steel and fiddle, along with members of The Section) delivered stellar performances that have been lauded by critics since the album’s original release more than four decades ago. Running On Empty became Browne’s best-selling album, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Albums chart and eventually achieving a 7x Platinum certification from the RIAA.
Now, that legendary album – featuring such classics as “Running On Empty” and “The Load-Out / Stay” – will be re-released on CD, vinyl, and through digital download and streaming providers. Arriving on July 5 from Asylum/Rhino, the new edition of Running On Empty features a fresh remaster by Gavin Lurssen of Lurssen Mastering. The vinyl edition, meanwhile, was mastered by Ron McMaster and will be presented on 180-gram vinyl pressed at Pallas.
While some fans may want to hold onto their long-out-of-print previous editions, the newly remastered CD, vinyl, and digital versions that arrive on July 5 will no doubt be essential listening for those who might be new to Browne’s music. You can find the track listing for Running On Empty and pre-order the new CD below!
Jackson Browne, Running On Empty (Asylum LP 6E-113, 1977 – reissued Asylum/Rhino, 2019)
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
- Running On Empty
- The Road
- Rosie
- You Love the Thunder
- Cocaine
- Shaky Town
- Love Needs a Heart
- Nothing But Time
- The Load-Out
- Stay
Release Round-Up: Week of July 23
Mercy! Expanded Edition of Roy Orbison’s “Black and White Night” Arriving on Vinyl TODAY!
Release Round-Up: Week of July 5
There They Go Again: New Velvet Underground Vinyl Box Features ‘1969’ Compilation
Why? Think I will hold on to my already remastered copy.
Just enjoy it…life is too short to be whining all the time. Try to be positive my friend
No bonus tracks? They could put one or two on from that era. Disappointing.
So stupid. There was a bonus track released once, I believe on the DVD that accompanied the last re-issue…why not stick that on here? Ridiculous.
A real missed opportunity here. The 2005 remaster included a 5.1 mix on DVD that included two bonus cuts “Cocaine Again” and “Edwardsville Room 124.” Would have been nice to have those on the actual CD. Also the last remaster cut off the twenty seconds or so of ambient crowd nice before “Running on Empty” came on. Yeah a small gripe but that would have made the last one perfect. That said, I will not shell out for what was already a great sounding remaster (crowd noise or not) without bonus material. I wish he would remaster his catalog and stop flogging this particular album.
I forgot there were two bonus cuts on the DVD audio; I had only remembered the one….I’d love to have those on the actual CD.
Was the last reissue a big improvement sound wise?
All of Jackson’s early albums are in serious need of remastering. What’s the point of re-remastering this great album when this has already been done?!?! It makes no sense! I keep holding out hope but it seems no one in the position to do so really cares.
Piling on with the rest… No bonus tracks?
Honestly, never had any problems with my old ROE CD. I’ve probably had this one for about… 30 years? Mine has always sounded fine (Also has the crowd/ambient noise at the start). Was the subsequent remaster all that big an improvement (“Improved,” not LOUDER)?
If I hear the name jackson browne again this hippy will puke
Your comment made me puke. Troll.
Running on Empty
All time favorite song
Does anyone know yet if the audience crowd noise is also cut off on this new version?
So Sam, how about asking why there were no bonus tracks? And updating the write up?
Hi Ed, thanks for reading and for the feedback. It tends to be that certain artists with veto power change their mind about unreleased material. I’d love to see a full show from this era, or at least the tracks that were on the 2005 DVD, but it doesn’t look like it was meant to be this time around. Still, for folks who might be new to the album or never owned a copy, I think the standalone album would be welcome, bonus tracks or not.
A few years back, a much better sounding, remastered CD of “Late for the Sky” was released in a cardboard jacket.
Yes…and it sounds beautiful.