Song#: 1527
Date: 07/09/1983
Debut: 59
Peak: 13
Weeks: 15
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: In 1982, Browne scored his biggest Pop hit when "Somebody's Baby," from the Fast Times at Ridgemont High soundtrack, reached #7. Almost exactly a year later, this first title-track single from his new album Lawyers in Love made its Pop chart debut. It would become his sixth Top 20 single and his second Rock Top 10 (#4). The tune would also be a mild entry at AC reaching #24. The single's success, bolstered by Browne's first ever MTV video, would send the album to #8. It would eventually become a platinum seller.
ReduxReview: When this came out, the song did not make any sense to me. But I didn't care as I really liked the tune. It ended up being the one and only Jackson Browne recording I ever purchased. I like its quirkiness and meshing of new and older rock styles. "Fun" is not necessarily a word to describe Browne and his music, however I think this may be one of his most fun singles. Although it's not in the same classics league as "Running on Empty" or "Doctor My Eyes," for me it is probably his best latter career single.
ReduxRating: 8/10
Trivia: The Lawyers in Love album marked a change in Browne's music. Personally, he had become more involved with world and political issues and the LP's lyrics reflect that. The anti-nuke "Say It Isn't True" is probably the tune that demonstrates the shift along with the satirical title-track single. Browne has said that "Lawyers in Love" was meant to be a humorous look at society, but it ended up confusing a lot of people with many folks misinterpreting the lyrics. Browne would become even more overtly political with his next album Lives in the Balance.
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I think we had a conversation about Jackson Browne and how his overall work was most excellent, and you had said that this was all you liked, whereupon I may have bestowed some music upon you. I do love this song, but I think his catalog is pretty exceptional.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm still not keen on a lot of his album material, but he has done some excellent work. I'll revisit his catalog at some point in time.
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