Running On Empty (live album) by Jackson Browne

Shortlisted for album of the year at the 1979 Grammys. The winner was Saturday Night Fever (Various Artists)

A unique way to approach a live album that is a very smooth and relaxing experience. It is a very easy record to enjoy and is very consistent in the fact that most songs are good and there is no real track I would consider below average. The title tracks kicks the record off in style with a 5 minute rock great that sets the precedent for the rest of the album. The middle of the album takes a little dip in quality and I do find myself getting distracted around that point but the relaxed atmosphere is still maintained. Then the record finishes in style with two of the best cuts on the record which leaves us with a very positive view on the album. I always look at this record as one that I could easily stick on and just enjoy the great performances and forget about everything else. Overall, there is a lot of pleasure you can get from this release and there is some great instrumental performances that add quality into the mix as well making this an under rated album.

El disco más atípico de Jackson Browne (la mitad de los temas son versiones y está grabado en directo en los lugares más insólitos) es, al mismo tiempo y en mi opinión, su obra maestra.

Running on Empty is probably Jackson Browne's most universal album. Its a rare live album of new material and many of the songs focus on life on the road. Some of the songs are even cleverly recorded in hotel rooms and the tour bus and that only adds to the appeal. The title track remains a staple of Browne's catalogue and his tribute to the road crew The Load Out makes for an excellent closer when paired with his cover of Stay.

A unique approach on the live album that succeeds in many ways. The title track and The Load-Out/Stay are all-time classic songs, and there are other great tunes here to explore too, including The Road and You Love the Thunder. As others have mentioned before, this is a great choice for a road trip.

A live album of new material. It's an enjoyable record, but there's nothing spectacular here. It's all very competent and enjoyable, but it's hardly, late for the sky, but it's passable.

I love this album, maybe because it was one of the first "good" albums I liked when I was small and my parents had it on their car. It is a mixture of country, folk and pop rock in which a very talented artist with good musicians play this album (all unrealeased songs to that date) live. I tend to like studio albums but it's true that thanks to them playing live you can hear the musicians cope together, the audience's reaction... and you sort of get into those 1977 concerts. My favourite part is the blending of the last two tracks (Load Out/Stay) into one upbeat, heartfelt and musically varied song.

Reading the previous comments, it seems that I am not the only one who enjoys playing this album on the car :P

The quintessential road album. If your stuck on a long drive and the radio is boring the shit out of you I play this. A tatty old CD is in my glove box of the car and that is where it stays. A great album and Brownes and it's a live one. Am I suggesting that this is the best live album ever mmmm it certainly isn't but it does earn it's place in my music collection

Contains two of his standards: "Running on Empty" and "The Load Out / Stay."

From cyto 12/27/2012 01:53

I normally dislike live albums but this is one of the few great ones. Listening to this is like taking a journey. I once drove from Indiana to Texas with no radio but an 8-track tape player (I know my age is showing) and a copy of Running on Empty. I listened to it all the way there and back and didn't tire of it.