Jackson Browne - The Very Best of Jackson Browne

Jackson Browne long displayed an aversion to hits collections, releasing his first one 25 years after his debut album. That 1997 disc, entitled Next Voice You Hear: The Best of Jackson Browne, had many hits, yet it was also missing many essential songs, leaving an opening for a collection that had all of Browne's hits and signature songs in one place. Released seven years later, Rhino/Elektra's double-disc The Very Best of Jackson Browne is more or less that collection. Produced by Jackson Browne and featuring 32 songs, this set has all the major songs -- "Doctor My Eyes," "These Days," "Late for the Sky," "The Pretender," "Fountain of Sorrow," "Redneck Friend," "Running on Empty," "Somebody's Baby" -- including songs missing on Next Voice You Hear, such as "Jamaica Say You Will," "Rock Me on the Water," "Take It Easy," "Before the Deluge," "The Load-Out," "Stay," and "Boulevard." However, there are a handful of smaller hits missing -- including "That Girl Could Sing," "Cut It Away," "For a Rocker," "For America," "Chasing You Into the Night," "World in Motion," and "Call It a Loan," the latter of which was on the previous compilation -- which may frustrate some listeners. Nevertheless, this is not a major problem since the collection does contain the great majority of Browne's best and best-known material in an attractive, engaging fashion (although the cardboard packaging may be a bit too flimsy to weather heavy, repeated listening), and for listeners who want a comprehensive overview without purchasing individual albums, this suits the bill nicely. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Al Schmitt Engineer, Mixing, Producer Arnold McCuller Vocals (Background) Benmont Tench Organ (Hammond) Beth Fitchet Vocal Harmony Bill Jackson Assistant Bill Lane Assistant Bill Payne Synthesizer, Piano, Organ Bob Clearmountain Mixing Bob Glaub Bass Bob Hughes Assistant Bob Salcedo Assistant Bonnie Raitt Vocal Harmony Brent Averill Assistant Buford Jones Assistant Chuck Rainey Bass Clarence White Guitar (Acoustic) Coke Johnson Assistant Craig Doerge Mini Moog, Piano (Electric), Fender Rhodes, Piano, Synthesizer, Keyboards Crosby, David & Graham Nash Vocal Harmony Dan Fogelberg Vocal Harmony Danny Kortchmar Guitar, Guitar (Electric Baritone), Maracas Dave Marsh Liner Notes David Campbell String Arrangements, Conductor David Hewitt Assistant David Leonard Assistant David Lindley Guitar (Acoustic), Fiddle, Lap Steel Guitar, Guitar, Slide Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Vocals David Paich Piano David Tickle Engineer, Mixing Debra Dobkin Vocal Harmony Dennis Kirk Engineer, Mixing, Assistant Don Henley Vocal Harmony Doug Haywood Organ, Bass, Vocals, Vocal Harmony, Vocals (Background) Doug Sax Remastering Dustin Stanton Artwork Ed Cherney Mixing Elton John Piano Fred Tackett Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric) Fritz Richmond Assistant George Ybara Assistant Glenn Frey Vocal Harmony Graham Nash Vocal Harmony Greg Ladanyi Mixing, Producer, Engineer Greg Leisz Guitar (12 String Electric), Guitar (12 String Acoustic) Henry Diltz Photography Hugo Pedroza Tiple, Charango J.D. Souther Vocal Harmony Jackson Browne Sequencers, Guitar (Rhythm), Guitar, Vocals, Piano, Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Acoustic), Producer, Compilation Producer Jai Winding Synthesizer, Organ, Piano James Austin Executive Producer James Geddes Assistant, Mixing, Engineer James Ledner Assistant Jeff Porcaro Drums Jeff Scott Young Vocal Harmony, Organ (Hammond), Piano Jesse Ed Davis Guitar (Electric) Jim Gordon Drums Jim Keltner Drums Jim Nipar Engineer, Assistant John Haeny Engineer John Hall Soloist, Guitar Jon Landau Producer, Notes Editing Jorge Calderon Vocal Harmony, Bass Jorge Strunz Guitar (Nylon String) Joyce Everson Vocal Harmony Kathy Yore Assistant Kent Nebergall Assistant Kevin Dukes Guitar Kevin Harp Assistant Kevin McCormick Guitar (Acoustic), Producer, Bass Larry Zack Drums, Percussion Leland Sklar Bass Lori B. Williams Vocal Harmony Lowell George Slide Guitar, Vocal Harmony Luis Conte Percussion Mark Goldenberg Guitar, Guitar (Electric) Mark Howlett Engineer Mark Johnson Assistant Mark Salwasser Assistant Mauricio-Fritz Lewak Drums Michael Jochum Drums Michael Utley Organ Mickey McGee Drums Mike Campbell Guitar (12 String Electric) Mike Engstrom Product Manager Mindy Sterling Vocal Harmony Murray Dvorkin Assistant Nels Israelson Cover Photo Niko Bolas Assistant Norman Mershon Assistant Paul Black Assistant Paul Dieter Technical Assistance, Engineer Perry Lindley Vocal Harmony Quique Cruz Zampona Rich Tosi Assistant Richard Sanford Orshoff Mixing, Engineer, Producer Rick Marotta Drums Rick Tarantini Assistant Rick Vito Guitar, Vocal Harmony, Vocals (Background) Robert Hadley Remastering Robin Hurley Executive Producer Rosemary Butler Vocal Harmony, Vocals Roy Bittan Piano Russ Kunkel Conga, Drums Russell Schmitt Assistant Scott Blockland Assistant Scott Thurston Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocal Harmony Sebastian Haimerl Assistant Sergio Reyes Assistant Sharon Rice Assistant Sneaky Pete Kleinow Pedal Steel Stan Lynch Drums Steve Onuska Assistant Tchad Blake Assistant Terry Becker Engineer Terry Reid Vocal Harmony Tom Perry Assistant Tom Walsh Assistant Val McCallum Guitar (Electric) Valerie Carter Vocals (Background) Vonda Shepard Vocal Harmony Waddy Wachtel Guitar Walfredo Reyes Conga