Wednesday, April 24, 2013

"That Girl Can Sing" by Jackson Browne

Song#:  0339
Date:  09/20/1980
Debut:  82
Peak:  22
Weeks:  13
Genre:  Soft Rock



Pop Bits:  Browne's first #1 album "Hold Out" started off with the #19 single "Boulevard." This follow-up single did just about as well. Although the singles were not major hits, it didn't really matter. After the mega-success of his last album, "Running on Empty," he probably could have released a door stop and it would have hit #1.

ReduxReview:  Yawn. Jackson Browne. Again, another song that seemed to get fairly high on the chart and I've never heard it. This one is a bit better than "Boulevard," but again nothing that I'd really choose to put in my shuffle. He does have a couple of songs I do like, but overall, if I don't get him by now, I never will.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  Kind of like Carly Simon with "You're So Vain," there has been speculation about who this song is really about. Some say it might have been about Laura Nyro or even Linda Ronstadt. But it seems the inspiration for the song most likely came from Valerie Carter, a singer who had worked as a back-up singer for Browne. Carter is a singer/songwriter and has had much success working with artists like Ronstadt, Christopher Cross, Don Henley, James Taylor, and others. One of the songs she co-wrote ended up on Browne's "Running on Empty" album - "Love Needs a Heart."

Note:  I found out about Valerie Carter ages ago when I ran across her debut LP "Just a Stone's Throw Away" (1977). It is a terrific album from that era and kind of an undiscovered gem. Check out her version of "Ooh Child."


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2 comments:

  1. She died in 2017. Browne sang this song in concert that very night in tribute to her and confirmed that she was the subject a few days later.

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    1. Yes, her passing was very sad. She should have had a much bigger solo career. Steve Winwood's "Valerie" was also inspired by her. Lyricist Will Jennings thought of her when writing the song.

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