All Rise...

Judge Patrick Naugle majored in music and minored in DVD.

Editor's Note

Our review of Jackson Browne: Going Home, published September 26th, 2000, is also available.

The Charge

The Pretender isn't Running on Empty.

The Case

Jackson Browne has been a staple on the music scene since the early 1970s with the release of his "Saturate Before Using" debut album. Browne's hits include "Running on Empty," "Doctor My Eyes," "The Pretender" and countless other California soft rock ditties. He's even dabbled in writing hit songs for other artists, most notably The Eagles with "Take it Easy." In 1994 the Disney Channel aired a special viewing of the concert/documentary Jackson Browne: Going Home. Featuring rare footage with such artists as Bonnie Raitt, Don Henley, David Crosby, Graham Nash, The Eagles, David Lindley and Jennifer Warnes; Jackson Browne: Going Home is a compelling look at a man who has transformed himself not only into a talented musician but also a world activist.

Jackson Browne: Going Home will please fans who are looking for insight into Browne's work ethic as a musician and as an activist. The film flip-flops between recent concert footage (focusing often on material from his then released album "I'm Alive"), archival footage from TV specials and one-off concerts and interviews with friends, fellow musicians and Browne himself. I have to admit that I am a pretty big Jackson Browne fan. If we're going by rank, Bruce Springsteen is the only artist who gets more play on my iPod. Browne's music often offers a compelling look at the human heart mixed with bitterness, tenderness and lyrical poetry. For the first time fans get a real glimpse at the man behind the music with this fascinating and often introspective documentary.

Fans and casual viewers alike will enjoy hearing newer, often stripped down versions of Browne's hits and deep cuts, including a really cool rendition of "Birds of St. Marks" (an outtake that fans had been clamoring years for). One of the treats of this documentary film is hearing how passionate Browne is about the causes he supports. Browne was one of the major players on the "No Nukes" front (spawning a live CD featuring Springsteen, Raitt, Tom Petty and others) and has also been involved in Amnesty International and other human rights groups. It's nice to see a rock star who has bypassed the self involvement to reach outside of his bubble to help a hurting world.

I highly recommend this disc not only for the songs (which are great), but also for the inspiration. Browne proves himself to be not only a great musical artist, but also a great humanitarian.

The songs included on this disc are as follows:

"I'm Alive"
"Father On"
"Doctor My Eyes"
"These Days"
"Birds of St. Marks"
"Your Bright Baby Blues"
"Take It Easy"
"In The Shape Of A Heart"
"Everywhere I Go"
"World In Motion"
"You Can Get It If You Really Want It"
"Good Morning Little Mutant"
"All Along The Watchtower"
"The Pretender"
"For Everyman"
"Lives In The Balance"
"Knock On Any Door"
"My Problem Is You"
"Too Many Angels"
"Sleep's Dark And Silent Gate"
"Sky Blue And Black"
"Before The Deluge"
"Running On Empty"

This documentary film is presented in a mediocre 1.33:1 full frame version. My guess is that this is the exact same transfer they used on the previous release of this film (which has long been out of print). The image looks good but is never very impressive. There are decent colors and black levels. There isn't much else to say about this transfer—it's representative of the original viewing, and that's about it.

The sound mix is presented in DTS Digital Surround, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround and Dolby Digital Stereo. Much like the video presentation this audio mix gets the job done and little else. During some of the newer concert footage the sound mix picks up through all of the surround speakers, making for a vibrant concert feel.

No supplements are included on this disc.

The Verdict

For fans of Browne's music, this disc will be an invaluable treasure. Recommended.

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