For Everyman

Released in 1973 as the follow-up to his acclaimed debut, For Everyman solidified Jackson Browne's position as the premier poet of the Los Angeles music scene. While his debut was sparse and urgent, this sophomore effort introduced a more expansive, studio-polished sound featuring contributions from David Lindley, Glenn Frey, and Don Henley. The album is notable for containing Browne's own recording of 'These Days,' a song he wrote at age 16 that had already been made famous by Nico and Gregg Allman. It also features 'Take It Easy,' which Browne co-wrote with Glenn Frey for the Eagles, here reinterpreted as a more grounded, folk-leaning track. Critically, the album is viewed as a bridge between the raw folk of the late 60s and the sophisticated soft rock that would dominate the mid-70s. It remains a cornerstone of the 'Laurel Canyon' sound, praised for its lyrical depth and high-fidelity production values.