Jackson Browne: Late For The Sky

Late for the Sky: Jackson Browne's Masterpiece Deserves Better Vinyl Treatment

Jackson Browne's third studio album, "Late for the Sky," marked a significant breakthrough in his career when it was released, climbing to number 14 on Billboard's Pop Albums chart. The album's unusual structure—featuring five songs exceeding five minutes in length—defied commercial conventions of the era yet connected deeply with listeners. Its cultural impact extended beyond the music world when the title track was featured in Martin Scorsese's landmark film "Taxi Driver."

Critical Legacy
The album's artistic significance has been repeatedly affirmed over the decades. It earned position 594 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums and ranks as number 372 on Rolling Stone magazine's prestigious 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list. For many critics and fans alike, "Late for the Sky" represents Browne's definitive artistic statement—his true masterpiece.

Vinyl Quality Issues
Unfortunately, like much of Browne's catalog, the vinyl releases of "Late for the Sky" have been plagued by persistent quality issues. Historical pressings have suffered from noisy surfaces, compressed dynamic range, poor instrument separation, and limited detail retrieval—shortcomings that significantly diminish the emotional impact of Browne's nuanced songwriting.

The 2018 Reissue: Modest Improvements
The 2018 reissue offers marginal improvements over previous vinyl editions but still falls short of what this material deserves. While the vinyl itself is somewhat quieter than earlier pressings, it typically requires thorough cleaning to achieve acceptable playback without distracting surface noise.

The more fundamental issues of limited dynamic range, inadequate sound separation, and lack of detail remain largely unresolved. These persistent problems may stem from poor source material used for mastering, suggesting that only a return to the original master tapes might deliver the sonic experience this album truly warrants.

The Vinyl Verdict
For devoted fans of this seminal album, the 2018 reissue represents a modest step forward. The slightly improved dynamic range and separation might justify tolerating the occasional pops and crackles that still intrude on the listening experience.

However, this important album—a cornerstone of the singer-songwriter movement of the 1970s—continues to await the definitive vinyl treatment it deserves. Until mastering engineers gain access to the original master tapes and approach the material with the reverence it warrants, Browne's masterpiece will remain somewhat obscured by technical limitations—a diamond still partially hidden within the rough of inadequate vinyl production. 💵

💰 Invest
 💵 Consider
💸 Pass