The new album from Goodnight, Texas due out on August 5 on Tallest Man Records. 

http://hiwearegoodnighttexashowareyou.com 
https://www.facebook.com/goodnighttexas
http://www.youtube.com/goodnighttexasmusic


Knock 'Em Stiff

The Pretender -  Songfacts 

(Writer: Jackson Browne         Original performance: Jackson Browne) 

Jackson Browne is I think one of the most significant songwriters of my generation. I read once that he is of the ‘confessional’ school of songwriters. Whatever! I have loved his stuff for more years than I care to remember. As well as being a great lyric writer, I love the way he delivers his songs, his distinctive voice and piano and guitar playing. He’s known by many for writing ‘Take It Easy’, a big hit for The Eagles. A few of his other songs have been covered by other artists, but in the main he delivers his songs himself, with the help of some of the best studio/session musicians in the business. And he doesn’t seek pop stardom.

‘The Pretender’ is one of JB’s  best known songs, and one I’ve played for many years just using an acoustic guitar. I set out to record it in that style but when I tried that, it just didn’t sound right and I began to feel that the playing and the arrangement on the original was part of what gave it its impact. To recreate that arrangement in the detail required was no mean feat and I abandoned my original attempt, started in 2020, only returning to it in 2023. I found also that the original key of G left me straining a bit on some of the high notes (age has taken its toll ha ha) and so I lowered the song a tone to the key of F.  Wiki has this to say of the original song:

‘In answering the question of who The Pretender is, Browne said - "...it's anybody that's sort of lost sight of some of their dreams...and is going through the motions and trying to make a stab at a certain way of life that he sees other people succeeding at. So maybe it's a lot of people of a certain generation who sort of embraced a very material lifestyle in place of dreams that they had that sort of disintegrated at some point."

Piano is in the forefront, played by Craig Doerge. Drums are played by Jeff Porcaro, bass by Leland Sklar, acoustic guitar and electric guitar are played by Fred Tackett, harmony vocals performed by David Crosby and Graham Nash and the string section was arranged by David Campbell.

"The Pretender" was only a minor hit single, reaching #58 on the Billboard Hot 100, spending 5 weeks on the chart in 1977. However, it gained substantial progressive rock radio and album-oriented rock airplay and has since become a staple on many classic rock formats. It has been one of Browne's most often performed songs during his concert tours. As a result, it is one of Browne's best-known works. ‘

On The Clana Boys version, Paul ‘Session Man’ Jennings had the unenviable task of trying to walk in the footsteps of Leland Sklar, one of the best session bass players out there, and he’s pulled it off admirably. He also critiques the work and helps it to get on the right track before it gets committed to Soundcloud. So a big thumbs up as ever to him.

Anyhoos, this one was a LOT of work and I hope you like it. Please share it if you do. Jackson Browne is a song lovers’ songwriter. This is the second song of his I’ve covered, and I suspect there may be others to come.  I'd like also to dedicate this song to a friend of mine who passed away this week. He always enjoyed listening to the songs I covered and I hope he may be listening still.

Mike O’Neill
24th November 2023

Emeralds & Pearls

The Pretender (Jackson Browne)(The Clana Boys)

Illusion & Doubt

Dead Man's Isle

Delirium

Miss Mary

Sugar & Joy

Fat Little Killer Boy

Boots

Time for Crawlin'

Hard Day

This is the album that started it all, the debut release for Jayke Orvis and Farmageddon Records! This album was recorded at Rebel Roots Recording Studio in Richmond, VA in 2009 and 2010. A founding member of The .357 String Band, and a pioneer in the roots music underground, Orvis has paved the way for many punk turned pickers! If you wish to order a hard copy of this CD you can do so at www.farmageddonrecords.bigcartel.com

Dreadful Sinner

The Pretender (Jackson Browne)(The Clana Boys)

Hugh Boy

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