Album of the Day

Released this month in 1977, RUNNING ON EMPTY is a concept album about touring – and one of the best and most unusual live albums ever made. None of these ten songs had appeared on any of Jackson Browne's previous albums, and in addition to concert performances, the collection includes impromptu recordings made backstage, on buses and in hotel rooms during one of the singer-songwriter's tours. With such old hands as guitarist David Lindley, bassist Leland Sklar and drummer Russ Kunkel in the band, the proceedings have a loose, easy feel to them, even when the material touches on the darker side of life on the road. RUNNING ON EMPTY brought Browne a pair of Grammy nominations (including Album of the Year) as well as commercial success; the anthemic title track and “The Load Out/Stay” were both hit singles, while the album reached #3 on the chart.