Hold Out

The brief, one line review below really does sum it up in a nutshell--this is a profoundly beautiful masterpiece by Jackson Browne, & as it appears, startlingly underrated AND sadly misunderstood as well (even though it was his lone album to ever top the US Billboard album chart). I'm absolutely stumped as to what makes this album a disappointment in any fan's mind--Browne hadn't lost a drop of his eloquent genius (musical or lyrical), & on this album, "Hold Out", originally released in June of 1980, his brilliance is on full display. Browne never rushes through anything here, giving the songs time to really sink in for maximum impact. It starts off with the grooving "Disco Apocalypse", which features a simple, yet menacing keyboard intro before Browne's punchy vocal delivery grabs you--it creates a feeling of people desparately wanting to break out of the cobwebs of their unsatisfying lives, & it's an ideal album opener. As hard-hitting as the track is, & despite the fact that its chorus is in the first person, it feels like an example of Browne as a seer, whereas most of the rest of the album is intensely personal AS WELL AS emotionally intense. The album's undercurrent "hold out" theme really hits hard, with all-around gorgeous songs like the expansive title track & "Call It A Loan" (with its wonderful guitar phrase--guitarist David Lindley co-wrote the track). You can't praise Browne's craft enough--the lyrics are poetic & deeply affecting, & he finds focused, irresistible & memorable melodies (often quite similar to each other, yet never interchangeable with each other) that are the perfect fit & enhance the words, then wraps his wonderful, compulsively listenable vocals (which are way up in the mix) around it all. Speaking of Jackson's vocals... Listening closely on a couple of the songs, you can tell the tape was cut as if two different takes/ vocal takes were spliced together--it's VERY subtle, but a sharp listener catch this--and additionally, even though there's nothing wrong at all with his vocals of the original album version of "Call It A Loan", on the version of this song that was included on the compilation "The Next Voice You Hear", Browne went so far as to do an incredibly meticulous splicing of newly-resung parts with the original album's vocals--it has to be heard to be believed. My point with all of this is that CLEARLY Jackson Browne obsesses hugely over his vocals--it wouldn't surprise me if he frequently does numerous takes of individual lines to get each one exactly to his satisfaction, but that doesn't take away from the fact that his vocals are terrific & full of feeling. It's remarkable how much I've read how Browne's voice was just OK/ serviceable, but nothing great. I couldn't agree less--his voice is the perfect instrument for the material. Heck, the guy even puts to use a solid falsetto (most prominently on "Disco Apocalypse"). Browne makes each song on this album dramatic & powerful (and often very sad--he sounds like he's barely holding back tears on a couple songs), but, in typical fashion, he's supremely tasteful & never resorts to bombast. Give credit to Browne & Greg Ladanyi who produced the album, as well as the players for the terrific musical performances on the album (including keyboards from Bill Payne & drumming from Russ Kunkel). The ballad "Of Missing Persons", a eulogy directed to Lowell George's daughter (Jackson's goddaughter), is so mesmerizing, bittersweet, & deeply moving it's almost unbelievable--to put it a certain way, I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't heard it myself. The uptempo, reflective "pop"-rocker "That Girl Could Sing" (one of his "enigmatic girl" songs, apparently written about Valerie Carter) & the riffy, irresistably rocking street life-themed "Boulevard" are just as great as all the aforementioned tracks. Then there's the album closing "Hold On Hold Out", which is absolutely an ingeniously crafted, uplifting, uptempo track encouraging us that we must never give in & settle for anything less than the ideal lover, because if we don't, it will harm us even more deeply than being alone (in other words, it's an ode to "hold outs" everywhere)--you really have to examine the lyrics on this one--again, it's almost unbelievable how brilliant & fully-realized they are. The track has a great piano theme (played by Craig Doerge who co-wrote the track), excellent use of dynamics, works its way through each section masterfully, & features Browne reeling off one brilliant, bracingly powerful line after another. I can easily understand how you might cringe at the end when, after gripping tension, Browne in spoken word finally comes out & says "I love you" to someone, followed by a big a drum crash & a big finish with wailing vocals. Without getting too passionate over it, I'll just say this--I think it works--he really managed to bring this incredibly epic track to a rousing, emphatic conclusion. In the end, I honestly think this is a flawless album--it rocks, it moves you (in more ways than one), it puts you in an introspective mood... Browne never loses me at any point over the course of these songs. It's almost beyond all belief how well he puts his feelings/ perceptions into words on this album. It's a record that after many listens, continues to yield its rich rewards, feels so complete (always a sign of a truly great album), and is pure therapy. This album really clicks in a big way, & I can't help but feel certain listeners have certain preconceptions about this album & simply aren't giving it a fair chance--it's hard to comprehend anyone with even half a heart denying this album. It's an absolute must have, not just for any fan, but for any serious listener--this album represents a stunningly intelligent "singer-songwriter" at his very best. Jackson Browne is simply one of the best artists in history, & "Hold Out" is one of the best albums ever made.

HOLD OUT is the underappreciated album from the brilliance of Jackson Browne. This recording brings back so many fond memories when first released in 1980. I would pull the top down on the convertible and crank up the 8-track of this album and lay on the hood in the country and search deep within me about what life has to offer once I graduate high school. I did some growing through this music and on this CD it makes the hair stand on the back of my neck and makes me proud to be a Jackson Browne fan. Over thirty years later, I approach this music with a smile. No one but myself will know the impact this great recording had on my life.I just recently bought this CD (upon finding it by accident on Amazon) and purchased knowing its past on me. And it is awesome to relive this recording like its fresh and new (unlike me) when released. It sounds amazingly clear and detailed in this remastering. I am glad the record label kept the same seven songs without adding to it (extra recordings) because I feel an unfamiliar song on this album would take me away from the memories. Its hard to explain how this affects me. People who have been influenced by someone's music when they were younger will know what I am talking about. The rest will probably think this middle aged man is off his rocker. If I am off my rocker, it feels great and warm when I listen to HOLD OUT all the way through (I just put it on repeat and listen over and over like yesteryear) and I can't stop smiling. I am loving life! Thank you Jackson for the memories.

This probably isn't JB's finest effort. In fact, this is the release just before "Lawyers in Love" and soon thereafter, JB went into full scale political mode.And no wonder. Some of these songs are a little cheesey. Especially the rhyming/rap in the middle of the "Hold On, Hold Out" song. "Of Missing Persons" is a song about someone famous, I think maybe Elvis, but I can't be sure. It's quite possible that some JB fan could elaborate more detail on this. It's kinda sad and ballad-like, but the chorus is nice, albeit confusing ("And you can sing this song on July the 4th; In the sunny south and the frozen north" - Frozen on the 4th of July? This ain't Saskachewan).There are only 7 songs on the album, and the first four (which make up side 1 of the vinyl version) are pretty great. In fact, it was those songs that haunted my memory so much that I finally broke in and got this CD. "Disco Apocalypse" has JB telling you that everyone can rise above on the dance floor, which, coming from him, sounds kind of cheesy, but the tune is great. The title track, "Hold Out" has some great piano and keyboard in it. "That Girl Could Sing" was slighted on his double greatest hits CD in favor of some of his political tunes, which is a shame, because it's probably the 2nd best song on this album, and was played quite regularly on the radio when it first came out. I really like the guitar sound on this song. It's unlike any other sound I've heard from a guitar. Then there's the classic "Boulevard," which was the only tune to make it to his double greatest hits CD. This song is great rocking JB fare.Overall, not that great of an album. But I think it's still worth it, at least to me, for the first 4 songs.

Seldom talked about in JB's finest release discussion but my current favorite to listen to! David Lindley is a musical national treasure! That incendiary lapsteel work on "That Girl Could Sing" is just mind boggling & great stuff! Having seen Jackson in a solo acoustic show recently he performed "Call It A Loan" and reminded me what a lyrical genius this man truly is. Lowell George tribute "Of Missing Persons" is such a fitting poignant moment on the record - making me miss the glory days of Little Feat even more than I already do. Marked down one star only for the embarrassing closing "heart tugging" moments of "Hold On Hold Out".

Excellent item, support and service :)!!!

Jackson Browne has had great CDs e.g. Saturate before using or Late for the Sky. Poetic and thoughtful lyrics were enhanced by his mellow voice, sound musical compositions and first rate accompaniment.Sadly however, the CD - Hold Out contains 7 mainly very forgettable songs with cliched lyrics. Moreover Track 7 "Hold on Hold Out" which lasts over 8 minutes is just rambling.2 tracks -"Hold Out"," and "Call it a loan" are just about OK but nothing more.I am a fan of Jackson Browne and have seen him many times in concert over the years but I don't know why he put out this uninspired album.It was definitely a low point and one of his CDs I would not want to keep.

i was introduced to jackson browne through this record via that girl could sing way back in 1980. i had this on tape for the longest time not finding the time to get it on cd. part of the reason was the line of thinking that it is not remastered and would not sound great. with that thought, i decided to get it once and for all since it is still a great record 38 years on and of missing persons and call it a loan remain my favorites. my only gripe isn't about the record. it's the way these things are sent. i've no idea if it's amazon's fault or the post office people that handle it, but every time i get an cd order, the jewel case is always cracked or broken. it definitely detracts from my full enjoyment of the item looking at the product casing damaged.

How on earth do you follow stellar albums like 'Late For the Sky', 'The Pretender' and 'Running On Empty?' This was the problem confronting Jackson Browne in 1980. To be sure, 'Hold Out' doesn't really compare with its predecesors - let's face it, not a lot does compare with those epics - but, taken on its own terms, it deserves a better write-up than it's tended to get.If heightened expectations were one problem, another was the structure of the album, with the best material saved for side 2 of the original vinyl offering. 'Disc Apocalypse' kicks out a good beat, but isn't really Browne-type material - the high-point, for me, is a superb vocal contribution from Rosemary Butler. 'Hold Out' isn't bad - very 'Pretender' in tone - but 'That Girl Could Sing' is, for me, the low-point of the album. 'Boulevard' is better - and, courtesy of compilations, has enjoyed greater longevity than the other tracks on this album. This said, we reather meander towards the end of what would have been side 1 (on vinyl) with pretty mixed feelings. Many might not have persevered............and what a mistake that would have been! In the second half the album, 'Hold Out' takes off. 'Of Missing Persons' finds Browne back on full power, and so does 'Call it a Loan' - both are beautiful tracks, and either could have graced his earlier albums. 'Hold On Hold Out', the concluding epic, is another outstanding track.If you temporarily forget the predecessor albums and judge 'Hold Out' on its merits, it isn't a bad album - three stars for the first half maybe, but definitely five for the second, and certainly four stars taken overall.

A prompt service. Very good album too.

Very well crafted album, with great vocals. Not the meaningful lyrical quality of his later stuff, but still a gem.