Nothing but Time (Live 1977)

Zoo Freaks, get ready to groove with the Zoo Crew as we spin Nothing but Time (Live 1977) by Jackson Browne from his iconic album Running on Empty. This track is a raw snapshot of life on the road, recorded live on a Continental Silver Eagle tour bus cruising from Portland, Maine, to New Jersey on September 8, 1977. You can hear the bus’s engine humming in the background, with a noticeable downshift during the bridge, adding a gritty, authentic vibe. Drummer Russ Kunkel kept the beat using a snare, hi-hat, and a cardboard box with a foot pedal, as noted in the album’s liner notes. The song, co-written with tour manager Howard Burke, captures the restless boredom and camaraderie of touring, with lyrics like “Rolling down 295 out of Portland, Maine / Still high from the people up there and feeling no pain.”

Another cool tidbit comes from the song’s setting: Browne was literally living the lyrics, penned while riding that same Silver Eagle bus referenced in the song. According to NJArts.net, the track was laid down en route to a gig in Holmdel, New Jersey, making it a true road warrior anthem. Fans on Songfacts.com share personal stories, like Jim Gallison from Maine, who attended the Portland concert that inspired the song’s opening lines. He recalled Browne’s electrifying performance, even playing guitar behind his back during a break, a moment that sparked a 25-year marriage for Jim and his wife. The song’s raw energy and unique recording story make it a standout on an album Cameron Crowe called a “life recording,” capturing the soul of Browne’s 1977 tour.

Jackson Browne started his musical journey in the mid-1960s as a teenage songwriter in Los Angeles. Born on October 9, 1948, in Heidelberg, Germany, to a musical family with Southern California roots, Browne grew up in Los Angeles and Orange County. His early passion for music led him to join the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band briefly in 1966, and by his late teens, he was gigging in New York City as a backing musician for Nico of the Velvet Underground and folk legend Tim Buckley. Browne’s songwriting talent shone early—his song These Days, written at 16, became a minor hit for Nico in 1967. He also penned tracks for the Eagles, including co-writing their breakout hit Take It Easy with Glenn Frey, cementing his place in the burgeoning country-rock scene.

Browne’s big break came with his 1972 self-titled debut album, featuring the Top 10 hit Doctor My Eyes. His introspective lyrics and melodic folk-rock style, influenced by Bob Dylan and literary figures like Jack Kerouac, resonated with the Laurel Canyon crowd. He became a regular at The Troubadour in LA, collaborating with artists like David Crosby and Graham Nash. His partnership with multi-instrumentalist David Lindley, starting with 1973’s For Everyman, defined his sound through classics like Late for the Sky and The Pretender. By the time Running on Empty dropped in 1977, Browne was a rock star, with the album’s innovative live-recording approach earning it 7x platinum status and a lasting legacy.

Stay connected with Jackson Browne through his Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, where he shares tour updates and throwbacks like a 2021 post reminiscing about the 1977 Running on Empty tour. Fans can dive deeper at sites like JacksonBrowne.com for tour dates and merch or join discussions on Jackson Browne Fans on Facebook, a vibrant group for Zoo Freaks to share their love for his music. For more fan-driven content, check out Songfacts.com for stories and trivia about Browne’s catalog.