You Love the Thunder
"You Love the Thunder" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Jackson Browne from his 1977 live album, Running on Empty, recorded at a concert at Garden State Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey, on September 6, 1977. Released as the third single a full year after the album came out, it only reached #109 on Billboards Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, though it received increased Album-Oriented Rock airplay. The B-side of the U.S. single was "The Road"; however, the B-side for the British single was "Cocaine".[1][2]
| "You Love the Thunder" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
7" Picture Sleeve | ||||
| Single by Jackson Browne | ||||
| from the album Running on Empty | ||||
| B-side | "The Road" | |||
| Released | Early 1978 | |||
| Recorded | August 27, 1977 Garden State Arts Center, Holmdel, New Jersey | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 3:57 | |||
| Label | Asylum Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Jackson Browne | |||
| Producer(s) | Jackson Browne | |||
| Jackson Browne singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
History
The lyrics seem to describe the relationship of a musician and a spouse or girlfriend who comes along on tour, keeping with the theme of the Running on Empty album, but they can be read more universally, as well:
- You love the thunder, and you love the rain —
- What you see revealed within the anger is worth the pain.
- And before the lightning fades and you surrender,
- You've got a second to look at the dark side of the man.
- You love the thunder and you love the rain —
- You know your hunger like you know your name.
- And I know you wonder how you ever came
- To be a woman in love with a man in search of the flame...
In his 1978 review of the album, Paul Nelson wrote: "Browne forges a temporary relationship with a kindred spirit, only to realize 'You can dream/But you can never go back the way you came.'"[3] Billboard Magazine commented on the "engagingly unpolished vocals" and "dynamic instrumental track."[4]
Reception
Cash Box said that it has a "moderate pace, good lyrics and a strong hook," as well as "effective" slide guitar and backing vocals.[5]
Personnel
- Jackson Browne – vocals, acoustic guitar
- Rosemary Butler, Doug Haywood – background vocals
- Craig Doerge – piano
- Danny Kortchmar – electric guitar
- Russ Kunkel – drums
- David Lindley – slide guitar
- Leland Sklar – bass guitar
Chart positions
| Chart (1978) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 | 109 |
Notes
- ^ Wikipedia Jackson Browne Discography Accessed July 10, 2012.
- ^ Paris, Russ. JACKSON BROWNE COMPLETE DISCOGRAPHY 2012-02-25 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Nelson, Paul. Running On Empty Review, Rolling Stone, March 9, 1978. Accessed July 10, 2012.
- ^ "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. November 11, 1978. p. 96. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
- ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. November 11, 1978. p. 19. Retrieved 2022-01-01.