Jackson Browne's critically-acclaimed Late for the Sky is one of 25 recordings selected for preservation in the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry for 2020, it was announced this week.
Released in 1974, Late for the Sky represented a maturation of Browne's songwriting talents after his early works had been covered by the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt and others. Recorded in only six weeks on a tighter budget than previous efforts, his third album did not produce any major hit singles but attracted critics and audiences alike for its mature, deeply personal songwriting. When inducting him into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, Bruce Springsteen saved considerable praise for the album, deeming it "a masterpiece" and saying "It's just a beautiful body of work. It's essential in making sense of the times."
"Brilliantly supported by his touring band, especially David Lindley on guitar and fiddle, the lyrics deal with apocalypse, uncertainty, death, and especially, love and the loss of it experienced by someone transitioning to manhood," the Library wrote in a statement.
Other inductees this year include Louis Armstrong's recording of "When the Saints Go Marching In," Phil Rizzuto's commentary of Roger Maris' record-shattering 61st home run of the season and Kermit the Frog's "Rainbow Connection" from The Muppet Movie.
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