Music on Mondays: “Jackson who?”

October 9 was a huge day in the music star birthday category. First, John Lennon was born on October 9, 1940; his son, Sean, was born on October 9, 1975; and Jackson Browne was born on October 9, 1948.

All three are well-represented in my music collection.

It would be easy to play John Lennon’s Imagine and let it go. That’s too easy. Instead, I’ll let you listen to two songs from John and Sean three that don’t get a lot of airplay.

First is Mother off of 1970′s John Lennon-Plastic Ono Band album, his first solo effort after the breakfup of The Beatles earlier in 1970. The lyrics to Mother could easily be about me, my early family life, and my relationship with my mother.

Sean Lennon sounds very much like his father. Here’s Home off of his 1998 debut album, Into The Sun.

Lastly, I have to tell you a story about Jackson Browne and me. In early 1977, I went to a concert at The Summit in Houston. The main act was either Chicago or Fleetwood Mac. I’m thinking it was Chicago because of the friends I remember going with. On the drive down to Houston from College Station, I asked who the opening act would be. “Jackson Browne,” came the unison reply. “Jackson who?” I asked. I was unfamiliar with Jackson Browne. Now, 35 years later, when I listen to one of my Jackson Browne CD compilations, I occasionally send a simple email to one of those friends, or post to Facebook, “Jackson Who?”

Following is my favorite Jackson Browne song, Running On Empty. The song was used in the 1994 film Forrest Gump and, in 2008, by John McCain’s presidential campaign in a commercial advertisement in Ohio. Browne sued McCain and his campaign for unauthorized use of the song. The case was settled out of court in July 2009 for an undisclosed sum, and the McCain campaign, the Ohio Republican Party, and the Republican National Committee issuing a joint apology for using the song. Let’s hear it for copyright laws!

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