Running on Empty
Jackson Browne, 1977. Solo by David Lindley.
Lindley's lap-steel slide solo, recorded on tour, rises above the band's road-weary groove.
Running on Empty was recorded on tour, and David Lindley's lap-steel slide solo rises above the band's road-weary groove. His playing is soaring and lyrical, with long, sliding phrases that seem to lift the song out of its exhaustion. The live setting gives the solo a sense of spontaneity and energy. Lindley's work on Jackson Browne's records made him one of the most admired session players of the era. Listen for the way the lap steel's sustained notes glide between pitches, giving the solo a singing quality that contrasts with the steady, driving rhythm beneath it.
Running on Empty by Jackson Browne is featured in our Folk Rock (#14) list. The solo is played by David Lindley and the song was released in 1977.
In our lists
- The 25 Greatest Folk Rock Guitar Solos — #14
- Greatest Live Solos — #16
- Slide Guitar — #17
Sources
Who played the guitar solo on Running on Empty?
David Lindley played the solo on Jackson Browne's Running on Empty (1977).