music.wikisort.org - Composition

"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
"Stay" / "The Load-Out" (1978) "You Love the Thunder" (1978) "Boulevard" (1980)

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

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