World in Motion (Jackson Browne album)


World in Motion is the ninth album by American singer-songwriter Jackson Browne, released in 1989. It peaked at number 45 on The Billboard 200 and was Browne's first album that did not obtain either gold or platinum status. The album took three years to complete and makes statements about nuclear disarmament and the "secret" government that brought forth Oliver North and the Iran-Contra scandal.

Reception

The critical reviews of World in Motion were lukewarm. Music critic William Rulhmann wrote "Except for the gloomy viewpoint, it was hard to recognize the Jackson Browne of his first few albums amid all the commentary, and even if you agreed with his overall political stance, that was disappointing." Critic Robert Christgau commented that the best songs were the ones Browne did not write. Rolling Stone wrote, "Steven Van Zandt's 'I Am a Patriot' is the only truly memorable song on Browne's trilogy of protest albums."
Cash Box said of the title track that "Hackneyed late-’80s production and a way too literal political lyric make this AOR emphasis track a struggle to sit through, despite the warming presence of Bonnie Raitt."

Track listing

All tracks composed by Browne except where noted:
  1. "World in Motion" – 4:24
  2. "Enough of the Night" – 4:54
  3. "Chasing You into the Light" – 4:16
  4. "How Long" – 6:10
  5. "Anything Can Happen" – 5:05
  6. "When the Stone Begins to Turn" – 4:48
  7. "The Word Justice" – 4:18
  8. "My Personal Revenge" – 4:02
  9. "I Am a Patriot" – 4:02
  10. "Lights and Virtues" – 4:53

Personnel

Production

Charts

Chart Peak
position

Singles – Billboard
YearSingleChartPosition
1989"Anything Can Happen"Adult Contemporary23
1989"Chasing You into the Light"Mainstream Rock Tracks9
1989"World in Motion"Mainstream Rock Tracks4