S.O.D. "Doctor My Eyes" by Jackson Browne

3/29/2015     Lending a hand on the backing vocals in the song were David Crosby and Graham Nash while Native American Jesse Ed Davis played lead guitar.  The message in the song has to do with a man enduring life's hardships but worried by having done so that his emotions were being depleted.  Phonograph Magazine's Jeff Walker wrote of the 1972 hit: "Doctor My Eyes" is one of a number of tracks on the album that deal with a spiritual search, no preaching, no conclusions, just searching".  A handful of cover versions were produced including The Jackson 5, Ben Folds  and Garth Brooks.  

     The tune debuted at #80 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was a surprise hit as it eventually creeped up to #8.  Browne would not see the Top 10 again for 10 years when he released "Somebody's Baby".  Within that time span he wrote "Running On Empty" which just missed the Top 10 ranking at  #11.  Browne has been associated with many musicians including Glenn Frey, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell and Warren Zevon as he mentored Zevon's first two Asylum albums as a producer.  

     He was involved in journalism at a young age and before his 18th birthday Browne became a staff writer for Electra Records.  Born in Germany, his parents came to the US in 1952 when Browne was just 3 years old.  In 1966 he moved to New York city and joined the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.  His career took off from there writing several hit songs, selling more than 18 million albums worldwide and earning an Honorary Doctorate of Music at Occidental College in Los Angeles California in 2004.  In the same year he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.