These Days (4:10)

Song by Jackson Browne

German underground legend Nico was the first to record “These Days” for release, on her October 1967 album Chelsea Girl. This was an odd mix of production elements: a fairly fast, almost upbeat fingerpicking electric-sounding-acoustic guitar part of its time by Browne (suggested by Andy Warhol[3]), combined with strings and flutes (added after the fact by producer Tom Wilson, without Nico’s knowledge) combined with the sad, near-desperate tone of the lyrics, all wrapped around Nico’s mannered, icy Teutonic vocals.[4]

While Nico never achieved much commercial visibility, her work caught the attention of other musicians and songwriters. And although Browne was still several years from getting his own recording contract, his wise-beyond-his-years talent was quickly recognized by other performers looking for material.