Doctor My Eyes - Jackson Browne (1972) 4/13/21

Sometimes a friend or two can help you score you a “Great Song!

In 1968, Jackson Browne recorded his debut album, but his record company didn’t think it was good enough to release. Ouch.

In 1971, he signed with Criterion music publishing and presented them with new a song called “Doctor My Eyes.” Unfortunately, Criterion felt the lyrics—about a man who needed help but waited too long to get it---was far too dark to sell to their clients, and told him to try again.

A few months later, Jackson had not only changed the lyrics to be more upbeat, he had signed with a new record label (Asylum).

He recorded a whole NEW debut album, and suggested that “Doctor My Eyes” should be the first single. Asylum president David Geffen thought the song still needed work, so Jackson altered the lyrics yet AGAIN, scratched an entire verse, and asked his friends, David Crosby and Graham Nash to add harmonies to the track.

FINALLY, Geffen green-lighted the whole project, and Jackson Browne was on his way to stardom with a “Great Song of 1972!”

“Doctor My Eyes” did quite well on the charts—especially for a debut single: #4 on Canada’s Top 40, and #8 on Billboard’s Hot 100.

The song has been covered many times, most notably by The Jackson Five (a 1972 Top 10 hit in the UK), and Wilson Phillips in 2004. (Check the links below!)

“Doctor My Eyes” by Jackson Browne, with David Crosby and Graham Nash (1972):

The Jackson Five (1972):

Wilson Phillips (2004):