However, the initial pressings not only included the text, but the cover carried a burlap-like feel to further the water bag theme.

In his review for Allmusic William Ruhlmann praised the album as "An auspicious debut that doesn't sound like a debut" and "the album has long since come to seem a timeless collection of reflective ballads touching on still-difficult subjects...and all with an amazingly eloquent sense of language.

"[7] Rolling Stone rated the album 6 of 10 stars and stated "Browne's debut lays the groundwork for future heart-and-soul excavations.

'Doctor My Eyes,' an early hit single, communicates the subdued, subtle power of his half-spoken melodies, while 'Rock Me on the Water' and 'Song for Adam' foreshadow the free-ranging contemplation to come.

"[12] The original 1972 review in Rolling Stone stated "Jackson Browne's sensibility is romantic in the best sense of the term: his songs are capable of generating a highly charged, compelling atmosphere throughout, and--just as important--of sustaining that pitch in the listener's mind long after they've ended.

Unlike many of his contemporaries, he has not fallen victim to the trap of over-production--the record has been crafted with care and purity.

"[14] Music critic Robert Christgau gave the album a B grade, however, and was ambivalent about the whole album, writing, "The voice is pleasant, present, and unpretentious, and when I listen assiduously I perceive lyrics crafted with as much intelligence and human decency as any reasonable person could expect.