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Album Details  :  James Taylor    38 Albums     Reviews: 

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James Taylor
Allmusic Biography : When people use the term "singer/songwriter" (often modified by the word "sensitive") in praise or in criticism, theyre thinking of James Taylor. In the early 70s, when he appeared with his introspective songs, acoustic guitar, and calm, understated singing style, he mirrored a generations emotional exhaustion after tumultuous times. Just as Bing Crosbys reassuring voice brought the country out of the Depression and through World War II, Taylors eased the transition from 60s activism and its attendant frustrations into the less political, more inward-looking 70s. He was rewarded with a series of hit albums and singles (surprisingly, many of the latter were covers of old songs rather than his own compositions), and he managed to survive his initial fame to achieve lasting popularity. He continued to tour successfully for decades, and, starting with his 1970 breakthrough Sweet Baby James, all but one of his regular album releases for the rest of the century went gold or platinum, while his 1976 Greatest Hits album achieved a diamond certification reflecting sales of more than ten million copies.

Taylor was the son of Dr. Isaac and Gertrude Taylor. His three brothers Alex (1947-1993), Livingston, and Hugh -- and his sister Kate -- all became musicians and recorded albums of their own. In 1951, Dr. Taylor was appointed dean of the medical school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the family moved from New England to the South. Taylor studied cello as a child, but first took up the guitar in 1960. In 1963, he began attending Milton Academy, a prep school in Massachusetts. That summer, he met fellow guitarist Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar while staying on Marthas Vineyard, and the two formed a folk duo. Taylor dropped out of school at 16 and formed a band with his brother Alex. Having moved to New York, he suffered from depression and checked himself into McLean Psychiatric Hospital in Massachusetts, a stay that would inspire some of his early songs. While there, he earned a high-school diploma. Upon release, he returned to New York in 1966 and formed a new group, the Flying Machine, with Kortchmar and Joel OBrien. The band played in Greenwich Village and was signed to a fledgling record label, Rainy Day Records (the name taken from Taylors song "Rainy Day Man"). It released one single, "Brighten Your Night with My Day"/"Night Owl," both songs written by Taylor. The record was unsuccessful, and the band broke up in the spring of 1967.

By 1968, Taylor had become addicted to heroin. In an attempt to overcome his addiction, he moved to London, where he submitted a demo tape to Peter Asher, former member of Peter & Gordon, then working for the Beatles Apple Records label. As a result, Taylor was signed to Apple and recorded his debut solo album, James Taylor, released in the U.K. in December 1968 and in the U.S. in February 1969. Initially, it received little attention. A more pressing concern, however, was that Taylor had not been able to kick heroin. As a result, he returned to the U.S. and checked into the Austin Riggs Hospital in Massachusetts. By July 1969, he had recovered sufficiently to make his solo debut at the Troubadour nightclub in Los Angeles, but soon after he was in a motorcycle accident and broke both of his hands, which put him out of commission for several months.

Freed of his Apple Records contract, Taylor signed to Warner Bros., moved to California, and, retaining Asher as his manager and producer, recorded his second album, Sweet Baby James. It was released in February 1970 and became a major success during the course of the year, spurred by the single "Fire and Rain," a song that reflected on his experiences in mental institutions, which peaked in the Top Five in October, the same month that Sweet Baby James achieved the same status on the LP charts. With that, interest in Taylors first album was re-stimulated, and it belatedly reached the charts along with the single "Carolina on My Mind," as did James Taylor & the Original Flying Machine: 1967, a short collection of unfinished recordings made by his 60s band. Sweet Baby James then spawned a second hit single, "Country Road," which peaked in the Top 40 in March 1971. The same month, Taylor appeared on the cover of Time magazine, touted as the founder and leading proponent of the "singer/songwriter" trend in popular music.

Meanwhile, Taylor acted in a feature film, Two-Lane Blacktop, co-starring with the Beach Boys Dennis Wilson. It was not successful, and Taylor didnt pursue an acting career, though the movie has been well-reviewed since then. Taylor also worked on a new album, returning to record stores in April 1971 with Mud Slide Slim & the Blue Horizon. As he toured the U.S., the LP spent the summer in the Top Ten, eventually peaking just below the top of the charts, paced by its first single, "Youve Got a Friend," written by Carole King, which hit number one in July and went gold. A second single, "Long Ago and Far Away," reached the Top 40, and the album eventually sold more than two million copies. On March 14, 1972, Taylor won the 1971 Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male, for "Youve Got a Friend."

Taylor took what was then considered a long time -- more than a year and a half -- to come up with his next album, One Man Dog, released in November 1972. On November 3, 1972, during an appearance at Radio City Music Hall in New York, he announced to the crowd that he had married singer/songwriter Carly Simon earlier in the day. Simon was already well-known for the hits "Thats the Way Ive Always Heard It Should Be" and "Anticipation," and would soon top the charts with "Youre So Vain." One Man Dog marked a fall-off in Taylors record sales, though it went gold, reached the Top Five, and spawned a Top 20 single in "Dont Let Me Be Lonely Tonight."

Taylor was next heard from in January 1974, when he sang a duet with his wife, "Mockingbird," a cover of the 1963 hit by Inez & Charlie Foxx, on her Hotcakes album. Released as a single, the recording reached the Top Five and went gold. That spring, Taylor launched a major tour in anticipation of his next album, Walking Man, released in June. Though it reached the Top 20, the album was a commercial disappointment, failing to go gold or produce a chart single. But Taylor bounced back the following year with the May release of Gorilla. Again, he succeeded by reviving an old hit, this time Marvin Gayes 1964 song "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)," which reached the Top Five, helping the album become a Top Ten, gold-selling hit.

In the Pocket, Taylors seventh album, was his third annual warm-weather release, appearing in June 1976. Its single was the singers own "Shower the People," which reached the Top 40, while the album made the Top 20 and went gold. Nearing the end of his Warner Bros. contract, Taylor re-recorded a couple of his Apple songs for his Greatest Hits LP, released in November. It became a perennial seller. With that, in a major coup, he was signed by Columbia. His debut for the label, JT, was released in June 1977. Once again, a revival spurred its sales, as Taylor covered Jimmy James 1959 song "Handy Man" and took it into the Top Five, followed by a Top 20 showing for his own "Your Smiling Face." With such stimulation, JT reached the Top Five and sold over two million copies. On February 23, 1978, Taylor picked up a second Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male, for "Handy Man."

Along with Paul Simon, Taylor was a featured singer on Art Garfunkels cover of "(What A) Wonderful World," previously a hit for Sam Cooke and Hermans Hermits, which peaked in the Top 20 in March 1978. Taylor next became involved with the Broadway musical Working, based on Studs Terkels bestseller, writing three songs for it. The show ran a scant 25 performances after opening on May 14, 1978, but Taylor reclaimed "Millworker" and "Brother Trucker" for his next album. Meanwhile, his duet with Carly Simon on a revival of the Everly Brothers "Devoted to You" peaked in the Top 40 in September.

Flag, marking a nearly two-year break between albums, appeared in April 1979, its Top 40 hit single being a revival of the 1963 Drifters hit "Up on the Roof." Despite the lack of a really big hit single, the LP reached the Top Ten and went platinum. That September, Taylor performed at Madison Square Garden in the No Nukes concerts, later being featured in the No Nukes triple LP and in the No Nukes concert film.

Taylor embarked on a national tour in the summer of 1980, despite not having a current album to promote. From here on, recurrent touring became a regular part of his career and contributed to his longevity as an artist. That fall, he appeared on the childrens album In Harmony 2, singing "Jelly Man Kelly." The album won the 1981 Grammy for Best Recording for Children. He toured extensively during 1981, releasing Dad Loves His Work in February. The album reached the Top Ten and went gold, spurred by the Top Ten success of the single "Her Town Too," written by Taylor, J.D. Souther, and Waddy Wachtel, Taylors most successful original composition since "Fire and Rain."

Taylor continued to tour frequently in the early 80s, a period when his marriage to Carly Simon came to an end (they were divorced in 1983). Often, his performances took place overseas. In January 1985, he performed at the Rock in Rio concert in Brazil, a show that resulted in the Brazil-only release Live in Rio. His next studio album, following a gap of more than four years, was Thats Why Im Here, released in October 1985. As usual, his record label issued a cover song as the single; in this case it was Buddy Hollys "Everyday," which didnt get very far up the charts. Nevertheless, Taylors long career and constant touring had brought him a permanent audience ready to buy his records, and the album eventually went platinum. On December 14, 1985, he married for the second time, to Kathryn Walker; a month later, he was on tour in Australia.

Road work continued to be Taylors primary occupation in the mid-80s, but he came off tour long enough to finish another album, Never Die Young, only a little more than two years after Thats Why Im Here, released in January 1988. The title song, issued as a single, barely reached the charts, but Never Die Young was another million-seller. The late 80s and early 90s saw more extensive worldwide touring. New Moon Shine, Taylors 13th regular album release, came in October 1991, the same month that he sold out six consecutive shows at the Paramount Theater in New York; the disc stayed in the charts nearly a year and sold a million copies.

Despite his consistent draw as a concert attraction, Taylor had never released a live album in the U.S. until the August 1993 appearance of Live, a two-CD set that went platinum within months. Columbia, which had never had a Taylor compilation to promote, trimmed the album down to a single disc of hits for the 1994 release (Best Live). Taylor was divorced from his second wife in 1996. His next album, Hourglass, released in May 1997, demonstrated his continuing appeal by entering the charts in the Top Ten. On February 25, 1998, it won the 1997 Grammy for Best Pop Album. In October the same year, Columbia issued the DVD Live at the Beacon Theatre while Billboard magazine was honoring Taylor with their highest accolade, the Century Award.

By 2000, Taylors first Greatest Hits collection had sold over ten million copies, earning him the RIAAs Diamond Award. Taylor was also inducted into both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000, and at the end of the year, Columbia issued Greatest Hits, Vol. 2, covering the years 1977-1997. Fans who had waited five years for new material were awarded with October Road in 2002, an album that earned two Grammy nominations and eventually went platinum. A year later, The Best of James Taylor became the first compilation to cover material from his years with Apple, Warner Bros., and Columbia. In 2004, he appeared on the television show The West Wing, released Christmas Album, and sang the national anthem before game two of the World Series. Two years later, Taylor released James Taylor at Christmas and made an appearance on the soundtrack for the Pixar film Cars. In 2007, the CD/DVD One Man Band was released on the Hear Music label. An album featuring a dozen cover versions of various songs, simply and appropriately called Covers, followed a year later in 2008, also from Hear Music. A sequel, Other Covers, appeared in 2009.

Following a highly successful dual tour with Carole King, Taylor and King released a concert CD/DVD set called Live at the Troubadour in 2010. Never one to shy away from his political views, Taylor was active during Barack Obamas 2012 re-election campaign, performing at both the Democratic National Convention and then in January 2013 at the presidents second inauguration. In April of 2015, Taylor debuted the single "Today, Today, Today" in advance of a new album called Before This World. Featuring guest spots from Sting and Yo-Yo Ma, Before This World was Taylors first album of new material since 2002s October Road and there was a pent-up demand for the record: upon its June 16 release, it entered the Billboard 200 at number one, becoming his first-ever chart-topping LP.
taylor_made_greatest_hits Album: 1 of 38
Title:  Taylor Made... Greatest Hits
Released:  
Tracks:  16
Duration:  58:28

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AlbumCover   
1   Fire and Rain  (03:23)
2   Mexico  (02:59)
3   You’ve Got a Friend  (04:30)
4   How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You)  (03:36)
5   Carolina in My Mind  (04:00)
6   Something in the Way She Moves  (03:09)
7   Shower the People  (04:32)
8   Sweet Baby James  (02:53)
9   That’s Why I’m Here  (03:37)
10  Everyday  (03:14)
11  Up on the Roof  (04:21)
12  Your Smiling Face  (02:45)
13  Her Town Too  (04:30)
14  Handy Man  (03:17)
15  Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight  (02:36)
16  Only a Dream in Rio  (05:01)
james_taylor Album: 2 of 38
Title:  James Taylor
Released:  1968-12-06
Tracks:  12
Duration:  38:39

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1   Don’t Talk Now  (02:36)
2   Something’s Wrong  (03:08)
3   Knocking ’Round the Zoo  (03:26)
4   Sunshine Sunshine  (02:49)
5   Taking It In  (03:05)
6   Something in the Way She Moves  (03:02)
7   Carolina in My Mind  (03:38)
8   Brighten Your Night With My Day  (02:27)
9   Night Owl  (04:16)
10  Rainy Day Man  (03:00)
11  Circle Round the Sun  (03:25)
12  The Blues Is Just a Bad Dream  (03:43)
James Taylor : Allmusic album Review : James Taylor was the first artist to be signed to record on the Beatles short-lived vanity Apple label. In late 1968, Taylors sophisticated self-titled disc foreshadowed the introspective singer/songwriter genre that dominated pop music in the early and mid-70s. Although often touted as his debut, this release is chronologically Taylors second studio outing. James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine -- an EP recorded a year earlier -- contains rudimentary versions of much of the same original material found here. The album is presented with two distinct sides. The first, in essence, presents a unified multi-song suite incorporating several distinctly Baroque-flavored links connecting the larger compositions. The second is a more traditional collection of individual tunes. This unique juxtaposition highlights Taylors highly personal and worldly lyrics within a multidimensional layer of surreal and otherwise ethereal instrumentation. According to Taylor, much of the albums subject matter draws upon personal experience. This is a doubled-edged blessing because the emphasis placed on the pseudo-blues "Knocking Round the Zoo" and the numerous other references made to Taylors brief sojourn in a mental institution actually do a disservice to the absolutely breathtaking beauty inherent in every composition. Several pieces debuted on this release would eventually be reworked by Taylor several years later. Among the notable inclusions are "Rainy Day Man," "Night Owl," "Something in the Way She Moves," and "Carolina in My Mind." Musically, Taylors decidedly acoustic-based tunes are augmented by several familiar names. Among them are former King Bees member Joel "Bishop" OBrien (drums) -- who had joined Taylor and Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar in the Original Flying Machine -- as well as Paul McCartney (bass), who lends support to the seminal version of "Carolina in My Mind." The albums complex production efforts fell to Peter Asher -- formerly of Peter and Gordon and concurrent head of Apple Records A&R department. The absolute conviction that runs throughout this music takes the listener into its confidence and with equal measures of wit, candor, and sophistication, James Taylor created a minor masterpiece that is sadly eclipsed by his later more popular works.
original_flying_machine_1967 Album: 3 of 38
Title:  Original Flying Machine 1967
Released:  1970
Tracks:  10
Duration:  27:06

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1   Night Owl (new version)  (03:45)
2   Knocking round the Zoo (new version)  (03:31)
3   Rainy Day Man  (03:14)
4   Brighten Your Night With My Day (intro)  (01:01)
5   Brighten Your Night With My Day  (02:45)
6   Kootchs Song  (03:10)
7   Somethings Wrong (instrumental version)  (03:06)
8   Night Owl  (02:30)
9   Knocking round the Zoo (original version intro)  (00:52)
10  Knocking round the Zoo (original version)  (03:08)
Original Flying Machine 1967 : Allmusic album Review : James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine -- 1967, released in the wake of the commercial success of Sweet Baby James, contains early recordings of songs James Taylor and his partner, Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar, were playing in Greenwich Village clubs like the Night Owl in 1967, and which they would record for Taylors debut solo album in 1968. The songs are good, of course, but this isnt a finished, full-fledged album. It has only seven tracks, and among them are two versions of "Knocking Round The Zoo," one with lead vocals by Taylor, and the other by Kortchmar, and "Somethings Wrong," presented only as an instrumental track. For completists only.
sweet_baby_james Album: 4 of 38
Title:  Sweet Baby James
Released:  1970-02
Tracks:  11
Duration:  31:49

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1   Sweet Baby James  (02:53)
2   Lo and Behold  (02:36)
3   Sunny Skies  (02:21)
4   Steamroller  (02:57)
5   Country Road  (03:24)
6   Oh, Susannah  (02:01)
7   Fire and Rain  (03:23)
8   Blossom  (02:14)
9   Anywhere Like Heaven  (03:27)
10  Oh Baby, Don’t You Loose Your Lip on Me  (01:50)
11  Suite for 20 G  (04:41)
Sweet Baby James : Allmusic album Review : The heart of James Taylors appeal is that you can take him two ways. On the one hand, his music, including that warm voice, is soothing; its minor key melodies and restrained playing draw in the listener. On the other hand, his world view, especially on such songs as "Fire and Rain," reflects the pessimism and desperation of the 1960s hangover that was the early 70s. That may not be intentional: "Fire and Rain" was about the suicide of a fellow inmate of Taylors at a mental institution, not the national malaise. But Taylors sense of wounded hopelessness -- "Im all in pieces, you can have your own choice," he sings in "Country Road" -- struck a chord with music fans, especially because of its attractive mixture of folk, country, gospel, and blues elements, all of them carefully understated and distanced. Taylor didnt break your heart; he understood that it was already broken, as was his own, and he offered comfort. As a result, Sweet Baby James sold millions of copies, spawned a Top Ten hit in "Fire and Rain" and a Top 40 hit in "Country Road," and launched not only Taylors career as a pop superstar but also the entire singer/songwriter movement of the early 70s that included Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Jackson Browne, Cat Stevens, and others. A second legacy became clear two decades later, when country stars like Garth Brooks began to cite Taylor, with his use of steel guitar, references to Jesus, and rural and Western imagery on Sweet Baby James, as a major influence.
mud_slide_slim_and_the_blue_horizon Album: 5 of 38
Title:  Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon
Released:  1971-04
Tracks:  13
Duration:  37:26

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1   Love Has Brought Me Around  (02:44)
2   You’ve Got a Friend  (04:30)
3   Places in My Past  (02:02)
4   Riding on a Railroad  (02:43)
5   Soldiers  (01:15)
6   Mud Slide Slim  (05:20)
7   Hey Mister, Thats Me Up on the Jukebox  (03:48)
8   You Can Close Your Eyes  (02:30)
9   Machine Gun Kelly  (02:37)
10  Long Ago and Far Away  (02:21)
11  Let Me Ride  (02:44)
12  Highway Song  (03:54)
13  Isnt It Nice to Be Home Again  (00:55)
Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon : Allmusic album Review : James Taylors commercial breakthrough in 1970 was predicated on the relationship between the private concerns expressed in his songs and the larger philosophical mood of his audience. He was going through depression, heartbreak, and addiction; they were recovering from the political and cultural storms of the 60s. On his follow-up to the landmark Sweet Baby James, Taylor brought his listeners up to date, wisely trying to step beyond the cultural, if not the personal, markers he had established. Despite affirming romance in songs like "Love Has Brought Me Around" and the moving "You Can Close Your Eyes" as well as companionship in "Youve Got a Friend," the record still came as a defense against the world, not an embrace of it; Taylor was unable to forget the past or trust the present. The songs were full of references to the road and the highway, and he was uncomfortable with his new role as spokesman. The confessional songwriter was now, necessarily, writing about what it was like to be a confessional songwriter: Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon served the valuable function of beginning to move James Taylor away from the genre he had defined, which ultimately would give him a more long-lasting appeal.
one_man_dog Album: 6 of 38
Title:  One Man Dog
Released:  1972-11
Tracks:  18
Duration:  37:48

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1   One Man Parade  (03:11)
2   Nobody But You  (02:57)
3   Chili Dog  (01:35)
4   Fool for You  (01:42)
5   Instrumental I  (00:54)
6   New Tune  (01:36)
7   Back on the Street Again  (03:01)
8   Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight  (02:36)
9   Woh, Dont You Know  (02:11)
10  One Morning in May  (02:54)
11  Instrumental II  (01:41)
12  Someone  (03:36)
13  Hymn  (02:24)
14  Fanfare  (02:33)
15  Little David  (01:00)
16  Mescalito  (00:29)
17  Dance  (02:06)
18  Jig  (01:14)
One Man Dog : Allmusic album Review : A lot was riding on this album, James Taylors followup to his two big hits, Sweet Baby James and Mud Slide Slim and The Blue Horizon, which was released 21 months after the latter, a long time between records in those days. And what a letdown. One Man Dog contained 18 tracks, some of them instrumentals, many of them running less than two minutes. A lot of it was sketchy and seemingly unfinished, and none of it had the impact of the best songs on the last two albums. One Man Dog spawned a Top 20 hit in "Dont Let Me Be Lonely Tonight," and it made the Top 10 and went gold itself largely on the momentum of Taylors career. But it disappointed fans, and in the 19 months it took him to record another album, Taylor was bypassed by the singer-songwriter movement, becoming more of an easy listening covers artist (his next hits were remakes of "Mockingbird" and "How Sweet It Is").
walking_man Album: 7 of 38
Title:  Walking Man
Released:  1974
Tracks:  10
Duration:  34:08

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1   Walking Man  (03:34)
2   Rock & Roll Is Music Now  (03:28)
3   Let It All Fall Down  (03:34)
4   Me and My Guitar  (03:34)
5   Daddys Baby  (02:39)
6   Aint No Song  (03:31)
7   Hello Old Friend  (02:48)
8   Migration  (03:17)
9   Promised Land  (04:04)
10  Fading Away  (03:34)
Walking Man : Allmusic album Review : One Man Dog drastically lowered expectations for a new James Taylor album, and those expectations were almost met by Walking Man, a more considered effort than its predecessor that managed to be just as trivial but even less interesting. As a result, it became the worst-selling album of Taylors career. Somehow, a songwriter who had seemed in 1970 to have as precise an idea of the national mood as Bob Dylan had had in 1965 now seemed to be a man without a country. Earlier in the year, Taylor had hit the Top 5 with a cover of "Mockingbird" sung with his wife, Carly Simon, but this record lacked even the charming inconsequentiality of that performance, something Taylor would regain and live off of in later years. Instead, Walking Man, which began with Taylor asking, "Who is this walking man?" and ended with him commenting, "Its really not so bad to be fading away," sounded like the statement of a songwriter who either had nothing to say or didnt know how to say it.
gorilla Album: 8 of 38
Title:  Gorilla
Released:  1975
Tracks:  11
Duration:  39:01

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1   Mexico  (02:59)
2   Music  (03:47)
3   How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You)  (03:36)
4   Wandering  (02:41)
5   Gorilla  (03:12)
6   You Make It Easy  (04:09)
7   I Was a Fool to Care  (03:21)
8   Lighthouse  (03:16)
9   Angry Blues  (03:26)
10  Love Songs  (05:46)
11  Sarah Maria  (02:44)
Gorilla : Allmusic album Review : Gorilla served notice to anyone expecting James Taylor to continue on in the personal, confessional vein of his first few albums that he did not intend to do so. Recording in Burbank with Warners staff producers Lenny Waronker and Russ Titelman, Taylor used a stellar backup band augmented by such guests as Graham Nash and David Crosby (who harmonized on the chart single "Mexico"), his wife Carly Simon, mandolinist David Grisman, saxophone player David Sanborn, Randy Newman on "hornorgan," and Little Feat slide guitarist Lowell George. This team worked on a set of light, pleasant songs that bordered on the generic -- one was called "Music," another "Love Songs" -- but were performed and sung with taste and care. Taylor was relentlessly upbeat; even "Angry Blues," which confessed, "I cant help it if I dont feel so good," didnt sound like things were that bad. But then, these songs didnt seem to be about Taylor, or if they were, as in the extended metaphor of the title track, the connection was so oblique that it was hard to say what the point was. Still, one could glide on Taylors easy vocals and the bands competence, and Gorilla was an enjoyable listening experience. "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)," the first of a series of bleached R&B; covers, became a Top Ten hit, and the album restored Taylors commercial fortunes, setting him on the steady path he would follow for decades after. But who would have thought only a few years before that the king of the confessional song poets would turn into such a lightweight?
in_the_pocket Album: 9 of 38
Title:  In the Pocket
Released:  1976
Tracks:  12
Duration:  44:57

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1   Shower the People  (04:32)
2   A Junkies Lament  (03:31)
3   Money Machine  (04:36)
4   Slow Burning Love  (03:44)
5   Everybody Has the Blues  (02:03)
6   Daddys All Gone  (03:37)
7   Womans Gotta Have It  (04:20)
8   Captain Jims Drunken Dream  (04:04)
9   Don’t Be Sad ’cause Your Sun Is Down  (03:30)
10  Nothing Like a Hundred Miles  (03:45)
11  Family Man  (03:39)
12  Golden Moments  (03:31)
In the Pocket : Allmusic album Review : James Taylors seventh album and last new recording for Warner Bros. is notable for producing his biggest self-written hit in four years, "Shower the People" (number 22 pop, number one easy listening). Bobby Womacks "Womans Gotta Have It" was the albums only cover, and elsewhere Taylor took on a surprisingly rough set of issues in his typically gentle style, including "A Junkies Lament" and "Money Machine." There were also reflections on being a "Family Man" even if, due to his peripatetic touring life, "Daddys All Gone." Guest stars included Art Garfunkel, who harmonized on "Captain Jims Drunken Dream," and Stevie Wonder, who co-wrote and played harmonica on "Dont Be Sad Cause Your Sun Is Down." On the whole, a respectable effort for an artist who was evolving into more of a craftsman than a virtuoso.
greatest_hits Album: 10 of 38
Title:  Greatest Hits
Released:  1976-11-01
Tracks:  12
Duration:  43:34

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1   Something in the Way She Moves  (03:15)
2   Carolina in My Mind  (04:00)
3   Fire and Rain  (03:23)
4   Sweet Baby James  (02:53)
5   Country Road  (03:24)
6   You’ve Got a Friend  (04:30)
7   Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight  (02:36)
8   Walking Man  (03:34)
9   How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You)  (03:36)
10  Mexico  (02:59)
11  Shower the People  (04:03)
12  Steamroller  (05:18)
Greatest Hits : Allmusic album Review : James Taylor had scored eight Top 40 hits by the fall of 1976 when Warner Brothers marked the end of his contract with this compilation. One of those hits, the Top Ten gold single "Mockingbird," a duet with his wife Carly Simon, was on Elektra Records, part of the Warner family of labels and presumably available, but it was left off. "Long Ago and Far Away," a lesser hit (though it made the Top Ten on the easy listening charts), wasnt used either. In addition to the six hits -- "Fire and Rain," "Country Road," "Youve Got a Friend," "Dont Let Me Be Lonely Tonight," "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)," and "Shower the People" -- that were included, the album featured a couple of less successful singles, "Mexico" and "Walking Man," the album track "Sweet Baby James," and three previously unreleased recordings -- a live version of "Steamroller" and newly recorded versions of "Something in the Way She Moves" and "Carolina in My Mind," songs featured on Taylors 1968 debut album, recorded for Apple/Capitol. The result was a reasonable collection for an artist who wasnt particularly well-defined by his singles. One got little sense of Taylors evolution from the dour, confessional songs of his first two albums to the more conventional pop songs of his sixth and seventh ones. But one did hear isolated examples of Taylors undeniable warmth and facility for folk/country-tinged pop. By the next summer, Taylor was back in the Top Ten on Columbia, and Greatest Hits was out of date. But it remains a good sampler of Taylors more popular early work.
jt Album: 11 of 38
Title:  JT
Released:  1977-06
Tracks:  12
Duration:  37:56

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1   Your Smiling Face  (02:45)
2   There We Are  (03:01)
3   Honey Don’t Leave L.A.  (03:06)
4   Another Grey Morning  (02:44)
5   Bartender’s Blues  (04:12)
6   Secret o’ Life  (03:34)
7   Handy Man  (03:17)
8   I Was Only Telling a Lie  (03:24)
9   Looking for Love on Broadway  (02:21)
10  Terra Nova  (04:32)
11  Traffic Jam  (01:58)
12  If I Keep My Heart Out of Sight  (02:55)
JT : Allmusic album Review : On his last couple of Warner Bros albums, Gorilla and In the Pocket, James Taylor seemed to be converting himself from the shrinking violet, too-sensitive-to-live "rainy day man" of his early records into a mainstream, easy listening crooner with a sunny outlook. JT, his debut album for Columbia, was something of a defense of this conversion. Returning to the autobiographical, Taylor declared his love for Carly Simon ("There We Are"), but expressed some surprise at his domestic bliss. "Isnt it amazing a man like me can feel this way?" he sang in the opening song, "Your Smiling Face" (a Top 40 hit). At the same time, domesticity could have its temporary depressions ("Another Grey Morning"). The key track was "Secret O Life," which Taylor revealed as "enjoying the passage of time." Working with his long-time backup band of Danny Kortchmar, Leland Sklar, and Russell Kunkel, and with Peter Asher back in the producers chair, Taylor also enjoyed mixing his patented acoustic guitar-based folk sound with elements of rock, blues, and country. He even made the country charts briefly with "Bartenders Blues," a genre exercise complete with steel guitar and references to "honky tonk angels" that he would later re-record with George Jones. The albums Top Ten hit was Taylors winning remake of Jimmy Jones "Handy Man," which replaced the grit of the original with his characteristic warmth. JT was James Taylors best album since Mud Slide Slim & the Blue Horizon because it acknowledged the darkness of his earlier work while explaining the deliberate lightness of his current viewpoint, and because it was his most consistent collection in years. Fans responded: JT sold better than any Taylor album since Sweet Baby James.
flag Album: 12 of 38
Title:  Flag
Released:  1979
Tracks:  12
Duration:  42:54

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1   Company Man  (03:47)
2   Johnnie Comes Back  (03:55)
3   Day Tripper  (04:25)
4   I Will Not Lie for You  (03:16)
5   Brother Trucker  (04:02)
6   Is That the Way You Look?  (02:00)
7   B.S.U.R.  (03:23)
8   Rainy Day Man  (03:02)
9   Millworker  (03:52)
10  Up on the Roof  (04:21)
11  Chanson Française  (02:05)
12  Sleep Come Free Me  (04:43)
Flag : Allmusic album Review : James Taylor followed his double-platinum Columbia Records label debut, JT, with this hodgepodge of a record. There are pointless covers of the Beatles "Day Tripper" and the Drifters "Up on the Roof," a remake of Taylors own "Rainy Day Man," songs written for the failed Broadway musical Working, and a few inconsequential new Taylor compositions. The usual brain trust (producer Peter Asher), and the usual backup team (Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar, Dan Grolnick, Leland Sklar, Russ Kunkel) were on board, but the cruise was a snooze.
dad_loves_his_work Album: 13 of 38
Title:  Dad Loves His Work
Released:  1981-03
Tracks:  11
Duration:  38:49

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1   Hard Times  (03:12)
2   Her Town Too  (04:30)
3   Hour That the Morning Comes  (02:57)
4   I Will Follow  (04:18)
5   Believe It or Not  (03:50)
6   Stand and Fight  (03:11)
7   Only for Me  (04:56)
8   Summers Here  (02:43)
9   Sugar Trade  (02:49)
10  London Town  (03:57)
11  That Lonesome Road  (02:21)
Dad Loves His Work : Allmusic album Review : James Taylor bounced back from the spotty Flag with this all-original album led by his collaboration with J.D. Souther on "Her Town Too," his biggest pop hit since "Handy Man," and his biggest non-cover hit since his first, "Fire and Rain," in 1970. Also included were "Hard Times" and "Summers Here," not to mention the unusually impassioned "Stand and Fight." After simmering this long, there wasnt much hope Taylor would ever come to a boil, but that track indicated he could at least heat up now and then.
thats_why_im_here Album: 14 of 38
Title:  Thats Why Im Here
Released:  1985
Tracks:  12
Duration:  39:47

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1   That’s Why I’m Here  (03:37)
2   Song for You Far Away  (02:58)
3   Only a Dream in Rio  (05:01)
4   Turn Away  (03:25)
5   Going Around One More Time  (03:26)
6   My Romance  (02:50)
7   Everyday  (03:14)
8   Limousine Driver  (03:52)
9   Only One  (04:19)
10  Mona  (02:50)
11  The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance  (03:45)
12  That’s Why I’m Here (reprise)  (00:26)
That's Why I'm Here : Allmusic album Review : James Taylor took four and a half years off from record-making in the early 80s, returning with Thats Why Im Here, which suggested he had found his long-term niche with baby boomer fans now permanently tuned to soft rock radio -- this was Taylors first record to spawn three Top Ten adult contemporary hits, with the title track, "Only One," and a cover of Buddy Hollys "Everyday." Taylors sound had invaded country music by this time, too, and both "Everyday" and "Only One" made the country singles chart. But those boomers just dont go to the record store as often as their children, and Taylor managed only one pop chart entry with "Everyday" (number 61), while the album failed to go gold and was his lowest charting effort since his breakthrough with Sweet Baby James in 1970. If, in the title song, he had reconciled himself to the notion that the reason he was here was to sing "Fire and Rain" at summer concerts, that also meant he was settling for a complacent position. (Notwithstanding its initial commercial reception, Thats Why Im Here eventually went platinum.)
live_in_rio Album: 15 of 38
Title:  Live in Rio
Released:  1985
Tracks:  11
Duration:  46:31

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1   Long Ago and Far Away  (03:09)
2   Carolina in My Mind  (04:42)
3   Up on the Roof  (04:01)
4   Youve Got a Friend  (05:30)
5   Shower the People  (04:33)
6   Fire and Rain  (04:31)
7   Mexico  (02:59)
8   Walking Man  (03:43)
9   Dont Let Me Be Lonely Tonight  (03:09)
10  Knock on Wood  (03:13)
11  How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You)  (06:57)
never_die_young Album: 16 of 38
Title:  Never Die Young
Released:  1988
Tracks:  10
Duration:  40:21

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1   Never Die Young  (04:23)
2   T-Bone  (03:47)
3   Baby Boom Baby  (04:59)
4   Runaway Boy  (04:19)
5   Valentine’s Day  (02:36)
6   Sun on the Moon  (04:10)
7   Sweet Potato Pie  (03:30)
8   Home by Another Way  (03:50)
9   Letter in the Mail  (04:42)
10  First of May  (03:58)
Never Die Young : Allmusic album Review : While his aging contemporaries took a variety of tacks to keep up with changing fashions, from adopting more synthesized, percussive production styles to assembling an orchestra and singing standards, James Taylor just kept playing a summer concert tour each year, and periodically putting out another collection of similar-sounding songs. Never Die Young was unusual only in that there was no big oldies cover from the 50s or 60s -- every song was written or co-written by Taylor -- but otherwise it addressed the same audience in much the same terms as he always had. The title song and "Baby Boom Baby" (both Adult Contemporary hits) referred to the passage of time, and the rest floated on a sea of yuppie contentment. "I work hard to see that you remember my name," he sang, and that work seemed to consist of reminding his listeners why they had liked him in the first place.
classic_songs Album: 17 of 38
Title:  Classic Songs
Released:  1990
Tracks:  16
Duration:  58:28

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1   Fire and Rain  (03:23)
2   Mexico  (02:59)
3   You’ve Got a Friend  (04:30)
4   How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You)  (03:36)
5   Carolina in My Mind  (04:00)
6   Something in the Way She Moves  (03:09)
7   Shower the People  (04:32)
8   Sweet Baby James  (02:53)
9   That’s Why I’m Here  (03:37)
10  Everyday  (03:14)
11  Up on the Roof  (04:21)
12  Your Smiling Face  (02:45)
13  Her Town Too  (04:30)
14  Handy Man  (03:17)
15  Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight  (02:36)
16  Only a Dream in Rio  (05:01)
Classic Songs : Allmusic album Review : For a long time, Classic Songs was the only compilation to feature the original versions of all of James Taylors classics from his debut up through 1985s Thats Why Im Here. Unfortunately, it was only available in Europe, yet it long remained the best, most comprehensive collection of his work.
new_moon_shine Album: 18 of 38
Title:  New Moon Shine
Released:  1991-09-24
Tracks:  12
Duration:  47:54

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1   Copperline  (04:21)
2   Down in the Hole  (05:15)
3   (I’ve Got To) Stop Thinkin’ ’bout That  (04:00)
4   Shed a Little Light  (03:52)
5   The Frozen Man  (03:54)
6   Slap Leather  (02:00)
7   Like Everyone She Knows  (04:56)
8   One More Go Round  (04:40)
9   Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha  (03:37)
10  Native Son  (03:49)
11  Oh Brother  (04:24)
12  The Water Is Wide  (03:00)
New Moon Shine : Allmusic album Review : James Taylor produced a typical collection of familiar-sounding songs on New Moon Shine, his concerns ranging from romance to the life of the working man to political issues like war and civil rights on which he took the expected liberal positions. The album was written, played, and sung with typical craft and care, and was a worthy addition to Taylors catalog. Taylors reliability means that his records do not disappoint his faithful audience, but neither do they provide any revelations. New Moon Shine provided four Adult Contemporary chart entries in "Copperline," "(Ive Got To) Stop Thinkin Bout That," a cover of Sam Cookes "Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha," and "Like Everyone She Knows," and the album went gold, staying in the charts more than nine months, a good showing for a record that essentially repeated previous efforts. (New Moon Shine was eventually certified platinum.)
best_live Album: 19 of 38
Title:  (Best Live)
Released:  1993
Tracks:  12
Duration:  53:22

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1   Sweet Baby James  (04:11)
2   Handy Man  (03:31)
3   Your Smiling Face  (02:53)
4   Shed a Little Light  (04:18)
5   Steamroller Blues  (05:29)
6   Mexico  (03:17)
7   Walking Man  (04:07)
8   Country Road  (05:39)
9   Fire and Rain  (04:33)
10  How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You)  (07:00)
11  Dont Let Me Be Lonely Tonight  (03:19)
12  Shower the People  (05:01)
(Best Live) : Allmusic album Review : Best Live is a 12-track, single-disc abridgement of the 30-track, double-disc (Live). The set focuses on songs dating from James Taylors Warner Brothers years, including "Fire and Rain," "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)," and "Dont Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" (but not, curiously, "Youve Got a Friend"). It also contains the Columbia hits "Handy Man" and "Your Smiling Face." The songs are well-performed, but most of this material is available in its original recordings on Greatest Hits.
live Album: 20 of 38
Title:  (Live)
Released:  1993-08-10
Tracks:  30
Duration:  2:02:19

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1   Sweet Baby James  (04:11)
2   Traffic Jam  (02:10)
3   Handy Man  (03:31)
4   Your Smiling Face  (03:03)
5   Secret o’ Life  (03:42)
6   Shed a Little Light  (04:32)
7   Everybody Has the Blues  (02:33)
8   Steamroller Blues  (05:29)
9   Mexico  (03:32)
10  Millworker  (04:25)
11  Country Road  (05:39)
12  Fire and Rain  (04:44)
13  Shower the People  (04:41)
14  How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You)  (07:29)
15  New Hymn  (03:00)
1   Walking Man  (04:07)
2   Riding on a Railroad  (02:41)
3   Something in the Way She Moves  (03:59)
4   Sun on the Moon  (03:51)
5   Up on the Roof  (04:10)
6   Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight  (03:37)
7   She Thinks I Still Care  (03:25)
8   Copperline  (04:39)
9   Slap Leather  (02:11)
10  Only One  (04:37)
11  You Make It Easy  (05:03)
12  Carolina in My Mind  (05:01)
13  I Will Follow  (04:14)
14  You’ve Got a Friend  (05:09)
15  That Lonesome Road  (02:46)
(Live) : Allmusic album Review : "A live James Taylor album has been suggested, demanded and contemplated for many years," writes Taylors manager/producer, Peter Asher, in this albums liner notes, and the reasons are not hard to find. For one thing, Taylor has been a successful concert attraction for more than 20 years. For another, an artist who has scored in excess of 30 chart records (on four different labels) over those years is represented by only one, 20-year-old hits compilation. The 30-track, two-hour Live, drawn from a tour staged specifically to record it, is an attempt to address those points. Fronting a typically top-notch band, Taylor ranges across his repertoire, back to 1968 for "Something in the Way She Moves" and "Carolina in My Mind," and up to 1991 for "Copperline," among other songs drawn from New Moon Shine. In between come most of his hits. (The most notable exception is "Her Town, Too," and there is a general paucity of later recordings like "Thats Why Im Here" and "Never Die Young.") Taylor treats the material in his relaxed, assured style, making occasional ironic or self-deprecatory remarks between songs and charming his audience even more. The effect of presenting the songs in a uniform manner is to imply an equality between them, as though the deeper material was less significant and the slighter songs more substantial. But that doesnt keep the set from being a consistently enjoyable listening experience. Taylor remains sorely in need of a retrospective that would bring his work into concise coherence, but this one at least presents most of his best-known material in effective performances.
hourglass Album: 21 of 38
Title:  Hourglass
Released:  1997-05-20
Tracks:  13
Duration:  54:48

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1   Line ’em Up  (04:44)
2   Enough to Be on Your Way  (05:29)
3   Little More Time With You  (03:51)
4   Gaia  (05:31)
5   Ananas  (05:45)
6   Jump Up Behind Me  (03:30)
7   Another Day  (02:22)
8   Up Er Mei  (03:49)
9   Up From Your Life  (05:17)
10  Yellow and Rose  (04:55)
11  Boatman  (03:59)
12  Walking My Baby Back Home  (03:13)
13  Hangnail  (02:22)
Hourglass : Allmusic album Review : James Taylor stopped pushing himself into new musical and lyrical territories in the late 70s, so it doesnt come as a great surprise that Hourglass, his first studio album in six years, doesnt offer anything new -- its a collection of pleasant, melodic, simple songs about love, family, and social activism. Thats not necessarily a bad thing, since Taylor has a gift for such material, and on Hourglass, he sounds as good as ever. The music, in many ways, has greater depth than previous records, since it features cameos from such heavy hitters as Stevie Wonder, Yo-Yo Ma, Shawn Colvin, Michael Brecker, Mark OConnor, and Branford Marsalis. There are a few songs that fall a little flat, failing to make much of an impression one way or the other, but on the whole, Hourglass is a nice addition to his catalog.
greatest_hits_volume_2 Album: 22 of 38
Title:  Greatest Hits, Volume 2
Released:  2000-11-07
Tracks:  17
Duration:  1:05:03

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1   Secret o’ Life  (03:34)
2   Handy Man  (03:17)
3   Your Smiling Face  (02:45)
4   Up on the Roof  (04:21)
5   Her Town Too  (04:30)
6   That’s Why I’m Here  (03:37)
7   Only a Dream in Rio  (05:01)
8   Everyday  (03:14)
9   Song for You Far Away  (02:58)
10  Never Die Young  (04:23)
11  (I’ve Got To) Stop Thinkin’ ’bout That  (04:00)
12  Copperline  (04:21)
13  Shed a Little Light  (04:18)
14  Another Day  (02:22)
15  Little More Time With You  (03:51)
16  Enough to Be on Your Way  (05:29)
17  You Can Close Your Eyes (live)  (02:53)
Greatest Hits, Volume 2 : Allmusic album Review : James Taylors first Greatest Hits album, released in 1976 and consisting of his well-known early 70s recordings on Warner Bros. and re-recordings of some of the songs from his 1968 Apple Records debut, is in the rarefied sales category of double-digit millions, so a second volume, taking in his tenure at Columbia Records, was a no-brainer. The only wonder is why it took so long. But the second part of Taylors recording career has been different from his first, especially when it comes to hits. All of Taylors Columbia albums have been good sellers, hitting gold or platinum sales. But he has scored only four Top 40 hits on the pop charts: "Handy Man" (his only Top Ten single on Columbia), "Your Smiling Face," "Up on the Roof," and "Her Town Too." Its a different story on the adult contemporary charts, where he has been a mainstay. But Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 is not so much a collection of Taylors chart entries as it is a best-of. There are several tracks, among them "Secret O Life," "Only a Dream in Rio," and "Song for You Far Away," that were never hits but have become audience favorites, frequently played in Taylors concerts. And there are chart singles, notably "Only One," which got into the adult contemporary Top Ten, and "Hard Times" and "Honey Dont Leave L.A.," which made the pop charts, that have been omitted. That said, this is a well-balanced compilation that should please most of the singer/songwriters fans and that serves as a good selection of his work, circa 1977-1997.
listen_with_james Album: 23 of 38
Title:  Listen With James
Released:  2002-04-23
Tracks:  9
Duration:  29:21

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1   Everyday  (03:14)
2   Letter in the Mail  (04:42)
3   Youre the One I Love  (03:43)
4   Rainy Day Man  (03:15)
5   Knocking round the Zoo (original version)  (03:08)
6   Something’s Wrong  (03:08)
7   Night Owl  (02:30)
8   Brighten Your Night With My Day  (02:27)
9   Kootchs Song  (03:10)
october_road Album: 24 of 38
Title:  October Road
Released:  2002-08-13
Tracks:  15
Duration:  1:05:23

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1   September Grass  (04:53)
2   October Road  (03:59)
3   On the 4th of July  (03:27)
4   Whenever Youre Ready  (04:16)
5   Belfast to Boston  (04:18)
6   Mean Old Man  (03:45)
7   My Traveling Star  (03:57)
8   Raised Up Family  (04:42)
9   Carry Me on My Way  (04:32)
10  Caroline I See You  (04:59)
11  Baby Buffalo  (04:52)
12  Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas  (03:50)
1   Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight  (04:43)
2   Benjamin  (03:32)
3   Sailing to Philadelphia  (05:29)
October Road : Allmusic album Review : James Taylors 15th studio album of his first new recordings in 32 years is, if possible, even more familiar and self-referential than ever. By now, it is an article of faith that you could take practically any track from any Taylor album and put it on another one without disturbing the mood, and that is as true of the songs here as it is of those on the other 14. That warm (if slightly deepened) tenor, singing in its odd accent which combines New England and the North Carolina Piedmont, and that acoustic guitar, with its sparkling, unhurried fingerpicking, remain the most prominent elements in the sound. But even more, October Road finds Taylor seemingly intent on evoking his own past. The title track, of course, recalls his song "Country Road," and "Caroline I See You," (even if it refers specifically to his wife), inescapably echoes "Carolina in My Mind." Also, Taylor deliberately recycles themes from his earlier work. "October Road" begins, "Well Im going back down maybe one more time," while "My Traveling Star" ends, "And shame on me for sure/For one more highway song." Throughout, on what seem like the most personal songs he has written in decades, Taylor appears to be commenting on a second chance he feels he has received, and though he couches the negative aspects in humor ("Mean Old Man," whose subject is the singer, ends with a dog joke, and "Raised Up Family," which contains recriminations, tosses in a musical reference to Gilligans Island), there are strong hints of a man who feels hes been rescued. As such, it is perhaps fitting (if seasonally curious for an album released in the summer) to conclude with "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," a holiday song from wartime that reaffirms the importance of family in a world gone awry.
the_best_of_james_taylor Album: 25 of 38
Title:  The Best of James Taylor
Released:  2003-04-08
Tracks:  20
Duration:  1:10:47

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1   Something in the Way She Moves  (02:26)
2   Sweet Baby James  (02:53)
3   Fire and Rain  (03:23)
4   Country Road  (03:24)
5   You’ve Got a Friend  (04:30)
6   You Can Close Your Eyes  (02:30)
7   Long Ago and Far Away  (02:21)
8   Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight  (02:36)
9   Walking Man  (03:34)
10  How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You)  (03:36)
11  Mexico  (02:59)
12  Shower the People  (04:32)
13  Golden Moments  (03:31)
14  Steamroller  (05:18)
15  Carolina in My Mind  (04:00)
16  Handy Man  (03:17)
17  Your Smiling Face  (02:45)
18  Up on the Roof  (04:21)
19  Only a Dream in Rio  (05:01)
20  Bittersweet  (03:44)
a_christmas_album Album: 26 of 38
Title:  A Christmas Album
Released:  2004-12
Tracks:  11
Duration:  41:48

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1   Winter Wonderland  (03:34)
2   Go Tell It on the Mountain  (03:42)
3   In the Bleak Midwinter  (04:12)
4   Baby, Its Cold Outside  (04:17)
5   Santa Claus Is Coming to Town  (02:57)
6   Jingle Bells  (03:52)
7   The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)  (03:52)
8   Deck the Halls  (02:51)
9   Some Children See Him  (04:37)
10  Who Comes This Night  (04:11)
11  Auld Lang Syne  (03:38)
A Christmas Album : Allmusic album Review : A Christmas album seems like such a natural for James Taylor that its amazing he got more than 35 years into his recording career before making one. When he did, he pacted with Hallmark and sold it through their greeting card stores. For the recording itself, he teamed with Dave Grusin, which results in arrangements of Christmas favorites that mix Taylors folk-pop sensibility and Grusins contemporary jazz tendencies. Not all of the treatments work. Taylor doesnt exhibit much chemistry with Natalie Cole on their duet of "Baby, Its Cold Outside," and the bluesy version of "Jingle Bells" (a sole Taylor arrangement) that completely recasts the melody is odd. But much of the time the disc sounds like what a James Taylor fan would expect, Taylor applying his warm, friendly voice to a batch of Christmas carols. He remains a distinctive vocal stylist, and his singing is well suited to most of the material.
james_taylor_at_christmas Album: 27 of 38
Title:  James Taylor at Christmas
Released:  2006-10-06
Tracks:  12
Duration:  45:55

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1   Winter Wonderland  (03:34)
2   Go Tell It on the Mountain  (03:42)
3   Santa Claus Is Coming to Town  (02:57)
4   Jingle Bells  (03:52)
5   Baby, Its Cold Outside  (04:17)
6   River  (03:33)
7   Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas  (03:24)
8   The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)  (03:52)
9   Some Children See Him  (04:37)
10  Who Comes This Night  (04:11)
11  In the Bleak Midwinter  (04:12)
12  Auld Lang Syne  (03:38)
James Taylor at Christmas : Allmusic album Review : For the most part, holiday-themed albums are about as memorable as what you had for lunch a month ago. As humans continue to evolve, theres a very good chance that well develop some sort of yuletide audio bypass valve that will allow us to filter the three-and-a-half million versions of every Christmas song ever made into one solid rendition that either pleases or displeases us, and can be dealt with accordingly. That said, James Taylors brilliantly titled James Taylor at Christmas is about as inoffensive a collection of seasonal classics as one could hope for. The legendary singer/songwriters warm voice is the perfect vessel for "Winter Wonderland," "Jingle Bells," and the "Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" because it makes absolutely no impression on the listener.
hi_five Album: 28 of 38
Title:  Hi Five
Released:  2006-10-06
Tracks:  5
Duration:  17:21

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1   Fire and Rain  (03:23)
2   Sweet Baby James  (02:53)
3   Mexico  (02:59)
4   How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You)  (03:36)
5   You’ve Got a Friend  (04:30)
one_man_band Album: 29 of 38
Title:  One Man Band
Released:  2007-11-13
Tracks:  19
Duration:  1:17:48

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1   Something in the Way She Moves  (03:47)
2   Never Die Young  (04:24)
3   The Frozen Man  (05:07)
4   Mean Old Man  (03:42)
5   School Song  (01:27)
6   Country Road  (04:08)
7   Slap Leather  (03:07)
8   My Traveling Star  (04:11)
9   Youve Got a Friend  (05:01)
10  Steamroller Blues  (05:59)
11  Secret o Life  (03:42)
12  Line em Up  (04:39)
13  Chili Dog  (01:57)
14  Shower the People  (04:56)
15  Sweet Baby James  (03:41)
16  Carolina in My Mind  (05:04)
17  Fire and Rain  (04:52)
18  Copperline  (04:52)
19  You Can Close Your Eyes  (03:08)
One Man Band : Allmusic album Review : Dont take the title of James Taylors One Man Band literally -- this 2007 concert recording may be stripped-down but its not just James and a guitar, hes supported by keyboardist Larry Goldings, whom Taylor dubs his "one-man band" in the liner notes, as thats all the backing band he has here. Fair enough. But this isnt just a question of clever semantics: as it turns out, Goldings has quite a presence on this intimate album, recorded at a three-night stint at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, MA, during July 2007. During this 19-song set, Taylor gives Goldings plenty of space to grace the songs with solos that show up his jazz chops. This freedom, coupled with Taylors deceptively easy delivery -- he has a casual authority that comes from touring the same songs steadily for years -- gives this album a unique character among Taylors catalog. This also makes for an album that relies heavily on standards. All the songs youd expect are here, all the songs James always plays on tour, but there are also a couple of surprises, like "Chili Dog" from 1972s One Man Dog, which are quite engaging. Perhaps these tunes are a shade too familiar to sound fresh, but given such lovely readings they certainly sound as comforting as a reunion with an old friend for those listeners who havent been keeping up with Taylor but might pick this up via its release on Starbucks HearMusic label. So, this can rope in casual fans who will be quite pleased, but this is different enough from 1993s double-disc Live -- as polished and professional as live albums come -- to make this quite interesting for diehards, too. [One Man Band also contains a two-hour concert DVD.]
covers Album: 30 of 38
Title:  Covers
Released:  2008-09-30
Tracks:  15
Duration:  53:07

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1   Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin  (03:12)
2   It’s Growing  (04:07)
3   (I’m a) Road Runner  (03:19)
4   Wichita Lineman  (03:41)
5   Why Baby Why  (02:41)
6   Some Days You Gotta Dance  (02:41)
7   Seminole Wind  (04:50)
8   Suzanne  (03:36)
9   Hound Dog  (03:03)
10  Sadie  (04:34)
11  On Broadway  (04:11)
12  Knock on Wood  (03:28)
13  Summertime Blues  (02:39)
14  Not Fade Away  (02:45)
15  Shiver Me Timbers  (04:18)
Covers : Allmusic album Review : A cozy companion to One Man Band, James Taylors 2007 intimate stroll through his back pages for Starbucks Hear Music, Covers once again finds the singer/songwriter on familiar, friendly territory, as he returns to his easy rolling full band and digs into the songbook of the rock & roll era. Its his era, of course, the time he had hit singles, including many hit cover versions, as he points out himself in his brief liner notes to the album. All of this makes Covers feel perhaps even more comfortable than One Man Band, which had the distinction of its unique guitar-and-piano arrangements, something that made his hits sound relatively fresh. Here, standards -- and despite a couple of oddball choices like the Spinners "Sadie," John Andersons "Seminole Wind," and the only modern song here, the Dixie Chicks "Some Days You Gotta Dance," this is all standards like "Wichita Lineman," "Suzanne," "Hound Dog," "On Broadway," "Summertime Blues," and "Not Fade Away" -- are given Taylors warm, mellow signature, so Covers winds up feeling a bit like an outdoor concert on a sunny summer Sunday afternoon: something that is wholly relaxing and not in the least surprising.
other_covers Album: 31 of 38
Title:  Other Covers
Released:  2009-04-07
Tracks:  7
Duration:  25:08

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1   Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin  (03:12)
2   Get A Job  (04:07)
3   Memphis  (03:11)
4   Shiver Me Timbers  (04:20)
5   Wasnt That A Mighty Storm  (03:11)
6   In The Midnight Hour  (03:15)
7   Knock On Wood  (03:52)
amchitka_the_1970_concert_that_launched_greenpeace Album: 32 of 38
Title:  Amchitka: The 1970 Concert That Launched Greenpeace
Released:  2009-11
Tracks:  29
Duration:  1:48:06

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1   Intro Irving Stowe  (01:38)
2   Intro Phil Ochs  (00:10)
3   The Bells  (03:25)
4   Rhythms of Revolution  (04:29)
5   Chords of Fame  (02:57)
6   I Aint Marching Anymore  (03:06)
7   Joe Hill  (07:10)
8   Changes  (03:47)
9   Im Gonna Say It Now  (03:02)
10  No More Songs  (03:50)
11  Intro James Taylor  (00:32)
12  Something in the Way She Moves  (03:19)
13  Fire and Rain  (03:54)
14  Carolina in My Mind  (04:38)
15  Blossom  (02:39)
16  Riding on a Railroad  (03:04)
17  Sweet Baby James  (03:43)
18  You Can Close Your Eyes  (02:31)
1   Intro Joni Mitchell  (00:17)
2   Big Yellow Taxi/Bony Maroney  (04:00)
3   Cactus Tree  (05:18)
4   The Gallery  (04:25)
5   Hunter  (02:41)
6   My Old Man  (04:28)
7   For Free  (05:19)
8   Woodstock  (05:29)
9   Carey/Mr. Tambourine Man  (10:35)
10  A Case of You  (04:50)
11  The Circle Game  (02:38)
live_at_the_troubadour Album: 33 of 38
Title:  Live at the Troubadour
Released:  2010-01-01
Tracks:  15
Duration:  1:03:47

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1   Blossom  (03:09)
2   So Far Away  (04:42)
3   Machine Gun Kelly  (02:59)
4   Carolina in My Mind  (04:16)
5   Its Too Late  (04:59)
6   Smackwater Jack  (05:25)
7   Something in the Way She Moves  (04:04)
8   Will You Love Me Tomorrow  (04:12)
9   Country Road  (03:49)
10  Fire and Rain  (05:44)
11  Sweet Baby James  (03:34)
12  I Feel the Earth Move  (04:05)
13  Youve Got a Friend  (05:51)
14  Up on the Roof  (04:09)
15  You Can Close Your Eyes  (02:49)
Live at the Troubadour : Allmusic album Review : Carole King and James Taylor reuniting isn’t quite a monumental reunion -- they never were an official performing entity, so they never had a falling out, appearing on-stage and on record from time to time since their ‘70s heyday -- but it is a notable one, particularly when they choose to perform at the Troubadour, the L.A. venue so crucial at the start of their stardom, backed by such fellow veterans of the SoCal singer/songwriter scene as guitarist Danny Kortchmar, bassist Leland Sklar, and drummer Russell Kunkel, musicians who supported them the last time they co-headlined the club back in 1971. All this made their series of shared shows in November 2007 an event, albeit a low-key one. King and Taylor embrace their classics -- it seems that there’s not a hit missed between the two of them -- and there’s genuine warmth to the whole show that’s quite appealing. Perhaps there are no surprises here, but any shock would have run counter to the whole spirit of the evening: this is about basking in both nostalgia and friendship, and if you’re on the same wave as the musicians, Live at the Troubadour is enjoyable.
original_album_classics Album: 34 of 38
Title:  Original Album Classics
Released:  2010-10-25
Tracks:  57
Duration:  3:19:46

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1   Your Smiling Face  (02:45)
2   There We Are  (03:01)
3   Honey Don’t Leave L.A.  (03:06)
4   Another Grey Morning  (02:44)
5   Bartender’s Blues  (04:12)
6   Secret o’ Life  (03:34)
7   Handy Man  (03:17)
8   I Was Only Telling a Lie  (03:24)
9   Looking for Love on Broadway  (02:21)
10  Terra Nova  (04:32)
11  Traffic Jam  (01:58)
12  If I Keep My Heart Out of Sight  (02:55)
1   Company Man  (03:47)
2   Johnnie Comes Back  (03:55)
3   Day Tripper  (04:25)
4   I Will Not Lie for You  (03:16)
5   Brother Trucker  (04:02)
6   Is That the Way You Look?  (02:00)
7   B.S.U.R.  (03:23)
8   Rainy Day Man  (03:00)
9   Millworker  (03:52)
10  Up on the Roof  (04:21)
11  Chanson Française  (02:05)
12  Sleep Come Free Me  (04:43)
1   Hard Times  (03:12)
2   Her Town Too  (04:30)
3   Hour That the Morning Comes  (02:57)
4   I Will Follow  (04:18)
5   Believe It or Not  (03:50)
6   Stand and Fight  (03:11)
7   Only for Me  (04:56)
8   Summers Here  (02:43)
9   Sugar Trade  (02:49)
10  London Town  (03:57)
11  That Lonesome Road  (02:21)
1   That’s Why I’m Here  (03:37)
2   Song for You Far Away  (02:58)
3   Only a Dream in Rio  (05:01)
4   Turn Away  (03:25)
5   Going Around One More Time  (03:26)
6   My Romance  (02:50)
7   Everyday  (03:14)
8   Limousine Driver  (03:52)
9   Only One  (04:19)
10  Mona  (02:50)
11  The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance  (03:45)
12  That’s Why I’m Here (reprise)  (00:26)
1   Never Die Young  (04:23)
2   T-Bone  (03:47)
3   Baby Boom Baby  (04:59)
4   Runaway Boy  (04:19)
5   Valentine’s Day  (02:36)
6   Sun on the Moon  (04:10)
7   Sweet Potato Pie  (03:30)
8   Home by Another Way  (03:50)
9   Letter in the Mail  (04:42)
10  First of May  (03:58)
Original Album Classics : Allmusic album Review : This budget-priced box set from singer/songwriter/soft rock legend James Taylor features the albums JT (1977), Flag (1979), Dad Loves His Work (1981), Thats Why Im Here (1985), and Never Die Young (1988) in their entireties.
liberty Album: 35 of 38
Title:  Liberty!
Released:  2013-01-08
Tracks:  12
Duration:  1:03:09

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1   Song of the Liberty Bell (folk version)  (05:47)
2   Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier  (02:57)
3   Surrender the Sword (for Violin and Strings)  (09:27)
4   Soldiers Joy  (04:08)
5   When Bidden to the Wake or Fair  (07:10)
6   The World Turned Upside Down  (02:45)
7   Bunker Hill  (05:46)
8   Freedom (instrumental)  (03:41)
9   The Flowers of Edinburgh  (04:17)
10  Brave Wolfe  (06:51)
11  Devils Dream  (03:30)
12  Song of the Liberty Bell (for Violin and Strings)  (06:45)
the_essential_james_taylor Album: 36 of 38
Title:  The Essential James Taylor
Released:  2013-10-13
Tracks:  37
Duration:  2:15:54

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1   Sweet Baby James  (02:53)
2   Fire and Rain  (03:23)
3   Long Ago and Far Away  (02:21)
4   You’ve Got a Friend  (04:30)
5   Dont Let Me Be Lonely Tonight (Remastered version)  (02:34)
6   One Man Parade  (03:11)
7   Walking Man  (03:34)
8   Hello Old Friend  (02:48)
9   How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You)  (03:36)
10  Mexico  (02:59)
11  Gorilla  (03:12)
12  Shower the People  (04:32)
13  Nothing Like a Hundred Miles  (03:45)
14  Don’t Be Sad ’cause Your Sun Is Down  (03:30)
15  Steamroller  (05:18)
16  Something in the Way She Moves  (03:09)
17  Carolina in My Mind  (03:58)
18  Honey Don’t Leave L.A.  (03:06)
19  Handy Man  (03:17)
1   Your Smiling Face  (02:45)
2   Millworker  (03:52)
3   Her Town Too  (04:30)
4   Everyday  (03:14)
5   Only One  (04:19)
6   That’s Why I’m Here  (03:37)
7   Never Die Young  (04:23)
8   Copperline  (04:21)
9   The Water Is Wide  (03:00)
10  Country Road  (05:39)
11  Secret o’ Life  (03:42)
12  Line ’em Up  (04:44)
13  Little More Time With You  (03:51)
14  Another Day  (02:22)
15  Hard Times Come Again No More  (03:40)
16  Caroline I See You  (04:59)
17  My Traveling Star (live)  (04:13)
18  You Can Close Your Eyes (live)  (02:53)
before_this_world Album: 37 of 38
Title:  Before This World
Released:  2015-06-12
Tracks:  10
Duration:  41:45

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1   Today Today Today  (03:09)
2   You and I Again  (03:52)
3   Angels of Fenway  (03:18)
4   Stretch of the Highway  (05:32)
5   Montana  (03:25)
6   Watchin’ Over Me  (04:07)
7   Snowtime  (05:48)
8   Before This World / Jolly Springtime  (05:34)
9   Far Afghanistan  (04:04)
10  Wild Mountain Thyme  (02:56)
Before This World : Allmusic album Review : James Taylor never sets his guitar down -- he spends a good portion of every year satisfying faithful audiences -- but he did rest his pen, opting to sit out the 13 years following the release of 2002s October Road. He kept busy with covers albums and Christmas records, but Before This World finds Taylor returning to writing, a habit he abandoned about a decade prior. Often, Before This World contains echoes of the first decade of the new millennium -- there is a passing reference to 9/11 in a song about Afghanistan and a love letter to the Boston Red Soxs 2004 World Series win -- but Taylor wrote these all in a batch, then recorded them at home with his touring band. Such quick progress gives the record a cozy, unified feeling but, unlike some latter-day JT records, its not too comfortable. Taylor is randy enough to sing about some "first-class poontang" on the nicely grooving "Stretch of the Highway," a song more notable for a mellow vamp worthy of Steely Dan, the first suggestion theres a bit more variety here than on a typical Taylor platter. Hell ease into his trademark laid-back pop, opening the proceedings with "Today Today Today" and brightening up the midsection with the happy "Watchin Over Me," but as the record comes toward its conclusion, he takes detours into traditional English folk on "Before This World/Jolly Springtime" and "Wild Mountain Thyme," while etching out a cinematic protest song in "Far Afghanistan." When a record runs only ten tracks and 41 minutes, these departures amount to nearly half the record and turn Before This World into something unexpected: a record as relaxed as the average James Taylor album but one thats also riskier and richer, the right album for him to make at this date.
working_a_musical Album: 38 of 38
Title:  Working: A Musical
Released:  2018-03-02
Tracks:  14
Duration:  53:49

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1   All the Live Long Day  (03:37)
2   Delivery  (04:02)
3   Nobody Tells Me How  (03:00)
4   Brother Trucker  (03:30)
5   Just a Housewife  (03:25)
6   Millwork  (04:01)
7   The Mason  (02:45)
8   Its an Art  (04:17)
9   Joe  (05:16)
10  A Very Good Day  (03:51)
11  Cleanin’ Women  (03:11)
12  Fathers and Sons  (05:15)
13  If I Could’ve Been  (03:52)
14  Something to Point To  (03:42)

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