I liked James Taylor’s music early on. This 2-CD live recording from 1993 includes most of Taylor’s hits from the Sixties, Seventies, and Eighties. I like Taylor’s cover of an old favorite, “Handy Man.” I also like Taylor’s singing on Art Garfunkel’s cover of “(What a) Wonderful World” in 1978 with Paul Simon which isn’t on this collection.
James Taylor also wrote many of the songs on this live recording. I love “Mexico” and
- Rainy Day Man” (1967) …
- “Something in the Way She Moves” (1968) …
- “Carolina in My Mind” (1968) …
- “Sweet Baby James” (1970) …
- “Steamroller” (1970) …
- “You’ve Got a Friend” (1971) …
- “Walking Man” (1974) …
- “A Junkie’s Lament” (1976)
Are you a James Taylor fan? Is your favorite James Taylor song on these CDs? GRADE: B+
TRACKLIST:
| Sweet Baby James | 4:13 | ||
| Traffic Jam | 2:11 | ||
| Handy Man | 3:31 | ||
| Your Smiling Face | 3:04 | ||
| Secret O’ Life | 3:46 | ||
| Shed A Little Light | 4:33 | ||
| Everybody Has The Blues | 2:34 | ||
| Steamroller Blues | 5:30 | ||
| Mexico | 3:32 | ||
| Millworker | 4:26 | ||
| Country Road | 5:44 | ||
| Fire And Rain | 4:45 | ||
| Shower The People | 4:44 | ||
| How Sweet It Is | 7:30 | ||
| New Hymn | 3:01 | ||
| Walking Man | 4:35 | ||
| Riding On A Railroad | 2:42 | ||
| Something In The Way She Moves | 3:59 | ||
| Sun On The Moon | 3:54 | ||
| Up On The Roof | 4:11 | ||
| Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight | 3:37 | ||
| She Thinks I Still Care | 3:29 | ||
| Copperline | 4:43 | ||
| Slap Leather | 2:12 | ||
| Only One | 4:42 | ||
| You Make It Easy | 5:06 | ||
| Carolina In My Mind | 5:05 | ||
| I Will Follow | 4:14 | ||
| You’ve Got A Friend | 5:09 | ||
| That Lonesome Road | 2:46 |
“Mexico” and “Carolina in My Mind” are my two favorite James Taylor songs, but I do like most of the songs he did in his “hit making” years. I don’t see “Her Town Too”, a melancholy song in both music and lyrics, which is probably one of Taylor’s lesser-known songs but which I always liked.
Deb, I’m fond of “Her Town, Too” too! “Her Town Too” was written by James Taylor, J. D. Souther, and Waddy Wachtel, first released as a duet between Taylor and Souther on Taylor’s 1981 album Dad Loves His Work. “Her Town Too” was later released on the 2000 compilation album Greatest Hits Volume 2. The song was also released as a single in 1981, peaking at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100,
I’ve always liked him, and he fits into an odd niche. Very few would say he’s their absolute favorite, but there’s almost nobody who DOESN’T like him. What’s not to like? “Fire and Rain” is my favorite, but I like pretty much all the early stuff.
Michael, I totally agree with your assessment of James Taylor and his music. Here’s Taylor’s 2023 touring schedule: https://www.stubhub.com/performer/150046875?AffiliateID=49&adposition=&PCID=PSUSGOOCONJAMES33C3DD020E&AdID=650906622854&MetroRegionID=&psc=&psc=&ps=&ps=&ps_p=0&ps_c=19680054925&ps_ag=147621181122&ps_tg=kwd-1942323935420&ps_ad=650906622854&ps_adp=&ps_adp=&ps_fi=&ps_fi=&ps_li=&ps_li=&ps_lp=9005508&ps_n=g&ps_d=c&gcid=C12289X486&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid-search&utm_sub_medium=prospecting&utm_term=nb&utm_campaign=19680054925%3adefault&utm_content=default&keyword=147621181122_kwd-1942323935420_c&creative=650906622854&utm_kxconfid=s2rshsbmv&kwt=nb&mt=b&kw=james+taylor+allstar+band&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxYOiBhC9ARIsANiEIfaObRq8TcSucm9KMuv8C6HV4_tVwKwCdci3dYN3zccU_fUEXYbmG_MaAsxcEALw_wcB
He was Phil’s favorite so we had a lot of his music playing.
Patti, as I always say: Phil had great taste!
One of my all time favourites is there:
You’ve got a friend – though I have to admit I prefer the original version song by Carole King. She’s marvelous!
Something in the way she moves I thought at first as the beatles song.
The 60s were the best – I was a student (yeah, quite lazy …) but in 1969 I made my exam in maths and physics and decided to work in IT or EDP as it was called then.
Wolf, JAMES TAYLOR (LIVE) pretty much sums up his career.
I like some early stuff but have seen him twice over the years and must say he’s the dullest performer I have ever seen. Almost every song had the same tempo-slow.
Steve, Jeff and Jackie Meyerson have seen James Taylor a few times. I seem to recall they had the same criticism of Taylor’s performances, too.
It has been so variable. We’ve seen him in concert where his low key, deprecating way worked really well, and other times more like Steve says, the dullest night ever. His reunion concert in the round with Carole King was really good. I was never a huge fan but I do like some of his stuff a lot. I like “Mexico” (which Jimmy Buffett covered with the same arrangement), “Carolina In My Mind” (I’ve heard him tell the story behind the same many times), “Up on the Roof” and “You’ve Got a Friend” (both Carole King songs), “Sun on the Moon” (I like the NEVER DIE YOUNG album it came from), “How Sweet It Is” (Motown cover), and “Mockingbird” with Carly Simon.
Jeff, Diane wanted to see Carole King and James Taylor’s concert, but we moved too slowly and it was sold out by the time we acted.