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Live (James Taylor Album)
''Live'' is the first live album by singer-songwriter James Taylor released on August 10, 1993 by Columbia Records. The double album presents selections from 14 shows during a November 1992 tour. In the US, ''Live'' peaked at number 20 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart and has sold more than one million copies, being certified 2× platinum by the RIAA. A single-album CD of highlights of the double album was also released, titled ''Best Live''. There are two different versions of this album; a 17-track version was released in 1993, and a shorter 12-track version on June 21, 1994. On digital distributors such as ''Spotify'' and ''iTunes'', many of the verbal introductions that were present in the original CD have been cut. Track listing All songs by James Taylor except where noted. ;Disc one #"Sweet Baby James" – 4:13 #"Traffic Jam" – 2:10 #" Handy Man" (Otis Blackwell, Jimmy Jones) – 3:31 #"Your Smiling Face" – 3:03 #"Secret O' Life" – 3:45 #"Shed a Little Light" – 4:3 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
James Taylor
James Vernon Taylor (born March 12, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A six-time Grammy Award winner, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 100 million records worldwide. Taylor achieved his breakthrough in 1970 with the single " Fire and Rain" and had his first hit in 1971 with his recording of "You've Got a Friend", written by Carole King in the same year. His 1976 ''Greatest Hits'' album was certified Diamond and has sold 12 million copies in the US alone. Following his 1977 album '' JT'', he has retained a large audience over the decades. Every album that he released from 1977 to 2007 sold over 1 million copies. He enjoyed a resurgence in chart performance during the late 1990s and 2000s, when he recorded some of his most-awarded work (including '' Hourglass'', '' October Road'', and '' Covers''). He achieved his first number-one album in the US in 20 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sweet Baby James (song)
"Sweet Baby James" is a song written and recorded by James Taylor that serves as the opening and title track from his 1970 breakthrough album ''Sweet Baby James''. It was released as the first single from the album but did not chart. Nonetheless, it is one of his best-known and most popular tunes. Taylor considers it his best song. History The song was written by Taylor for the son of his older brother Alex, who was also named James (and indeed was named after him). Deliberately a cross between a cowboy song and a lullaby, it was first thought up by Taylor as he was driving through Carolina to meet his infant nephew for the first time. Taylor spent considerable effort on the lyrics, whose verses he later said used the most intricate rhyming pattern of his career. One of the most famous parts of the lyric is: :''Now the first of December was covered with snow'' :''And so was the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston'' :''Lord, the Berkshires seemed dream-like on account of that ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
"How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" is a song recorded by American soul singer Marvin Gaye from his fifth studio album of the same name (1965). It was written in 1964 by the Motown songwriting team of Holland–Dozier–Holland, and produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier. The song title was inspired by one of the actor and comedian Jackie Gleason's signature phrases, "How Sweet It Is!" Marvin Gaye version Produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier, the song was released as a single in September 1964. It peaked at number six on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart in January 1965 and at number three on US ''Billboard's'' R&B Singles chart. Up to that point, it was Gaye's most successful single with record sales exceeding 900,000 copies. The song's personnel includes Marvin Gaye on lead vocals; The Andantes on background vocals; and The Funk Brothers on various instruments, including piano and percussion. Gaye also released a German-language version of the song entitled ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shower The People
"Shower the People" is the opening track on James Taylor's 1976 album '' In the Pocket''. Reception '' Cash Box'' said that the song is "a meaningful ballad that will pick up a lot of FM airplay" said that it has "a way with melody and phrasing" similar to other Taylor songs. Personnel *James Taylor – lead vocals, harmony vocals, acoustic guitars * Carly Simon – harmony vocals *Danny Kortchmar – electric guitars *Leland Sklar – bass guitar *Russ Kunkel – drums, percussion *Victor Feldman – orchestral bells, vibes *Clarence McDonald – Fender Rhodes, hornorgan *Nick DeCaro – hornorgan, voiceorgan Chart performance "Shower the People" reached #22 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart in the U.S. that fall, remaining in the Top 40 for eight weeks. It also topped the Easy Listening chart for one week, Taylor's third song to do so, following 1971's "You've Got a Friend" and 1975's "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)". In Canada, the song fell short of the Pop Top 40 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fire And Rain (song)
"Fire and Rain" is a song written and performed by James Taylor and released in August 1970 on Warner Bros. Records as a single from his second album, ''Sweet Baby James''. The song follows Taylor's reaction to the suicide of Suzanne Schnerr, a childhood friend, and his experiences with drug addiction and fame. After its release, "Fire and Rain" peaked at number two on ''RPM'' Canada Top Singles chart and at number three on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Background and composition On the VH1 series ''Storytellers'', Taylor said the song was about several incidents during his early recording career. The second line "Suzanne, the plans they made put an end to you" refers to Suzanne Schnerr, a childhood friend of his who died by suicide while he was in London, England, recording his first album. In that same account, Taylor said he had been in a deep depression after the failure of his new band the Flying Machine to coalesce (the lyric "Sweet dreams and Flying Machines in pieces on th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Country Road (song)
"Country Road" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter James Taylor, released in February 1971 by Warner Bros. Records. It is the third single from Taylor's second studio album, ''Sweet Baby James''. "Country Road" is also featured on James Taylor's 1976 ''Greatest Hits'' record. The song has been played at most of his concerts since 1970. Randy Meisner, later of the Eagles, played bass on the album version. Background The song was inspired by Somerset Street in Belmont, Massachusetts, a wooded road running adjacent to the land owned by McLean Hospital where Taylor had committed himself in 1965 to receive treatment for depression. Taylor's friend Danny Kortchmar said "Country Road": captures the restless, anticipatory, vaguely hopeful feeling that plays a large part on James' character and appears in " Carolina in My Mind," "Blossom", and "Sweet Baby James." The road leads away from his ensnaring family: "Mama don't understand it / She wants to know wher ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Millworker
"Millworker", or "Millwork", is a song written by James Taylor. It was originally written for the Stephen Schwartz Broadway musical ''Working''. Taylor's own recording was released on his 1979 album ''Flag'' along with "Brother Trucker", which Taylor also wrote for ''Working''. It has also been covered by other artists, including Bette Midler, Emmylou Harris, Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Warnes and Francis Cabrel. According to Taylor, he was inspired to write the song quickly one night at his home in Martha's Vineyard, "about six feet" from where he wrote his earlier song "Secret O' Life". He was initially impressed with the song and how he was able to write it from the perspective of a woman. He originally started writing the song about a truck driver, rather than a millworker, and according to Taylor the lyrics are not about any particular character in the book by Studs Terkel, '' Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About Wha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mexico (James Taylor Song)
"Mexico" is a song written by James Taylor that first appeared as the opening track of his 1975 album ''Gorilla''. It was released as a single, with the album's title track as the B-side, and reached No. 49 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, but performed much better on the Adult Contemporary chart, reaching No. 5. "Mexico" has appeared on many of Taylor's live and compilation albums. It has been covered by Jimmy Buffett, Alex de Grassi and Lauren Laverne. Lyrics and music The lyrics of "Mexico" describe a dream of enjoying a night in a Mexican border town. It seems to describe the singer's first-hand experiences in Mexico but has a twist near the end where the singer acknowledges that he has never been to Mexico, turning the song into a "fantasy about escaping to an exotic land." It is one of several songs on ''Gorilla'' that uses a stream of consciousness technique to describe the singer's fantasy. Others include "Music" and "You Make It Easy." ''Ultimate Classic Rock'' critic D ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Steamroller Blues
"Steamroller Blues" (a.k.a. "Steamroller"), is a blues parody written by James Taylor, that appeared on his 1970 album ''Sweet Baby James''. It was intended to mock the inauthentic blues bands of the day. The song later appeared on two of Taylor's compilation albums and has been recorded by a variety of other artists. Origin and recording Rock journalist David Browne wrote that " ring the Flying Machine days in the Village, Taylor had heard one too many pretentious white blues bands and wrote 'Steamroller' to mock them." ''Rolling Stone Album Guide'' critic Mark Coleman, said Taylor's song "effectively mocks the straining pomposity of then-current white bluesmen." Taylor and Danny Kortchmar, both playing electric guitars, laid down the track in one night at Sunset Studios, the rhythm section being added later. A tight budget and production schedule forced Taylor to record the song despite suffering from a head cold. The song was included on Taylor's diamond-selling ''Grea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Secret O' Life
"Secret O' Life" is a song written by James Taylor that first appeared on his 1977 album '' JT''. It has since appeared on several of his live and compilation albums. It was also included in the Broadway musical '' Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life'' and has been covered by many other artists, including Art Garfunkel, Richie Havens, Nancy LaMott, Rosemary Clooney, Shirley Horn and Ricky Peterson. Lyrics and music Although not released as a single, Allmusic critic William Ruhlmann considered "Secret O' Life" to be the key track on ''JT'' with its message that the secret of life is "enjoying the passage of time." Authors Don and Jeff Breithaupt deemed the theme of the song to be the importance of "living in the moment." Self-help book authors Pete Forantale and Bill Ayres regard the song as giving the listener permission to meditate, reflect and daydream. Taylor regards it as a spiritual song. He has said that he used the title "Secret O' Life" rather than "Secret of Life" becau ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Your Smiling Face
"Your Smiling Face" is a hit single by singer James Taylor. First available on the album '' JT'', and released as the album's sophomore single in September 1977, "Your Smiling Face" peaked at number 11 in '' Cash Box'' magazine and at 20 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 near year's end. It reached number 11 on the ''RPM'' Top Singles chart in Canada. On Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart, it reached number 6. Background Lines like "Isn't it amazing a man like me can feel this way?" reflect Taylor's surprise at his newfound happiness in his relationship with Carly Simon. ''Rolling Stone'' critic Peter Herbst described it as being "unabashedly happy". However, according to Taylor biographer Timothy White, the song was written for Taylor's and Simon's then three-year-old daughter Sally. White described the song as a "pop sonnet". ''Billboard Magazine'' described the song as a "strong followup" to " Handy Man" and described the melody as being "upbeat" and "infectious." Taylor desc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
