James Taylor

The pioneer with all the classic songs ....

When people use the term "singer/songwriter" (often modified by the word "sensitive") in praise or in criticism, they're 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 generation's emotional exhaustion after tumultuous times Just as Bing Crosby's reassuring voice brought the country out of the Depression and through World War II, Taylor's 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 Martha' s 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 O'Brien. The band played in Greenwich Village and was signed to a fledgling record label, Rainy Day Records (the name taken from Taylor' s 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 and 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. Records, 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 Taylor's first album was re-stimulated, and it belatedly reached the charts along with the single "Carolina on My Mind," as did James Taylor and 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 had acted in a feature film, Two-Lane Blacktop, co-starring with the Beach Boys' Dennis Wilson. It was not successful, and Taylor never pursued an acting career, though it has been well-reviewed subsequently. Taylor also worked on a new album, returning to record stores in April 1971 with Mud Slide Slim and 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, "You've 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 "You've 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 "That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be" and "Anticipation," and would soon top the charts with "You're So Vain." One Man Dog marked a fall-off in Taylor's record sales, though it went gold, reached the top five, and spawned a top 20 single in "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight."

Taylor was next heard from in January 1974, when he sang a duet with his wife of "Mockingbird," a cover of the 1963 hit by Inez and Charlie Foxx, on her Hot Cakes 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 Gaye's 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, Taylor's seventh album, was his third annual warm-weather release, appearing in June 1976. Its single was the singer's 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 Records. 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 Garfunkel's cover of "(What A) Wonderful World," previously a hit for Sam Cooke and Herman's Hermits, which peaked in the Top 20 in March 1978. Taylor next became involved with the Broadway musical Working, based on Studs Terkel's 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 children's 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, Taylor's most successful original composition since "Fire and Rain."

Taylor continued to tour frequently in the early 1980s, 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 That's Why I'm Here, released in October 1985. As usual, his record label issued a cover song as the single; in this case it was Buddy Holly's "Everyday," which didn't get very far up the charts. Nevertheless, Taylor's 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 Taylor's 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 That's Why I'm 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, Taylor's 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 Records, 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. - William Ruhlmann - All Music Guide


James Taylor and The Original Flying Machine -
JT and The Original Flying Machine
"The first release"
The Tracks are: Night Owl, Brighten Your Night With My Day, Kootch's Song, Knocking' Round the Zoo, Rainy Day Man & Something's Wrong
.
Musicians on the James Taylor and The Original Flying Machine album: James Taylor, Jerry Burnham, Al Gorgoni, Danny Kortchmar, Joel O´Brien, Zachary Wiesner.
Available from Euphoria Records/Original release year: 1967



James Taylor -
James Taylor

"2nd album from Taylor"
The Tracks are: Don't Talk Now, Something's Wrong, Knocking 'Round the Zoo, Sunshine Sunshine, Taking It In, Something In the Way She Moves, Carolina In My Mind, Brighten Your Night With My Day, Night Owl, Rainy Day Man, Circle Round the Sun, The Blues Is Just a Bad Dream.

Musicians on the James Taylor album: James Taylor, Paul McCartney, Freddie Redd, Peter Asher, Louis Cennamo, Richard Hewson, Skaila Kanga, Bishop O'Brien, Don Schinn & Mick Wayne.
Available from Apple Records/Original release year: 1968


James Taylor -
James Taylor and The Flying Machine

"Other release of the first album"
The Tracks are: Night Owl, Brighten Your Night With My Day, Kootch's Song, Knocking' Round the Zoo, Rainy Day Man & Something's Wrong
.
Musicians on the James Taylor and The Flying Machine album: James Taylor and others.
Available from Springboard Records/Original release year: 1970

 


James Taylor -
Sweet Baby James
"Taylor as a sweet baby"
The Tracks are: Sweet Baby James, Lo and Behold, Sunny Skies, Steamroller, Country Road, Oh Susannah, Fire and Rain, Blossom, Anywhere Like Heaven, Oh Baby, Don't You Loose Your Lip On Me & Suite For 20G.

Musicians on the Sweet Baby James album: James Taylor, Carole King, Randy Meisner, Chris Darrow, Red Rhodes, Danny Kortchmar, Russ Kunkel, John London, Jack Bielan & Bobby West.
Available from Warner Bros/Original release year: 1970

 

James Taylor -
Mud Slide Slim And The Blue Horizon
"Taylor and The Blue Horizon"
The Tracks are: Love Has Brought Me Around, You've Got A Friend, Places In My Past, Riding On A Railroad, Soldiers, Mud Slide Slim, Hey Mister That's Me Up On The Jukebox, You Can Close Your Eyes, Machine Gun Kelly, Long Ago and Far Away, Let Me Ride, Highway Song & Isn't It Nice To Be Home Again.

Musicians on the Mud Slide Slim And The Blue Horizon album: JJames Taylor, John Hartford, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Richard Greene, The Memphis Horns, Kate Taylor, Peter Asher, Gail Haness, Wayne Jackson, Kevin Kelly, Danny Kortchmar, Russ Kunkel, Andrew Love & Lee Sklar.
Available from Warner Bros/Original release year: 1971

James Taylor -
One Man Dog
"The dog album"
The Tracks are: One Man Parade, Nobody But You, Chili Dog, Fool For You, Instrumental I, New Tune, Back On the Street Again, Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight, Woh, Don't You Know, One Morning In May, Instrumental II, Someone, Hymn, Fanfare, Little David, Mescalito, Dance & Jig.

Musicians on the One Man Dog album: James Taylor, John Hartford, Carole King, Linda Ronstadt, Carly Simon, Michael Brecker, John McLaughlin, Red Rhodes, Alex Taylor, Kate Taylor, Bobbye Hall, Peter Asher, Arthur Baron, George Bohannon, Randy Brecker, Dash Crofts, Craig Doerge, Abigale Haness, Danny Kortchmar, Russ Kunkel, Barry Rogers, Lee Sklar, Hugh Taylor, Art Baran & Mark Paletier.
Available from Warner Bros/Original release year: 1972

James Taylor -
Walking Man
"James Taylor is the walking man"
The Tracks are: Walking Man, Rock 'n' Roll Is Music Now, Let It All Fall Down, Me and My Guitar, Daddy's Baby, Ain't No Song, Hello Old Friend, Migration, The Promised Land & Fading Away.

Musicians on the One Man Dog album: James Taylor, Paul McCartney, Carly Simon, Michael Brecker, Don Grolnick, George Young, Howard Johnson, Ralph MacDonald, Kenny Ascher. Kenny Berger, Randy Brecker, George Marge, Rick Marotta. Linda McCartney, Hugh McCracken, Andy Muso, Gene Orloff, Barry Rogers, Alan Rubin, Ralph Schuckett, David Spinoza & Peter Gordon.
Available from Warner Bros/Original release year: 1974

 

James Taylor -
Gorilla
"The Gorilla album"
The Tracks are: Mexico, Music, How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You), Wandering, Gorilla, You Make It Easy, I Was a Fool To Care, Lighthouse, Angry Blues, Love Songs & Sarah Maria.

Musicians on the Gorilla album: James Taylor, Graham Nash, Randy Newman, Carly Simon, Victor Feldman, David Sanborn, Arthur Adams, Valerie Carter, Lowell George, Jim Keltner, George Bohannon, David Crosby, Nick DeCaro, Chuck Findley, David Grisman, Milt Holland, Jules Jacob, Danny Kortchmar, Russ Kunkel, Gayle LaVant, Clarence McDonald, Andy Newmark, Al Perkins, Lee Sklar & Willie Weeks.
Available from Warner Bros/Original release year: 1975

James Taylor -
In The Pocket
"Check the pocket"
The Tracks are: Shower the People, A Junkie's Lament, Money Machine, Slow Burning Love, Everybody Has the Blues, Daddy's All Gone, Woman's Gotta Have It, Captain Jim's Drunken Dream, Don't Be Sad 'Cause Your Sun Is Down, Nothing Like a Hundred Miles, Family Man & Golden Moments.

Musicians on the In The Pocket album: James Taylor, Art Garfunkel, David Lindley, Graham Nash, Bonnie Raitt, Carly Simon, Michael Brecker, Victor Feldman, Valerie Carter, Alex Taylor, Jim Keltner, Bobbye Hall, Peter Asher, George Bohannon, Oscar Brashear, Red Callender, Malcolm Cecil, David Crosby, Nick DeCaro, Craig Doerge, David Grisman, Milt Holland, Danny Kortchmar, Russ Kunkel, Gayle LaVant, Clarence McDonald, Steve Madaio, Herb Pedersen, Lee Sklar, Russ Titelman, Richard Wachtel, Ernie Watts, Ken Watson, Willie Weeks, Stevie Wonder, Gayle Levant & Waddy Wachtel.
Available from Warner Bros/Original release year: 1976

James Taylor -
Greatest Hits
"
Best from Taylor"
The Tracks are: Something In the Way She Moves (re-recording since debut album), Fire and Rain, Carolina In My Mind (re-recording), Country Road, You've Got A Friend, Shower the People, Mexico, Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight, Sweet Baby James, How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You), Walking Man & Steamroller (live version).
Musicians on the Greatest Hits album: James Taylor, Carole King, Randy Meisner, Joni Mitchell, Graham Nash, Carly Simon, Michael Brecker, Victor Feldman, David Sanborn, Andrew Gold, Ralph MacDonald, Red Rhodes, Jim Keltner, Kenny Ascher, Byron Berline, David Crosby, Nick DeCaro, Craig Doerge, Dan Dugmore, Milt Holland, Danny Kortchmar, Russ Kunkel, John London, Clarence McDonald, Rick Marotta, Andy Muson, Gene Orloff, Herb Pedersen, Lee Sklar, David Spinoza & Gayle Levant.
Available from Warner Bros/Original release year: 1976

James Taylor -
JT
"
The JT recording"
The Tracks are: Your Smiling Face, There We Are, Honey Don't Leave L.A., Another Grey Morning, Bartender's Blues, Secret O' Life, Handy Man, I Was Only Telling A Lie, Looking For Love On Broadway, Terra Nova, Traffic Jam & If I Keep My Heart Out Of Sight.
Musicians on the JT album: James Taylor, Graham Nash, Linda Ronstadt, Carly Simon, David Sanborn, Leah Kunkel, Peter Asher, Red Callender, David Campbell, Dan Dugmore, Danny Kortchmar, Russ Kunkel, Clarence McDonald & Lee Sklar.
Available from Warner Bros/Original release year: 1977

James Taylor -
Flag
"
Flag from Taylor"
The Tracks are: Company Man, Johnnie Comes Back, Day Tripper, I Will Not Lie For You, Brother Trucker, Is That the Way You Look?, B. S. U. R., Rainy Day Man, Millworker, Up On the Roof, Chanson Francaise & Sleep Come Free Me.
Musicians on the Flag album: James Taylor, Graham Nash, Carly Simon, Don Grolnick, David Lasley, David Sanborn, Alex Taylor, Peter Asher, Dan Dugmore, Steve Forman, Danny Kortchmar, Russ Kunkel, Jesse Levy, Arif Mardin, Arnold McCuller, Ralph Schuckett, Louise Schulmann, Lee Sklar, David Spinoza, Richard Wachtel & Waddy Wachtel.
Available from CBS Records/Original release year: 1979

James Taylor -
Dad Loves His Work
"Welcome to the 80´s
"
The Tracks are: Hard Times, Her Town Too, Hour That the Morning Comes, I Will Follow, Believe It Or Not, Stand And Fight, Only For Me, Summer's Here, Sugar Trade, London Town & That Lonesome Road.
Musicians on the Dad Loves His Work album: James Taylor, Jimmy Buffett, Jennifer Warnes, Don Grolnick, David Lasley, Gene Page, Peter Asher, Bill Cuomo, Dan Dugmore, Jim Gilstrap, Bernard Ighner, Rick Marotta, Lee Sklar, J.D. Souther, Greg "Fingers" Taylor, Arnold McCuller, Waddy Wachtel & Lee Sklar.
Available from CBS Records/Original release year: 1981

James Taylor -
That´s Why I´m Here
"
That´s why James is here"
The Tracks are: That's Why I'm Here, Song For You Far Away, Only A Dream In Rio, Turn Away, Going Around One More Time, My Romance, Everyday, Limousine Driver, Only One (with Don Henley, Joni Mitchell, et al.), Mona (with Graham Nash), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (with Graham Nash) & That's Why I'm Here (reprise).
Musicians on the That´s Why I´m Here album: James Taylor, Deniece Williams, Don Henley, Joni Mitchell, Graham Nash, Michael Brecker, Don Grolnick, David Lasley, David Sanborn, Jimmy Maelen, Airto Moreira, Peter Asher, Randy Brecker, Rosemary Butler, Clifford Carter, Kenny Kosek, Rory Dodd, Dan Dugmore, Frank Filipetti, Russ Kunkel, Tony Levin, Bill Payne, Jeff Pevar, Barry Rogers, Rick Schlosser, Lee Sklar, Greg "Fingers" Taylor, Eric Troye, Starz Vander Lockett, Zbeto, Arnold McCuller, Elaine Eliaf, Kenia Gould & Billy Payne.
Available from CBS Records/Original release year: 1985

James Taylor -
Live In Rio
"Taylor live in Brazil
"
The Tracks are: Long Ago and Far Away, Carolina In My Mind, Up on the Roof, You've Got A Friend, Shower the People, Fire And Rain, Mexico, Walking Man, Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight, Knock On Wood & How Sweet it Is (To Be Loved By You).
Musicians on the Live In Rio album: James Taylor, Peter Asher, Rosemary Butler, Dan Dugmore, Bill Payne, Rick Shlosser, Lee Sklar, Arnold McCuller.
Available from Columbia Records Brazil/Original release year: 1985

 

James Taylor -
Classic Songs
"
A collection of Taylor songs"
The Tracks are: Fire and Rain, Mexico, You've Got a Friend, How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You), Carolina In My Mind (alternate mix), Something In the Way She Moves (alternate mix), Shower the People, Sweet Baby James, That's Why I'm Here, Everyday, Up On the Roof, Your Smiling Face, Her Town Too, Handyman, Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight & Only a Dream In Rio.
Musicians on the Classic Songs album: James Taylor and others.
Available from CBS Records Germany/Original release year: 1987

 

James Taylor -
Never Die Young
"
Great album"
The Tracks are: Never Die Young, T-Bone, Baby Boom Baby, Runaway Boy, Valentine's Day, Sun On the Moon, Sweet Potato Pie, Home By, Another Way, Letter In the Mail & First Of May.
Musicians on the Never Die Young album: James Taylor, Michael Brecker, Don Grolnick, David Lasley, Rosemary Butler, Dan Dugmore, Lani Groves, Jay Leonhart, Bob Mann, Jeff Mironov, Mark O'Connor, Bill Payne, Lee Sklar, Greg "Fingers" Taylor & Carlos Vega.
Available from CBS Records/Original release year: 1988

 

James Taylor -
New Moon Shine
"
Welcome to the 90´s"
The Tracks are: Copperline, Down In the Hole, (I've Got To) Stop Thinkin' 'Bout That, Shed a Little Light, The Frozen Man, Slap Leather, Like Everyone She Knows, One More Go Round, Everybody Loves To Cha Cha Cha, Native Son, Oh Brother & The Water Is Wide.
Musicians on the New Moon Shine album: James Taylor, Jerry Douglas, Michael Brecker, Don Grolnick, David Lasley, Bob Mintzer, Valerie Carter, Don Alias, Phillip Ballou, Dave Bargeron, Randy Brecker, Clifford Carter, Steve Gadd, Jimmy Johnson, Danny Kortchmar, Michael Landau, Tony Levin, Branford Marsalis, Kate Markowitz, Arnold McCuller, Mark O'Connor, Dan Stein, Carlos Vega & Steve Jordan.
Available from Columbia Records/Original release year: 1991

James Taylor -
Live In Rio
"
Re-release of the live album"
The Tracks are: Long Ago (And Far Away), Carolina in My Mind, Up on the Roof, You've Got a Friend , Shower the People, Fire and Rain, Mexico, Walking Man, Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight, Knock on Wood & How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You).
Musicians on the Live In Rio album: James Taylor, Peter Asher, Rosemary Butler, Dan Dugmore, Bill Payne, Rick Shlosser, Lee Sklar, Arnold McCuller.
Available from Columbia Records/Original release year: 1991

 

James Taylor -
Star Box
"
Star Box collection"
The Tracks are: Your Smiling Face, Only One, Copperline, There We Are, Only A Dream In Rio, Stand And Fight, Down In the Hole, Up On the Roof, Summer's Here, Millworker, B. S. U. R., Bartender's Blues, Handyman, Never Die Young, Hard Times, Terra Nova, Valentine's Day, That's Why I'm Here, I Will Follow & That Lonesome Road.
Musicians on the Star Box album: James Taylor and others.
Available from Sony Music Japan/Original release year: 1993

 

James Taylor -
Live
"
Great live album"
The Tracks are: Disc 1: Sweet Baby James, Traffic Jam, Handy Man, Your Smiling Face, Secret O' Life, Shed a Little Light, Everybody Has the Blues, Steamroller, Mexico, Millworker, Country Road, Fire and Rain, Shower the People, How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) & New Hymn. Disc 2: Walking Man, Riding On A Railroad, Something In the Way She Moves, Sun On the Moon, Up On the Roof, Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight, She Thinks I Still Care, Copperline, Slap Leather, Only One, You Make It Easy, Carolina In My Mind, I Will Follow, You've Got A Friend & That Lonesome Road.
Musicians on the Live album: James Taylor, Don Grolnick, David Lasley, Valerie Carter, Michael Landau, Kate Markowitz, Arnold McCuller, Carlos Vega, Clifford Carter & Jimmy Johnson.
Available from Columbia Records/Original release year: 1993

James Taylor -
Five (5) Live
"
Promo album with five songs"
The Tracks are: You've Got A Friend, Handy Man, How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You), Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight & Walking Man.
Musicians on the Live album: James Taylor, Don Grolnick, David Lasley, Valerie Carter, Michael Landau, Kate Markowitz, Arnold McCuller, Carlos Vega, Clifford Carter & Jimmy Johnson.
Available from Columbia Records/Original release year: 1993

 

James Taylor -
Best
Live

"
Best of from the live album"
The Tracks are: Country Road, Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight, Fire and Rain, Handy Man, How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You), Mexico, Shed a Little Light, Shower the People, Steamroller Blues, Sweet Baby James, Walking Man & Your Smiling Face.
Musicians on the Best Live album: James Taylor, Don Grolnick, David Lasley, Valerie Carter, Michael Landau, Kate Markowitz, Arnold McCuller, Carlos Vega, Clifford Carter & Jimmy Johnson.
Available from Columbia Records/Original release year: 1994

 

James Taylor -
He´s Got A Friend Called Joni

"
JT live in US featuring Joni Mitchell"
The Tracks are: Mexico, Up On The Roof, Never Die Young, Not Fade Away, Wandering, Memphis Tennessee, Frozen Man, Lo And Behold, Gotta Step Thinkin´, Promised Land, Carolina On My Mind, Your Smiling Face, How Sweet It Is, Sweet Baby James, You´ve Got A Friend. Bonus Tracks: The Circle Game (With Joni Mitchell & You Can Close Your Eyes (With Jonu Mitchell).
Musicians on the Best Live album: James Taylor, Joni Mitchell and others.
Available from ARR Records/Original release year: 1994

 

James Taylor -
Hourglass
"
Brilliant album"
The Tracks are: Line 'Em Up, Enough To Be On Your Way, Little More Time With You, Gaia, Ananas, Jump Up Behind Me, Another Day, Up Er Mei, Up From Your Life, Yellow And Rose, Boatman, Walking My Baby Back Home & Hangnail (hidden track).
Musicians on the Hourglass album: James Taylor, Edgar Meyer, Shawn Colvin, Sting, Michael Brecker, David Lasley, Rob Mounsey, Ross Traut, Valerie Carter, Jill Dell'Abate, Dan Dugmore, Bob Mann, Branford Marsalis, Kate Markowitz, Mark O'Connor, Stanley Silverman, Carlos Vega, Stevie Wonder, Arnold McCuller, Clifford Carter, Jimmy Johnson & Yo-Yo Mac.
Available from Sony Music/Original release year: 1997

James Taylor -
James Taylor and The Flying Machine

"Re-release of the first album"
The Tracks are: Rainy Day Man,
Knocking' Round the Zoo, Something's Wrong, Night Owl, Brighten Your Night With My Day (Intro), Brighten Your Night With My Day, Kootch's Song & Knocking' Round the Zoo (Danny Kortchmar Lead Vocal).
Musicians on the James Taylor and The Flying Machine album: James Taylor and others.
Available from Gadfly Records/Original release year: 1997

 Buy the CD

James Taylor -
Greatest Hits Volume Two
"
Best of, volume two"
The Tracks are: Secret O' Life, Handy Man, Your Smiling Face, Up On the Roof, Her Town Too, That's Why I'm Here, Only A Dream In Rio, Everyday, Song For You Far Away, Never Die Young, (I've Got To) Stop Thinkin' 'Bout That, Shed a Little Light, Copperline, Another Day, Little More Time With You & Enough To Be On Your Way.
Musicians on the Greatest Hits Volume Two album: James Taylor and others.
Available from Sony Music/Original release year: 2000

 

James Taylor -
Best Of James Taylor

"German best of release
"
The Tracks are: Rainy Day Man, Don´t Let Me Be Tonight, Back On The Street, Nobody But You, One Man Parade, Someone, Fanfare, Dance, Woh Don´t You Know, One Morning In May, Hymn, Fool For You, Chili Dog, New Tune & Handy Man.
Musicians on the Best Of James Taylor album: James Taylor and others.
Available from Falcon Neue Medien/Original release year: 2000

 

James Taylor-
Listen With James

"Have a listen to James Taylor"
The Tracks are: Everyday, The Letter, You´re The One I Love, Rainy Day Man, Knocking ´Round The Zoo, Something's Wrong, Night Owl, Brighten Your Night With My Day & Kootch´s Song.

Musicians on the Listen With James album:
James Taylor and others.
Available from Dressed To Kill/Original release year: 2000

 

James Taylor-
Everyday

"Have a listen to James Taylor"
The Tracks are: Everyday, The Letter, You´re The One I Love, Rainy Day Man, Knocking ´Round The Zoo, Something's Wrong, Night Owl, Brighten Your Night With My Day & Kootch´s Song.

Musicians on the Everyday album:
James Taylor and others.
Available from Digimode Entertainment/Original release year: 2000

 

James Taylor -
October Road
"New studioalbum from James Taylor"
The Tracks are: September Grass, October Road, On The 4th Of July, Whenever You´re Ready, Belfast To Boston, Mean Old Man, My Traveling Star, Raised Up Family, Carre Me On My Way, Caroline I See You, Baby Buffalo & Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.
Musicians on the October Road album: James Taylor and others.
Available from Columbia Records/Original release year: 2002

 

James Taylor -
October Road - Limited Edition
"New studioalbum from James Taylor + Bonus CD"
The Tracks are: September Grass, October Road, On The 4th Of July, Whenever You´re Ready, Belfast To Boston, Mean Old Man, My Traveling Star, Raised Up Family, Carre Me On My Way, Caroline I See You, Baby Buffalo & Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. Bonus CD: Don´t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight, Sailing To Philadelphia & Benjamin.
Musicians on the October Road - Limited Edition album: James Taylor and others.
Available from Columbia Records/Original release year: 2002

James Taylor -
The Best Of James Taylor

"A collection of songs from James Taylor"
The Tracks are: Something In The Way She Moves, Sweet Baby James, Fire And Rain, Country Road (single version), You’ve Got A Friend, You Can Close Your Eyes, Long Ago And Far Away, Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight, Walking Man, How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You), Mexico, Shower The People, Golden Moments, Steamroller (live, 1975), Carolina In My Mind (1976 version), Handy Man, Your Smiling Face, Up On The Roof, Only A Dream In Rio & Bittersweet.
Musicians on the The Best Of James Taylor album: James Taylor and others.
Available from Columbia Records/Original release year: 2003

James Taylor -
You Got A Friend

"A collection of songs from James Taylor"
The Tracks are: Something In The Way She Moves, Sweet Baby James, Fire And Rain, Country Road, You’ve Got A Friend, You Can Close Your Eyes, Long Ago And Far Away, Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight, Walking Man, How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You), Mexico, Shower The People, Golden Moments, Steamroller, Carolina In My Mind, Handy Man, Your Smiling Face, Up On The Roof, Only A Dream In Rio & Bittersweet.
Musicians on the You Got A Friend album: James Taylor and others.
Available from Warner Bros/Original release year: 2003

James Taylor-
Everyday

"A collection of James Taylor songs"
The Tracks are: Everyday, The Letter, You´re The One I Love, Rainy Day Man, Knocking ´Round The Zoo, Something´s Wrong, Night Owl, Brighten Your Night With My Day & Kootch´s Song.

Musicians on the Everyday album:
James Taylor and others.
Available from Legacy Records/Original release year: 2003

 

James Taylor-
A Christmas Album

"Xmas album from James Taylor"
The Tracks are: Winter Wonderland, Go Tell It On the Mountain, In the Bleak Midwinter, Baby, It's Cold Outside (duet with Natalie Cole), Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Jingle Bells, The Christmas Song, Deck the Halls, Some Children See Him, Who Comes This Night & Auld Lang Syne.
Musicians on the A Christmas album album:
James Taylor Dave Grusin, Natalie Cole, Toots Theilemans, Luis Conte, Chris Botti, John Pizzarelli, Jimmy Johnson, Kate Markowitz, David Lasley, Arnold McCuller and others.
Available from Hallmark/Original release year: 2004

James Taylor-
The Very Best Of James Taylor

"Best of James Taylor"
The Tracks are: To be updated
.
Musicians on the The Very Best Of James Taylor album album:
James Taylor and others.
Available from Air Records/Original release year: 2004

 

James Taylor-
The Letter

"A collection of Taylor songs"
The Tracks are: Everyday, The Letter, You´re The One I Love, Rainy Day Man, Knocking ´Round The Zoo, Something´s Wrong, Night Owl, Brighten Your Night With My Day & Kootch´s Song.

Musicians on the The Letter album:
James Taylor and others.
Available from United Audio Entertainment/Original release year: 2005

 

James Taylor-
At Christmas

"New Xmas album from James Taylor"
The Tracks are:
Winter Wonderland, Go Tell It On the Mountain, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Jingle Bells, Baby, It's Cold Outside, River, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, The Christmas Song, Some Children See Him, Who Comes This Night, In the Bleak Midwinter & Auld Lang Syne.
Musicians on the At Christmas album:
James Taylor and others.
Available from Sony BMG/Original release year: 2006

 

James Taylor-
One Man Band

"Live CD + DVD release"
The Tracks are:
Something In The Way She Moves, Never Die Young, The Frozen Man, Mean Old Man, School Song, Country Road, Slap Leather, My Traveling Star, You've Got A Friend, Steamroller Blues, Secret O' Life, Line 'Em Up, Chili Dog, Shower The People, Sweet Baby James, Carolina In My Mind, Fire And Rain, Copperline & You Can Close Your Eyes.
Musicians on the One Man Band album:
James Taylor & Larry Goldings.
Available from Hear Music/Original release year: 2007

 

James Taylor-
The Circle Game

"Live at Royal Albert Hall, 1970"
The Tracks are:
That Song About The Midway, The Gallery, Rainy Day Man, Steamroller, The Priest, Carey, Carolina In My Mind, California, He Played Real Good For Free, The Circle Game & You Can Close Your Eyes.
Musicians on the Circle Game album:
James Taylor & Joni Mitchell.
Available from Woodstock Tapes/Original release year: 2007

James Taylor-
Covers

"New from Taylor"
The Tracks are: It's Growing, (I'm A) Road Runner, Wichita Lineman, Why Baby Why, Some Days You Gotta Dance, Seminole Wind, Suzanna, Hound Dog, Sadie, On Broadway, Summertime Blues & Not Fade Away
.
Musicians on the Covers album:
James Taylor and others.
Available from Hear Music/Original release year: 2008

James Taylor-
Covers

"Expanded version with add. tracks"
The Tracks are: Oh What A Beautiful Mornin´, It's Growing, (I'm A) Road Runner, Wichita Lineman, Why Baby Why, Some Days You Gotta Dance, Seminole Wind, Suzanna, Hound Dog, Sadie, On Broadway, Knock On Wood, Summertime Blues, Not Fade Away
& Shiver Me Timbers.
Musicians on the Covers album:
James Taylor and others.
Available from Hear Music/Original release year: 2008

James Taylor-
Other Covers

"New from Taylor"
The Tracks are:
Oh What A Beautiful Morning, Get A Job, Memphis, Shiver Me Timbers, Wasn't That A Mighty Storm, In The Midnight Hour & Knock On Wood.
Musicians on the Other Covers album:
James Taylor and others.
Available from Hear Music/Original release year: 2009

 

James Taylor-
Sings Covers

"Still singing covers"
The Tracks are:
It's Growing, (I'm A) Road Runner, Wichita Lineman, Why Baby Why, Some Days You Gotta Dance, Seminole Wind, Suzanne, Hound Dog, Sadie, On Broadway, In The Midnight Hour, Knock On Wood, Memphis, Summertime Blues, Not Fade Away, Wasn't That A Mighty Storm, Oh What A Beautiful Morning & Shiver Me Timbers.
Musicians on the Other Covers album:
James Taylor and others.
Available from Hear Music/Original release year: 2009

 

Taylor, Mitchell & Ochs-
Amchitka

"The 1970 concert that launched Greenpeace"
The Tracks are:
CD1: Phil Ochs: Intro Irving Stowe, Intro Phil Ochs, The Bells, Rhythms Of Revolution, Chords Of Fame, I Ain´t Marching Anymore, Joe Hill, Changes, I'm Gonna Say It Now, No More Song. James Taylor: Intro James Taylor, Something In The Way She Moves, Fire and Rain, Carolina In My Mind, Blossom, Riding On A Railroad, Sweet Baby James & You Can Close Your Eyes. CD2: Joni Mitchell: Intro Joni Mitchell, Big Yellow Taxi/Bony Maroney, Cactus Tree, The Gallery, Hunter, My Old man, For Free, Woodstock, Carey/Mr. Tambourine Man, A Case Of You & The Circle Game.
Musicians on the Amchitka album:
James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Phil Ochs and others.
Available from Greenpeace, Canada/Original release year: 2009

Carole King & James Taylor-
Live At The Troubadour

"Live in Los Angeles"
The Tracks are:
Blossom, So Far Away, Machine Gun Kelly, Carolina In My Mind, It's Too late, Smackwater Jack, Something In The Way She Moves, Will You Love Me Tomorrow, Country Road, Fire And Rain, Sweet Baby James, I Feel The Earth Move, You've Got A Friend, Up On The Roof & You Can Close Your Eyes.
Musicians on the Live At The Troubadour album:
James Taylor, Carole King, Russell Kunkel, Leland Sklar & Danny Korchmar.
Available from Hear Music/Original release year: 2010

 

Check also the works of James Taylor at following albums:

 
           
More detailed information at our compilation section.



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