Best of James Taylor - Taylor, James (Popular) (CD 2003)

Music is a huge part of my life. I know, there are gasps being heard across the nation with this revelation :). I appreciate lots of kinds and types of music and whether it's made by a human, a machine, a fat man (aka Lou Perlman), I really don't care. This is one area where me and my fellow music lovers have heated discussions. I think music serves many purposes in our lives and if one song does a good job at cheering us up and another does a good job at helping us to see inside of ourselves, that's a good thing. To get caught up in how it was made, the musicianship of the person whose name is in front of it, etc...to me - that's sort of academic. Kristina hears brotherman grumbling under his breath...

With that thought aside, I do have a great affinity and love for the group of people I label as singer-songwriters. Top-notch singer-songwriters do more than just entertain. They touch something special inside of us that effects us for more than just the typical shelf-life of a top 40 single.

One of those singer-songwriters that falls into this group is James Taylor.

James Taylor who commercially, was the "it" guy in the late 60's, early 70's, has always been able to craft songs that are stylish (from a musical arrangement), and meaningful (lyrically peeling away at the layers of emotions). How many artists do you know of that have songs as timeless as James Taylor? I can tell you - there aren't many of his kind around...

It's very unusual for any artist - especially one with the longevity of James Taylor - to be with one record label for their entire career. In JT's case, he's been with Sony, Warner, Apple, Columbia, and a couple of others that either don't exist anymore or were swallowed up by one of the majors.

In this group, are the singles release by Apple, Warner Bros. and Columbia/Sony - remastered - which for me - doesn't mean a lot. Tweaking the production of a James Taylor song is like making the chocolate fudge just a little bit richer.

Although he is still putting out very worthy works (i.e. October Road), he's not the "IT" guy that he used to be. But more on that later...

I was just a wee lass in the early 70's, but something about his voice was always soothing for me. You've Got A Friend, which is still as warm and as pure as when it was released in 1971, is a universal companionship song - basically - a lyrical, platonic love letter to the world. Your Smiling Face, an obvious reflection of his relationship with that uber-songwriter chick, Carly Simon, is toe-tapping worthy, even 27 years later.

At times, his tracks have bordered on country - examples of this are Sweet Baby James and Carolina In My Mind. Then there are other tracks that highlight his ability to hang out with the blues guys (Steamroller). Of course what he is most famous for though, is his folk-sy songs like Fire and Rain and How Sweet It Is (To Be Love By You).

I bet you recognize most of those songs I just mentioned (and which just happen to be on this "Best of" cd.). But do you know about the songs - Little More Time With You, Enough To Be On Your Way, Another Day? I'm betting the answer is no. Too bad. It's from his album, Hourglass, released in 1997 and which won Best Pop Album.

Enter the money-grubby record companies. Instead of promoting anything in the last decade of JT, they continue to repackage his stuff, hoping to cash in on the sentimentality of the music-buying public. If you're even a casual fan, chances are, you've got one or two of his "greatest" hits cd. Why in the world would you purchase this one?

Because. Those greedy bastards include just enough new/different material to entice you to lay out that cash. In the case of Best of James Taylor the differences exist in the 20 page liner notes that were written by JT, the live version of Steamroller, the original 1976 version of Carolina On My Mind, and a new song (the first recording with his new band), Bitter Sweet).

But hey - to call this a "Best Of" and to not include songs like Her Town Too and Everyday, is well - misleading...

Tracks
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 (Live)
Carolina In My Mind
Handy Man
Your Smiling Face
Up On The Roof
Only A Dream In Rio
Bitter Sweet (Previously Unreleased)

P.S. Singer-Songwriters like John Mayer and Josh Kelly need to thank James Taylor for the high standards he has set in acoustical guitar arrangements and songwriting.