I want to give James Taylor a chance...

Which songs do you feel best represent Taylor?

I had always ignored him before, but I suddenly have the desire to try to appreciate his work, but have no idea where to start.

Song titles are preferred, but you may recommend albums if you feel the need.

thanks in advance

Your Smiling Face, How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)

Go!

Going to Carolina in My Mind
Fire and Rain
Mexico
Country Road
Shower the People
Only a Dream in Rio


No me gusta:
Mockingbird
You've got a Friend
YOur Smiling Face

For starters...

:bounce:

It's amazing that I am familiar with all the songs listed, though I have never gone out of my way to give JT a listen...

Actually, I caught a snippet of JT performing with the Dixie Chicks (Carolina In My Mind) and was amazed at how much I enjoyed the song...

What have I been missing???

the dixie chix were on CMT last night w/JT. It was really good. My favorite Sweet Baby James. But then I'm from Ma.

his Greatest Hits compilation. Most of the songs others have mentioned here are on it, in addition to my personal favorite, Steamroller Blues.

and it is best listened to as a whole.

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 frosting
With ten miles behind me and ten thousand more to go

...going to the mental hospital where his brother Livingston was? Or a rehab institution, or some such? I distantly recall that. Taylor fans, tell me if I'm wrong.

-- I've always heard he wrote that one ("Susan, the plans they made put an end to you") while in a mental hospital himself, but I don't know if it's true.

The one ET quoted, he wrote while driving to see his newborn nephew, James, for the first time. (ALSO something I heard; don't know if it's true. Sorry.)

I just know that no one who has ever made the drive from the Berkshires to Boston in winter can listen to those lyrics and not feel a twinge of . . . something :).

Cheery, eh?

and if I'm not mistaken, it was one of the first non-Beatle albums on the Apple label . . . his Greatest Hits collection is another fine selection . . .

He's still fine too. :smoke:

and the Blue Horizon


a personal fave.
dp

I remember hearing his voice on the radio and always being stopped in my tracks. Whatever stress I might have been feeling at the time would suddenly vanish as long as I heard his voice. It's the same today. I don't have a specific recommendation for you because I like almost everything he's done. Maybe you could start with a "Best of..." or "Greatest Hits" CD and go from there.

I was really stressed out last night and started flipping through the channels when I landed on CMT... JT and the Dixie Chicks... Carolina in My Mind...

I can't even remember what I was stressing about... my whole mood changed.

He's a national treasure in my book.

was thinking how much I prefer JT's version from FLAG. I think that is an underrated cd, with "Millworker" and "Sleep Come Free Me" being two of his best later work.

"Yes, 'cuz it's my life has been wasted,
and I have been the fool
to let this manufacturer use my body for a tool,
I can ride home in the evening, staring at my hands
swearin' by my sorrow that a young girl oughta stand
a better chance...
...May I work the mills for as long as I am able, a
and never meet the man whose name is on the label,
it be me and my machine for the rest of the morning
the rest of the afternoon gone,
and the rest of my life..."

My favorite song of his.

I like that song... not sure which album it's on. I also like all the standards that everyone already suggested but I really like the song Copperline.

definitely a light weight

:crazy:

:shrug:

Never would have said that I couldn't stand him, but definitely classed him as a "lightweight" in the same class as John Denver.

I guess you have to "feel" James Taylor. I've heard his music over the years, but never really "heard" it...

better late than never, I suppose.

He's AWESOME

Steamroller Blues is HEAVY.

Saw him Nov 2002 at the Breslin in East Lansing. 2 1/2 hours of pure heaven.

he's one of the most talented acoustic guitarists I've ever heard play. There are some extremely complex riffs going on there :).

Not everything has to be "heavy" all the time. There's a time and a place for, say, Nine Inch Nails or Rage Against the Machine and there's a time and a place for James Taylor.

That's a title -- he wrote it for his nephew James the day he was born.

I think that's my favorite

there is a young cowboy he lives on the range
his horse and his cattle his only companions
he works in the saddle and he sleeps in the canyons
waiting for Summer, his pastures to change

and as the moon rises he sits by his fire
thinking about women and glasses of beer
closing his eyes as the dogies retire
he sings out a song which is soft but it's clear
as if maybe someone could hear

"goodnight you moonlight ladies
rockabye, sweet baby James
deep greens and blues are the colors I choose
won't you let me go down in my dreams
and rockabye sweet baby James"

now the first of December was covered with snow
so was the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston
Lord, the Berkshires seemed dream-like on account of that frosting
with ten miles behind me and ten thousand more to go

there's a song that they sing when they take to the highway
a song that they sing when they take to the sea
a song that they sing of their home in the sky
maybe you can believe it if it helps you to sleep
but singing works just fine for me

goodnight you moonlight ladies
rockabye, sweet baby James
deep greens and blues are the colors I choose
won't you let me go down in my dreams
and rockabye sweet baby James

yes INDEED !

His album LIV from 1971 is excellent.

James Taylor wongs worth listening to:

Carolina in my Mind
Traffic Jam
Steamroller
Handyman


and here's a place where you can hear clips from mp3's:

http://www.james-taylor.com/sound/

He really should be more popular than what he is. He's very good.

if you get the chance to see him in concert, GO! I went last summer and it was one of the best concerts I'd ever been to :)

Awesome!

"...There's a song that they sing
Of their home in the sky.
Maybe you can believe it
If it helps you to sleep.
But singing works just fine for me..."

:D

I also like Copperline, Fire and Rain, Sweet Baby James, Mexico is also top notch.



In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina
Can't you see the sunshine
Can't you just feel the moonshine
Ain't it just like a friend of mine
It hit me from behind
Yes I'm gone to Carolina in my mind

Karen she's a silver sun
You best walk her way and watch it shinin'
Watch her watch the mornin' come
A silver tear appearing now
I'm cryin' ain't I
Gone to Carolina in my mind

There ain't no doubt it no ones mind
That loves the finest thing around
Whisper something soft and kind
And hey babe the sky's on fire,
I'm dyin' ain't I
Gone to Carolina in my mind

In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina
Can't you see the sunshine
Can't you just feel the moonshine
Ain't it just like a friend of mine
It hit me from behind
Yes I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind

Dark and silent late last night
I think I might have heard the highway calling
Geese in flight and dogs that bite
Signs that might be omens say I going, going
I'm gone to Carolina in my mind

With a holy host of others standing around me
Still I'm on the dark side of the moon
And it seems like it goes on like this forever
You must forgive me
If I'm up and gone to Carolina in my mind

In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina
Can't you see the sunshine
Can't you just feel the moonshine
Ain't it just like a friend of mine
It hit me from behind
Yes I'm gone to Carolina in my mind
Gone to Carolina in my mind
Then I'm on to Carolina in my mind
Gone to Carolina in my mind
Gone - I'm gone - I'm gone
Say nice things about me
'Cause I'm gone south
Carry on without me
'Cause I'm gone