James Taylor - Never Die Young (1988)

Today I'm in the mood for some JT; that's why I'm playing this thing, after all. Goes down like cotton candy: sweet and pleasant without much to it, but when you crave it, it's perfect. The older I get, the more I enjoy Taylor's songs, probably because middle-aged folks are the target audience for this soft rock. The quality of the material varies greatly and there's none of the usual cover tunes on this album, but it doesn't contain any of the (over-)production tropes of the times and even the occasional fiddle or slide guitar doesn't turn me away from Taylor's calm, relaxing voice that never sounds strained.

Given the 1988 release date and its #5 peak on both the Billboard and CashBox CD charts, I'd wager this one of the first CDs purchased by many consumers to play in their newfangled players.

Nothing against wolves, but I've always had trouble understanding the cover art on this one.

Press of the time:

• CashBox: "exceptional outing"
• Stereo Review: "a surprising tour de force"
• Billboard: "album isn't confined to tried-and-true pop formulas"
• Rolling Stone Album Guide (★★): "offer[s] little beyond pleasantry"

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #25
• Billboard Pop CD: #5
• CashBox CD: #5
• CashBox: #26
• Rolling Stone: #10

Tracks: Taylor's Top 40 days were behind him by this point, but three singles from this album charted on the Adult Contemporary chart: the title cut (#3), Baby Boom Baby (#16), and Sweet Potato Pie (#37). Along with Valentine's Day, Home By Another Way (a pop tune about the King Herod and the Magi?!), and First Of May, those three singles are among the better tracks. Sun On the Moon can't figure out what kind of song it is and Runaway Boy is a little too country-tinged for this guy. Still, I'll listen to the whole thing without skipping any tracks.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: After graduating college in December 1988, I moved back in with my parents, started grad school, and worked part-time for the San Antonio Symphony while searching for my first "real" job. To be honest, I spent more time watching VH1 than job hunting that spring. Videos from this album were in heavy rotation on that network around that time.

Regular readers of this blog expecting a 1988 Lost Summer of Mark story in this space will be sorely disappointed as I didn't have pick up this album until well after its release. In fact, this disc was 50¢ thrift store pick up within the last decade.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Greatest Hits 2 (2000)
Hourglass (1997)
Dad Loves His Work (1981)
Greatest Hits (1976)

James Taylor - Dad Loves His Work (1981)

Note: the edition I have is the 1984 'made in Japan-for-US market' CD pressing.

Dad loves his work. A statement my sons would never make? But I'm recently retired so that point is now moot. [humblebrag cheesy grin]

There are a few immediately identifiable voices that emerged during my formative years that are always a delight to hear: Linda Ronstadt, Michael McDonald, Karen Carpenter, and James Taylor, who probably truly does love his work. All his acoustic guitar folky-pop just goes down so damn easy on these ears. This album certainly isn't Taylor's best effort (it currently ranks 20th out of 26 over at besteveralbums.com), but I'll spin it every now and then.

The material's good, not great, and what was side one is much better than side two. But there's too much unnecessary slide guitar and the male falsetto voices just don't work - if you're writing singing parts in that range, I believe the material is better suited for females.

Press of the time:

• Musician: "this one's got some serious lulls"
• Billboard: "a mellow, smooth album in the best Taylor tradition"
• Record World: "full of sensitive, sentimental and romantic gems"
• Rolling Stone (★★★): "certainly a listenable LP"
• Stereo Review: Recording of Special Merit

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard Top 200: #10
• Billboard Rock: #16
• CashBox: #9
• Rolling Stone: #6

Tracks: There's no doubt the cream here is the duet with J.D. Souther, Her Town Too. It peaked on the charts at #11 pop, #5 adult contemporary, #21 rock and was Taylor's 14th and final Top 40 appearance. That fact surprised me as did the fact that Taylor wasn't even so much as nominated for a Grammy award throughout the entire decade of the '80s. Still, Her Town Too is one of the better melancholy break-up songs you'll come across. Also good are I Will Follow, and Summer's Here, and Hard Times, a single that charted at #72.

For more information on the brief life of the CD longbox,
go visit The Legend of the Longbox.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Around the time this album was released in 1981, I travelled on a Saturday morning to Victoria High School to compete in the band's annual solo & ensemble competition. Any memories of a cold, 3 hour ride on a yellow school bus have since been suppressed with extreme prejudice. I didn't participate in a small ensemble that year, but I did enter a trumpet solo entitled Antares, written by the late H.A. VanderCook (founder of Chicago's VanderCook College of Music), originally published in 1938, and amazingly still in print as of this writing. In other words, that piece is an old war horse when it comes to such solo competitions and holy pack rat Batman wouldn't ya know I still have my sheet music (1981 cost: $1.50). Ideally a competition against a standard and not peers, each solo is heard by a judge and given a roman numeral rating of I (superior) to V (poor). My mediocre-at-best performance probably earned a III, but that day the judge took pity on my scrawny ass wanted to encourage my progress as a musician and gifted me a II. Child trumpet prodigy, I weren't. The above tale doesn't have much to do with this James Taylor album other than coincidental timing, so never mind. As you were.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Greatest Hits 2 (2000)
Hourglass (1997)
Greatest Hits (1976)

James Taylor - Hourglass (1997)

I'd happily listen to James Taylor perform an acoustic set with just him and his guitar, but there's lots of performers I like in the credits here: Stevie Wonder, Sting, Valerie Carter, Yo-Yo Ma, Branford Marsalis, Michael Brecker, etc. Winner of the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album. Not much to say about this other than it sure goes down easy.

Billboard, May 24, 1997, p. 53

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #9

Tracks: I think every cut could have been a hit on the adult contemporary chart but what do I know. With the help of Stevie Wonder's harmonica, the happy shuffle Little More Time With You peaked at #3 on the AC chart, but that's it. Go figure. I like 'em all (even the country-tinged ones near the end) and will probably spin this CD again as soon as it has finished its first go 'round.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Greatest Hits 2 (2000)
Greatest Hits (1976)

James Taylor - Greatest Hits 2 (2000)

GREATEST HITS FORTNIGHT (FEBRUARY 6-19, 2012)

Even though this is more of a "best of" compilation than a greatest hits CD (only 4 of the 16 tracks cracked the Top 40), it's still a good overview of Taylor's career from 1977-1997. There's not many artists who can release 2 completely different greatest hits albums 24 years apart. Those that don't like adult contemporary music need not bother, but I've always enjoyed listening to Taylor's voice. In spite of his battles with depression and addiction, he's aged gracefully and in that regard should probably be grouped with singer/songwriters like Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #97

Tracks: My favorites here include Your Smiling Face, That's Why I'm Here, Only A Dream In Rio, Never Die Young, and the covers of The Drifters' Up On The Roof and Buddy Holly's Everyday. It's one of those things I can't explain, but I just can't stand Taylor's 1977 hit, Handy Man. I've never liked that song.

Song	Year	Hot 100	AC
Secret Of Life	1977	-	-
Handy Man	1977	4	1
Your Smiling Face	1977	20	6
Up On The Roof	1979	28	7
Her Town Too	1981	11	5
That's Why I'm Here	1985	-	8
Only A Dream In Rio	1985	-	-
Everyday	1985	61	3
Song For You Far Away	1985	-	-
Never Die Young	1988	80	3
(I've Got To) Stop Thinkin' 'Bout That	1991	-	28
Copperline	1991	-	13
Shed A Little Light	1993	-	-
Another Day	1997	-	-
Little More Time With You	1997	-	3
Enough To Be On Your Way	1997	-	-

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: a few brief memories today: 1) I bought this CD very soon after it was released at the then-new Best Buy on the SW Fwy in Sugar Land, 2) When Up On The Roof was being played regularly on the radio in 1979, I had a strong desire to climb on the roof of my family's house at night and stargaze (that never happened), and 3) the song Your Smiling Face was included on the soundtrack to the 1978 movie FM ("A now movie with now music!"). Some junior high friends who lived down the street had that soundtrack (which is better than most '70s music compilations you'll find) and we would listen to it at their house. Even though that soundtrack has 20 tracks, it is usually that JT track that makes me think of those good times.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Greatest Hits (1976)

James Taylor - Greatest Hits (1976)

James Taylor has one of the all-time great pop voices and is a fantastic songwriter. These are his early hits. 'Nuff said.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard Top 200: #23
• CashBox: #13

Tracks: Love 'em all and can sing along with James on all the tracks (even if I have to make up my own lyrics every now and then).

Song	Hot 100	AC
Something In The Way She Moves
Carolina In My Mind	67
Fire And Rain	3	7
Sweet Baby James
Country Road	37	9
You've Got A Friend	1	1
Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight	14	3
Walking Man		26
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)	5	1
Mexico	49	5
Shower The People	22	1
Steamroller

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: If you grew up on AM radio in the '70s like I did, all these songs bring back good memories. A more recent memory comes from 2006. My wife and I took a cruise that made stops on the Yucatan Peninsula. As we took a bus ride inland to see the ruins at Chichen Itza, I made sure that I played the song Mexico on my iPod. Cheesy? Sure, but it brought a smile to my face.