James Taylor - JT (1977)

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A Quiet Classic

James Taylor introduced us to his distinctive form of intelligent and simplistic pop stylings since the early 1970's. This album was released within 7 years into his recording career and is one of his finest, most consistent collections to date. There is a logical flow that glides from one melodic track to the next.

At the time of release, the album was considered a middle of the road rock and roll album. Like his earlier works, the music of Sweet Baby James has aged like a fine wine. With the inclusion of soft, sweet, emotionally tender and melodic selections, the album quickly achieved platinum status selling over a million copies and spawned many adult contemporary classics. It is still as engaging, if not more today, since it has received the remastering treatment.

The album opens with his optimistic ode to love, "Your Smiling Face," which did quite respectively on the pop charts (#20) at the time. This became a staple of late 1970's mor radio as was "Handy Man." This track peaked at #4 and won a grammy for best pop performance male at the 1978 grammy awards (his 2nd/several years back he won the same category for "Fire And Rain.") "Honey Don't Leave LA" was a moderate success, a mid-tempo bluesy track that featured several notable artists: Danny Kortchmar(who penned the track), Peter Asher(mainly known for producing the majority of Linda Ronstadt's work/Asher also produced this album), and Saxaphone extrodinaire, David Sanborn. Russell Kunkel who has worked with many A list performers (Linda Ronstadt/Stevie Nicks/etc.) performs on many tracks including playing castanets on the beautiful,"Looking For Love On Broadway." The set of songs was produced by Val Garay (who produced many acts including Kim Carnes and The Motels) in the early 1980's.

The album is a superstar fest. Several key vocalists of the decade also make an appearance. Linda Ronstadt backs up JT on the gorgeous country-tinged, honky tonk "Bartender's Blues." JT receives assistance from his ex-wife, Carly Simon who performs an exquisite harmony vocal on the stunning, "Terra Nova" (also penned by the couple).

The album has it's share of melodic and enchanting ballads. "Secret O'Life" is the most engaging highlight. It is a simple, beautiful musical wisdom piece about the pleasures of learning to grow older more gracefully. "There We Are" is a love song penned for his then wife, Carly Simon." "Another Gray Morning" brings the listener into the dark side of the singer-songwriter. "If I Keep My Heart Out Of Sight" serves as a perfect closer to the collection.

JT picks up the pace with more upbeat and funky rhythms with "I Was Only Telling A Lie" and "Honey, Don't Leave LA." One of the oddest selections is the neurotic "Traffic Jam" in which Taylor performs a pseudo-rap of sorts that touches upon his experiences with drug abuse through the years.

If you are a fan of lite california rock that typifies the singer-songwriter movement that categorized midstream 1970's pop music, then you'll enjoy this beautiful collection of songs. One of JT's finest moments.

Dan Pine - review Amazon.com

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