Greatest Hits, Vol. 2

by James Taylor

Overview

James Taylor's first Greatest Hits album, released in 1976 and consisting of his well-known early '70s recordings on Warner Bros. and re-recordings of some of the songs from his 1968 Apple Records debut, is in the rarefied sales category of double-digit millions, so a second volume, taking in his tenure at Columbia Records, was a no-brainer. The only wonder is why it took so long. But the second part of Taylor's recording career has been different from his first, especially when it comes to hits. All of Taylor's Columbia albums have been good sellers, hitting gold or platinum sales. But he has scored only four Top 40 hits on the pop charts: "Handy Man" (his only Top Ten single on Columbia), "Your Smiling Face," "Up on the Roof," and "Her Town Too." It's a different story on the adult contemporary charts, where he has been a mainstay. But Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 is not so much a collection of Taylor's chart entries as it is a best-of. There are several tracks, among them "Secret O' Life," "Only a Dream in Rio," and "Song for You Far Away," that were never hits but have become audience favorites, frequently played in Taylor's concerts. And there are chart singles, notably "Only One," which got into the adult contemporary Top Ten, and "Hard Times" and "Honey Don't Leave L.A.," which made the pop charts, that have been omitted. That said, this is a well-balanced compilation that should please most of the singer/songwriter's fans and that serves as a good selection of his work, circa 1977-1997. ~ William Ruhlmann

Product Details

Release Date:	04/15/2010
Label:	Bmg / Columbia / Sony Music Entertainment
UPC:	0886976881320
Rank:	5923

Tracks

1. Secret O' Life
2. Handy Man
3. Your Smiling Face
4. Up On the Roof
5. Her Town Too
6. That's Why I'm Here
7. Only a Dream In Rio
8. Everyday
9. Song For You Far Away
10. Never Die Young
11. (I've Got To) Stop Thinkin' 'Bout That
12. Copperline
13. Shed a Little Light
14. Another Day
15. Little More Time With You
16. Enough To Be On Your Way

Album Credits

Performance Credits

James Taylor   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Penny Whistle,Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background)
J. Taylor   Primary Artist
Danny Kortchmar   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Guitar
Dave Bargeron   Trombone
Bob Mintzer   Sax (Tenor)
Carlos Vega   Drums,Percussion
Gene Page   Conductor
David Lasley   Vocals
Deniece Williams   Vocals
Kate Markowitz   Vocals
Yo-Yo Ma   Cello
David Campbell   Conductor
Elaine Eliaf   Vocals
Zbeto   Vocals
Jimmy Johnson   Bass,Bass
Kenia Gould   Vocals
Steve Jordan   Drums
Rick Maretta   Drums
Russ Kunkel   Drums,Percussion
David Sanborn   Saxophone
Waddy Wachtel   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Leland Sklar   Bass
Peter Asher   Cabasa,Tambourine
Rosemary Butler   Vocals
Mark O'Connor   Fiddle,Violin
Valerie Carter   Vocals
Jerry Douglas   Dobro
Randy Brecker   Vocals,Trumpet
Rick Marotta   Drums
Michael Landau   Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
Arif Mardin   Conductor
Arnold McCuller   Vocals
Airto Moreira   Percussion
Stevie Wonder   Harmonica
Dan Dugmore   Banjo,Guitar,Pedal Steel,Guitar (Electric)
Tony Levin   Bass
Rick Shlosser   Drums
Bob Mann   Guitar
Bill Payne   Keyboards
Billy Payne   Keyboards
Jimmy Maelen   Percussion
Lani Groves   Vocals
J.D. Souther   Vocals
Clarence McDonald   Keyboards
Leah Kunkel   Vocals (Background)
Don Grolnick   Organ,Piano,Keyboards,Synthesizer,Fender Rhodes
Clifford Carter   Keyboards,Synthesizer

Technical Credits

Danny Kortchmar   Composer,Producer
Edgar Meyer   Cello Arrangement
Gene Page   String Arrangements
Jimmy Jones   Composer,Composer
Otis Blackwell   Composer
Moira Marquis   Assistant
George Ybarra   Assistant
George Massenburg   Mixing,Producer
David Campbell   String Arrangements
Rob Jazco   Assistant Engineer
Stanley Silverman   Cello Arrangement
George Ybara   Assistant
Renatta Blauer   Assistant
Jill Dell'Abate   Associate Producer
Dan Stein   Synthesizer Programming
Stephanie Mauer   Art Direction
Billy Miranda   Assistant
Randy Hutson   Engineer
Don Rodenbach   Assistant
Dan Borris   Tray Photo,Photography
Ted Cammann   Production Assistant
John Godenzi   Engineer
John Morrison   Technical Support,Assistant,Technical Support
Nathanial Kunkel   Engineer
Greg Calbi   Mastering,Digital Remastering
Gavin Lurssen   Mastering
Doug Sax   Mastering,Digital Remastering
James Taylor   Composer,Producer
Charles Merenstein   Composer
John Aguto   Assistant Engineer
Waddy Wachtel   Composer
Val Garay   Mixing,Engineer
Peter Asher   Producer
Pete Karam   Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Nathaniel Kunkel   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Rail Jon Rogut   Assistant
Niko Bolas   Assistant
Katherine Miller   Assistant Engineer
Danny Clinch   Photography
R. Price   Composer
Matthew "Boomer" La Monica   Assistant Engineer
Norman Petty   Composer
Michael White   Engineer
Tim Gerron   Assistant Engineer
Buddy Holly   Composer
Arif Mardin   String Arrangements
Gerry Goffin   Composer
Ted Jensen   Mastering,Original Mastering,Digital Remastering,Compilation Mastering
J. Taylor   Performer
J.D. Souther   Composer
Frank Filipetti   Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Mastering Consultant
James Farber   Mixing,Engineer
Don Grolnick   Producer
Clifford Carter   Synthesizer Programming
Patrick Dillett   Assistant Engineer
Carole King   Composer