Sweet Baby James

( 11 )

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - William Ruhlmann
The heart of James Taylor's appeal is that you can take him two ways. On the one hand, his music, including that warm voice, is soothing; its minor key melodies and restrained playing draw in the listener. On the other hand, his world view, especially on such songs as "Fire and Rain," reflects the pessimism and desperation of the 1960s hangover that was the early '70s. That may not be intentional: "Fire and Rain" was about the suicide of a fellow inmate of Taylor's at a mental institution, not the national malaise. But Taylor's sense of wounded hopelessness -- "I'm all in pieces, you can have your own choice," he sings in "Country Road" -- struck a chord with music ...
See more details below
CD
$6.99
BN.com price
(Save 12%)$7.99 List Price
Pick Up In Store

Pick Up In Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Other sellers (CD)
  • All (16) from $1.99   
  • New (10) from $5.91   
  • Used (6) from $1.99   

More About This Product

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - William Ruhlmann
The heart of James Taylor's appeal is that you can take him two ways. On the one hand, his music, including that warm voice, is soothing; its minor key melodies and restrained playing draw in the listener. On the other hand, his world view, especially on such songs as "Fire and Rain," reflects the pessimism and desperation of the 1960s hangover that was the early '70s. That may not be intentional: "Fire and Rain" was about the suicide of a fellow inmate of Taylor's at a mental institution, not the national malaise. But Taylor's sense of wounded hopelessness -- "I'm all in pieces, you can have your own choice," he sings in "Country Road" -- struck a chord with music fans, especially because of its attractive mixture of folk, country, gospel, and blues elements, all of them carefully understated and distanced. Taylor didn't break your heart; he understood that it was already broken, as was his own, and he offered comfort. As a result, Sweet Baby James sold millions of copies, spawned a Top Ten hit in "Fire and Rain" and a Top 40 hit in "Country Road," and launched not only Taylor's career as a pop superstar but also the entire singer/songwriter movement of the early '70s that included Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Jackson Browne, Cat Stevens, and others. A second legacy became clear two decades later, when country stars like Garth Brooks began to cite Taylor, with his use of steel guitar, references to Jesus, and rural and Western imagery on Sweet Baby James, as a major influence.
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • Release Date: 10/25/1990
  • Label: Warner Bros / Wea
  • UPC: 075992718325
  • Catalog Number: 1843
  • Sales rank: 910

Tracks

Disc 1
  1. 1 Sweet Baby James (2:48)
  2. 2 Lo And Behold (2:34)
  3. 3 Sunny Skies (2:15)
  4. 4 Steamroller (2:55)
  5. 5 Country Road (3:21)
  6. 6 Oh, Susannah (1:58)
  7. 7 Fire And Rain (3:20)
  8. 8 Blossom (2:10)
  9. 9 Anywhere Like Heaven (3:23)
  10. 10 Oh Baby, Don't You Loose Your Lip On Me (1:45)
  11. 11 Suite For 20 G (4:45)
Read More Show Less

Album Credits

Performance Credits
James Taylor Primary Artist, Primary Artist, Guitar, Vocals
Carole King Piano, Vocals
Randy Meisner Bass
Chris Darrow Fiddle, Violin
Red Rhodes Steel Guitar
Danny Kortchmar Guitar
Russ Kunkel Drums
John London Bass
Jack Bielan Brass
Bobby West Bass
Bob West Bass
Technical Credits
Taj Mahal Composer
James Taylor Composer
Peter Asher Producer, Audio Production
Bill Lazerus Engineer
Jack Bielan Arranger, Brass Arrangment
Ed Thrasher Art Direction
Traditional Composer
Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 11 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(8)

4 Star

(2)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(1)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously
Sort by: Showing all of 11 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 16, 2011

    I love james taylor! :-)

    I love all of james taylors songs. I went to sleep with Sweet Baby James as a baby and even now. He is amazing!!!!!!!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted October 1, 2010

    BEST FIRST MUSIC THAT HAD A SOUL

    I WAS 12 WHEN MY FRIENDS PLAYED THIS FOR ME. I CRIED. AS A NEW-COMER TO A NEIGBOURHOOD,SCHOOL AND LEAVING ALL I KNEW AND LOVED BEHIND,JAMES TAYLOR EXPRESSED MY ANGST.HOW DID THIS PERSON LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY FROM ME,KNOW? SO,FOLLOWING HIS METORIC RISE SINCE, HE GETS BETTER AND BETTER. LIKE A LOVELY SOUL THAT FINALLY GROWS INTO THEIR OWN.FINALLY,MAYBE A SPOT OF REAL HAPPINESS AND OCCASIONALLY DELVING INTO PAST,PAINFUL LIFE EXPERIENCES AS WELL AS OTHERS AND STILL BRINGS THOSE TEARS FROM A YOUNG GIRL NOW MORE WORLDLY,OLDER AND MAYBE WISER. THANKS FOR MY "EMOTIONAL EDUCATION" AS RICHARD CURTIS SAID ABOUT JONI MITCHELL,AND OTHER WOMEN OF THIS GENRE.(WHICH JAMES TAYLOR WAS AN ORIGINAL PROFESSOR UNAFRAID TO BARE HIS TORTURED SOUL.)

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted October 1, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon

    Fire and Rain

    This is a great album which has the mega-hit "Fire and Rain". One you ought to have.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    James, I Don't Know How You Do It, But You Get Me Every Time

    The song- "Sweet Baby James" somewhat reminds me of my Dad. Cowboys, beer, canyons, I love it all. These songs are passionatly beautiful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Bravo James Taylor!

    I LOVE this album. MY dad and I (I am fourteen)bought this for my mom for Christmas. I LOVE IT! I have taken it from her numerous times, and listened to it on my own. I also had the chance to go to a J.T. concert and loved it. I highly recomend this CD.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    SWEET J.T.!!!!

    THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ALBUMS THAT SUBMERGE YOU INTO PURE RELAXATION. THE ENSEMBLE OF SONGS ARE PURE, CLEAN, AND POINGENT. J.T. CREATED A BONOFIED CLASSIC HERE.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted June 25, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted August 16, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted June 25, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted December 26, 2008

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted July 23, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 11 Customer Reviews