The Best of James Taylor [2003]

by James Taylor

Overview

To compile a comprehensive one-disc best-of James Taylor album is a daunting task in and of itself. To compile it from material from three labels is a gutsy thing for David McLees and Warner Bros. to do and expect to make fans -- let alone pompous critics (no exception here) -- happy. Over 20 tracks, Warner has succeeded -- with full cooperation from Taylor, who wrote the liner notes -- in giving an accurate representation of the songwriter, who has survived and even flourished for over 35 years in the music biz. More importantly, they've displayed the great range of the artist as a songwriter of purpose, humanity, and empathy, an artist who has never placed himself above his audience. The album kicks off with "Something in the Way She Moves" from his only release for the Beatles' Apple imprint, and moves to the Warner material that covers the years 1969-1976, many would argue his greatest years. It's strange how songs like "Fire and Rain," "Country Road" (the 45 version), "Mexico," "Walking Man," and "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" do not seem to age; they feel as immediate and relevant in the 21st century as they did in the 1970s. And who can forget Taylor's version of "You've Got a Friend," with the searing backing vocal from Joni Mitchell? The producers also chose for inclusion here the 1976 version of "Carolina on My Mind" and the live take of "Steamroller" from the first Taylor Warner hits compilation in 1976 -- it's now the only way to get these tracks. From the Columbia years there are only five tracks. Two from JT ("Handy Man" and "Your Smiling Face"), his unforgettable read of the Goffin/King classic "Up on the Roof" from Flag, and "Only a Dream in Rio" from That's Why I'm Here. Some would argue with this one as opposed to something from Hourglass, but it's a small, nearly insignificant complaint. There is also a new recording here, "Bittersweet," finished just before release with Taylor's new band, that is a nice icing on the cake, but, to be a critic about the whole thing, this writer would have preferred they include "Anywhere Like Heaven" from Sweet Baby James instead -- another miniscule complaint. This is one of the most accurate and representative best-of packages to come down the line in a long time. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	04/08/2003
Label:	Warner Bros.
UPC:	0081227383725

Tracks

1. Something in the Way She Moves
2. Sweet Baby James
3. Fire and Rain
4. Country Road
5. You've Got a Friend
6. You Can Close Your Eyes
7. Long Ago and Far Away
8. Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
9. Walking Man
10. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)
11. Mexico
12. Shower the People
13. Golden Moments
14. Steamroller Blues
15. Carolina in My Mind
16. Handy Man
17. Your Smiling Face
18. Up on the Roof
19. Only a Dream in Rio
20. Bittersweet

Album Credits

Performance Credits

James Taylor   Primary Artist,Vocals,Vocal Harmony,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
David Crosby   Guest Artist,Vocal Harmony
Graham Nash   Guest Artist,Vocal Harmony
David Sanborn   Guest Artist,Saxophone
Joni Mitchell   Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)
Carole King   Guest Artist,Piano
Danny Kortchmar   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Congas,Guitar
John Sheldon   Guitar
Kenia Gould   Vocals
Steve Jordan   Drums
Zbeto   Vocals
Bobby West   Double Bass
Andy Muson   Bass
Kenny Ascher   Piano (Electric)
Bill Payne   Keyboards
John London   Bass
Clarence McDonald   Piano,Hornorgan,Keyboards,Fender Rhodes
Curtis King   Vocals
Carly Simon   Vocal Harmony
Leah Kunkel   Vocals (Background)
Red Rhodes   Guitar (Steel)
Clifford Carter   Keyboards
Russ Kunkel   Drums,Cabasa,Congas,Shaker,Percussion,Tambourine
Randy Brecker   Vocals
Nick DeCaro   Hornorgan,Voice Organ
Rick Marotta   Drums
Bobbye Hall   Triangle
Michael Brecker   Sax (Tenor)
Arif Mardin   Conductor
Airto Moreira   Percussion
Dan Dugmore   Guitar (Steel)
David Spinozza   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Waddy Wachtel   Guitar (Electric)
Leland Sklar   Bass
Peter Asher   Cabasa,Tambourine
Tony Levin   Bass
Andrew Gold   Harmonium,Vocals (Background)
Craig Doerge   Piano
Gayle Levant   Harp
Jim Keltner   Drums
Ralph MacDonald   Percussion
Milt Holland   Percussion
Byron Berline   Fiddle
Willie Weeks   Bass
Victor Feldman   Vibraphone,Orchestra Bells
David Campbell   Conductor
Elaine Eliaf   Vocals

Technical Credits

Danny Kortchmar   Producer
Henry Diltz   Photography
Donn Landee   Engineer
Blaise Castellano   Assistant
David Henson   Assistant
Malcolm Toft   Engineer
Norman Seeff   Photography
John Sheldon   Composer
Billy Miranda   Assistant
Daniel Hersch   Remastering
April Milek   Project Assistant
Tim Scanlin   Project Assistant
Leigh Hall   Project Assistant
J. Maraniss   Translation
Maria Villar   Art Direction
Alan Fletcher   Project Assistant
George Ybara   Assistant
Komeka Freeman   Project Assistant
Randy Perry   Project Assistant
Aaron Rapoport   Photography
Steven P. Gorman   Photo Editing
Jim Shea   Photography
Andrew Brucker   Cover Photo
Renatta Blauer   Assistant
Bill Lazerus   Engineer
Bill Inglot   Remastering
Lamont Dozier   Composer
Frank Filipetti   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Eddie Holland   Composer
Carole King   Composer
Nick DeCaro   String Arrangements
Phil Ramone   Engineer
Niko Bolas   Engineer
Richard Sanford Orshoff   Engineer
Michael O'Reilly   Assistant
Brian Holland   Composer
Harry Maslin   Mixing,Engineer
Arif Mardin   String Arrangements
Gerry Goffin   Composer
Richie Blakin   Assistant Engineer
Russ Titelman   Producer
James Taylor   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Liner Notes
Charles Merenstein   Composer
David Spinozza   Arranger,Producer
Robert Appere   Mixing,Engineer
Hugh Brown   Art Direction
Lenny Waronker   Producer
Val Garay   Mixing,Engineer
Peter Asher   Engineer,Producer
Loyd Clifft   Assistant Engineer
Alison Shaw   Photography
Ted Jensen   Remastering
Barry Sheffield   Engineer
Lee Herschberg   Mixing,Engineer
Lincoln Clapp   Assistant
Jimmy Jones   Composer,Composer
Otis Blackwell   Composer
Moira Marquis   Assistant
David Campbell   String Arrangements
Gary Peterson   Discographical Annotation
Kevin Gore   Project Assistant
Sheryl Farber   Project Assistant
Tony Pipitone   Project Assistant