James Taylor: Sweet Baby James

James Taylor: Sweet Baby James

Album #118 - February 1070

Episode date - September 19, 2018

The Top 500 of The Top 40
    0:00
    0:00

    James Taylor has had a career that impressed me and frustrated me so often that I started to wonder if I even had a valid opinion about the guy.

    His early years (first with Apple, and then with Warner Brothers, as this was his first album for that label) showed a singer songwriter full of talent, a natural with a song and an easy presentation. His timing was perfect, to, as the singer/songwriter trend just started to boom. But then, as soon as I really started to appreciate the guy, he started changing – rather than write songs, he became an interpreter of other people’s hits, with versions that (to my ears) sounded tired, uninspired and less interesting than the original tune he emulated.

    Every now and then, the original James would emerge and impress me, only to retreat to the land of cover versions. This album captures him when he was still full of promise, writing his own material and leading the way toward something that seemed fascinating. I only wish it stayed that way. 

    Tracks Include:

    Sweet Baby James

    Lo and Behold

    Sunny Skies

    Steamroller

    Country Road

    Oh Susannah

    Fire and Rain

    Blossom

    Anywhere Like Heaven

    Oh baby, don’t you loose your lip on me

    Suite for 20G

     

    February 1970  Billboard Charted # 3

    Related Shows

    Neil Young: Tonight's The Night

    Neil Young: Tonight's The Night

    Album #250 - June 1975

      0:00
      0:00
      Stephen Stills: Stills

      Stephen Stills: Stills

      Album #249 - June 1975

        0:00
        0:00
        Bob Dylan and The Band: The Basement Tapes

        Bob Dylan and The Band: The Basement Tapes - Part 2

        Album #248 - June 1975

          0:00
          0:00
          Bob Dylan and The Band: The Basement Tapes

          Bob Dylan and The Band: The Basement Tapes - Part 1

          Album #248 - June 1975

            0:00
            0:00
            Willie Nelson: Red Headed Stranger

            Willie Nelson: Red Headed Stranger

            Album #247 - May 1975

              0:00
              0:00
              Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic

              Aerosmith: Toys in the Attic

              Album #246 - April 1975

                0:00
                0:00
                Steely Dan Katy Lied

                Steely Dan: Katy Lied

                Album #245 - March 1975

                  0:00
                  0:00
                  Young Americans - David Bowie

                  David Bowie: Young Americans

                  Album #244 - March 1975

                    0:00
                    0:00
                    Earth, Wind & Fire: That's the Way of the World

                    Earth, Wind & Fire: That's the Way of the World

                    Album #243 - March 1975

                      0:00
                      0:00
                      Led Zeppelin, Physical Graffiti,  In The Light, Bron-Yr-Aur, Down by the Seaside, Ten Years Gone, Night Flight, The Wanton Song, Boogie With Stu, Black Country Woman, Sick Again

                      Led Zeppelin: Physical Graffiti - Part 2

                      Album #242 - February 1975

                        0:00
                        0:00
                        Led Zeppelin: Physical Graffiti

                        Led Zeppelin: Physical Graffiti - Part 1

                        Album #242 - February 1975

                          0:00
                          0:00
                          Tower Of Power: Urban Renewal

                          Tower Of Power: Urban Renewal

                          Album #241 - January1975

                            0:00
                            0:00