James Taylor - James Taylor
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Free Music Notes for James Taylor
Free Music Review: Excellent songs hindered by occasional crude musicianship
Hit: 4 Stars
If you came to know and enjoy James Taylor's work because of "Fire and Rain" or songs that came after, listening to this album feels almost like listening to a bootleg. This would be an unusually high-quality bootleg, however. The early versions of "Something in the Way She Moves" and "Carolina in My Mind" are more folksy than the rerecordings on Taylor's _Greatest Hits_ album -- and even though I'm not a huge fan of folk, these versions are better than the later radio-ready versions. Listening to the album from start to finish, the songs flow well one to another. There are some real gems here, notably "Something's Wrong" and "Circle Round the Sun." Unfortunately, awful brass damages "Knocking Round the Zoo," "Brighten Your Night with My Day," and "Night Owl," otherwise fine songs.
Free Music Review: Still Worth Listening To
Hit: 4 Stars
James Taylor was the first musician other than the Beatles to release an album on Apple records. It's easy to see why the Beatles saw talent in this guy. The songs on this album, while darker than the usual James Taylor, have depth and substance, and an emotional undercurrent running beneath them. Standards such as "Gone to Carolina" and "Something in the Way She Moves" are performed here with more passion and authenticity than when they were re-recorded for the "Greatest Hits" album. Occasionally the arrangements sound a little crude and outdated, but that is more than compensated by the sheer power of the music. All true James Taylor fans should have this album in their collection.Free Music Review: A Decent Debut Album
Hit: 4 Stars
James Taylor's self titled debut album, put out by The Beatles' Apple Records in 1968, is decent.One might be detracted from the classical feel to it, but it does contain some good tunes including the original versions of "Carolina In My Mind", and "Something In The Way She Moves".
Other standouts include, "Knocking Around The Zoo", "Taking It In", and "Brighten Your Night With My Day".
Bottom line, a decent debut but James Taylor would eventually etch his niche into the world of "singer-songwriters" with his next album, Sweet Baby James.
Free Music Review: NOT A BAD APPLE
Hit: 4 Stars
This 1968 album was very hard to find from 1972 to 1995.
It finally was reissued and well remastered for the public when Apple started its reissue series.
CIRCLE ROUND THE SUN never sounded better. Too bad the original FIRE AND RAIN recording for Apple Records wasn't included. Thats OK Get your copy today.
Free Music Review: For the fan
Hit: 3 Stars
I wish I could be more enthusiastic about James Taylor's debut with Apple records. No doubt the two best songs here are Carolina In My Mind (overproduced here) and Something In The Way She Moves (this version is rushed). The best songs, yes, but these are not the best performances of those songs.
James re-recorded them both for his greatest hits album, and he leaves these earlier versions in the dust. And of course there are various live versions which outclass these studio efforts.
The little chamber music interludes between songs seem to add an air of preciousness or pretentiousness to the project as well. There is quite a lot of variety in the songs here. The blues number is entertaining. Still, the difference between this album and the album he made two years later for Warner Brothers is a quantum leap forward.
I loved James Taylor from his first Warner Brothers LP onward, and bought them all. I'm not sure I can name any artist who has put out such consistently high quality work over such a long span of time, with the possible exception of Paul Simon. This album is a document of an artist in his developing stages, who was I think a bit overwhelmed by his producer and the production. It is an interesting document of 1968. I am listening to the album as I write this, and I am amused by it. However, I can't see it having any replay value for me. I gladly go back to J.T. or even James' Mudslide Slim album again and again. This album? Not so much.
I wouldn't discourage a fan from buying this CD, but don't expect to find much of a calibre equal to his future efforts. It presents James' music in a gestational phase, but not fully hatched.