I bought this album when I was in the army. Playing it in the barracks after drill and training and being shouted at all day, it was a great escape.
This is James Taylors second album. His first one, the 1968 self-titled 'James Taylor' had quite a start. Recorded at Trident Studios at the same time the Beatles were doing their White album, it was produced by Peter Asher (of Peter & Gordon - also brother to McCartneys one time girlfriend Jane Asher).
Peter Asher also did percussion and vocals, Paul McCartney did bass guitar and George Harrison did backing vocals.
AND .. it was released on the Apple label.
Fast forward to 1970. Taylor is now with Warner Bros and releases his second album 'Sweet Baby James'. Peter Asher is still his producer and once again he has some well known artists backing him up.
Carole King (of course) is on piano and vocals
Randy Meisner, founding member of the Eagles is on bass guitar
Chris Darrow from Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (see my previous post) played fiddle and violin.
The two singles from the album, the title track 'Sweet Baby James' and 'Fire and Rain' are probably the best known of all James Taylors songs, despite having a long and successful career with a string of great singles and albums.
'Sweet Baby James' is sort of a hybrid cowboy song / lullaby, written for his nephew, also named James. To this day, Taylor himself says it's his best song.
The other single release, 'Fire and Rain' has been the subject of story and supposition and myth since it's release.
The accepted version of it's backstory comes in three parts. The first part is about a friend of his - Suzanne Schnerr - who commited suicide. Taylor was in England when it happened and his friends didn't tell him for six months ..
'Just yesterday morning they let me know you were gone
Suzanne the plans they made put an end to you'
The second part is about his personal battles with depression and drug addiction ..
'My body's aching and my time is at hand
And I won't make it any other way'
The last references are about how he got to where he is, talking about a band he was in 'The Flying Machine' that is now behind him, but looking to the future he has with the success his association with McCartney and Asher has brought him.
'Well, there's hours of time on the telephone line to talk about things to come
Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground'
My favourite James Taylor track puts him with another artist I like and have in my collection, J.D. Souther. They co-wrote (along with Waddy Watchel) and sing the 1981 song 'Her Town Too'. Rumour had it that it was about Taylors broken marriage with Carly Simon but Taylor disputes that and said it was about the ex of a mutual friend. Speculation was that he meant his old mate Peter Asher.
This is one of those pivotal albums that doesn't get played too often, but is nice to have on the shelf.
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