|
Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZTAYLOR, James(b 12 March '48, Boston MA) Singer, songwriter. From large musical family; siblings Livingstone, Alex, Kate all recorded following his success. Worked in various teenage bands incl. the Fabulous Corsairs with Alex; met guitarist Danny Kortchmar '63, they formed the Flying Machine '67 (James Taylor And The Flying Machine issued '71 to capitalize on success). He had admitted himself to a psychiatric hospital suffering from acute depression; by age 20 he was a heroin addict and went to London to get away from the habit; Kortchmar had backed Peter and Gordon mid-'60s, suggested that Taylor contact Peter Asher, then dir. of A&R for Beatles' Apple label: result was James Taylor '68 with guests George Harrison and Paul McCartney, a patchy LP incl. excellent Taylor songs 'Carolina In My Mind', 'Something In The Way She Moves'; sales were not massive. Returned to USA, now managed by Asher, who got contract with WB; Sweet Baby James '70 was one of those albums that effortlessly epitomizes an era: with '60s ideals in disarray and as an antidote to the bombast of Led Zeppelin and Chicago, his moody and introspective work coincided with success of Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Neil Young and others to create the singer-songwriter 'genre' that has always existed and always will. Despite hyperbole, the LP remains remarkable for title track, 'Fire And Rain' and 'Country Road'; but his lugubrious voice and incessantly self- centred lyrics could not maintain that peak. Elvis Presley covered 'Steamroller', Taylor's tongue-in-cheek blues; Mud Slide Slim And The Blue Horizon '71 was inevitably weaker, but at the time sold even better (both LPs top three USA); 'You've Got A Friend' (King's song) was no. 1 single USA; 'Hey Mister, That's Me Up On The Juke Box' was a comment on his own success. He made the cover of Time '71 (often a jinx) and starred with Beach Boy Dennis Wilson in cult movie Two Lane Blacktop. One Man Dog '72 was no. 4 LP but Walking Man '74 slipped to 13, both seen as disappointing; Gorilla was back up to no. 6 incl. top five cover of Marvin Gaye hit 'How Sweet It Is'; he had married Carly Simon '72 and they were a big item in the rock aristocracy. In The Pocket '76 was followed by switch to Columbia; JT '77 was no. 4 LP with no. 4 hit 'Handy Man' (song by Otis Blackwell and Jimmy Jones); Flag '79 and Dad Loves His Work '81 were both no. 10 LPs, latter with no. 11 duet hit 'Her Town Too' with J. D. Souther; with Carly had hits with Inez and Charlie Foxx's 'Mockingbird' '74 and the Everly Bros' 'Devoted To You' '78; joined Simon and Garfunkel '78 on cover of Sam Cooke's 'What A Wonderful World' '78; appeared with Bruce Springsteen and Jackson Browne live '79. Ironically in view of his own good songs, his biggest hits were all covers. Divorced from Simon '82; returned with That's Why I'm Here '86, successful UK and US tours proving that fans were still there, followed by Never Die Young '88, New Moon Shine '91, (Live) '91, all in the top 40 albums; Hourglass '97 was still on Columbia, still the strange brew of laid-back (Romantic) radicalism. |