Day 31: January 31: Just Not True

"You do a very fine imitation of me."

I could make a really amazing greatest hits CD of Carly Simon's work...and wouldn't feel bad never listening to the rest of her catalog.  This track wouldn't make it onto the greatest hits CD.  It does feature James on lead guitar and on some ooh-ing and aah-ing toward the end of the track.  Not the finest work of either.

Just Not True

This however, is the greatest James Bond song of all time.  Sorry, Paul.  You were a close second.

Nobody Does it Better

Day 30: January 30: Going Around One More Time

"One moment you swear you've had enough, the next you've got to know her name."

I think of James' "That's Why I'm Here" album as a sort of rebirth in his career.  Up until that point, many of his songs seem to be in the moment, exploring the now or the future- but this album begins a journey of reflection.I think it also seems to be the era of James cleaning himself up drug-wise. Perhaps no song on the album (besides perhaps the title track) expresses this idea of transition better than this one.  Brother Livingston wrote it and also recorded it.  James' version is a good one.  

Going Around One More Time

Poor Livingston Taylor.  In most families, he would be the musical superstar.  It must be hard to have what would seem monumental to most career-wise pale so starkly in contrast to his brother.  Livingston should be a little bigger of a name than he is.  But while his voice has that Taylor quality, he lacks the charm or stage presence of brother James.  His most famous (and my favorite) song is "I Will be in Love With You" but I couldn't find a decent version of it online.  So instead I chose this one.  It could have come off of a James Taylor album and I bet it's mislabeled on many iPods as a JT song.  

Carolina Day

Day 29: January 29: School Song

Instrumental

I'm not sure James is really involved in this track in any way but it is on his One Man Band cd.  I'm guessing it's a 90 second break in a show that is almost exclusively James.  It's pretty enough but not a real important or interesting entry in the canon.

School Song

I like this school song better:

School's Out

Day 28: January 28: Never Die Young

"Not enough tough for this town."

The "Never Die Young" album is hit and miss for me, but I really  like the title track.  James says even he doesn't know what this one is really about- but it feels to me like a song of reminiscing.  We were balls of fire back in the day...remember when.  It's a little more complicated- maybe a relationship they never thought would last- even rooted against- but somehow it fought through.  While the lyrics are a little dense, it's a sweet melody and by this album James has reached an age for reflection.  

Never Die Young

Todd Snider is one of my absolute favorites.  He was the opening act for John Prine the second time I saw him live and I've loved him ever since.  He seems to continually find himself in predicaments of his own creation that he's too smart to get mixed up in...but still does.  I can relate.  Here's his take on looking back after crossing that "I'm not young anymore" line.

Age Like Wine

Day 27: January 27: Song For You Far Away

"Mention your name and I'm gone again."

This is a sweet one from the "That's Why I'm Here" album.  This was in heavy rotation for me my junior year of college.  My girlfriend (not yet wife) lived four and a half hours away in an era before cellphones, email, and smart driving decisions (at least for us).  And so between the long distance phone calls and the long drives at dangerous hours with little sleep, we counted on songs like this one to get us through.  Thankfully, we don't play this one as regularly anymore.

Song for You Far Away

A good friend of mine once posited that side one of Dire Straits' album "Brothers in Arms" might be the best side of an album ever record.  A bold claim, but a legitimate argument.  I might counter with side one of John Prine's eponymous album, side one of "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", side one of "Highway 61 Revisited" or side two of "Abbey Road", but wherever you land on the issue you can't deny that this is some fine, fine work.  The mood is similar to the track above and despite the headband, Mark Knopfler is pretty cool.

So Far Away

Day 26: January 26: Yesterday

"Now I need a place to hide away."

James is indelibly tied to the Beatles.  They signed him, they inspired him, and throughout his career little Beatles moments pop up.  This is a beautiful cover of one of their most beautiful songs.  Even when John and Paul were at their cattiest, John gave Paul props for writing this one.  I believe it's the most covered song in history.  Add this one to the list.

Yesterday

Here's a lesser known classic that Paul is covering himself.  He might be a little egocentric, but there aren't many people who can write this beautiful this consistently.  

Blackbird

Day 25: January 25: Fire and Rain (Gimme Gimmes)

"I always thought I'd I see you again."

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes are the Traveling Wilburys of the punk rock world.  A bunch of punk artists from different bands form periodically to cover songs from the folk, easy listening, country, and musical genres for tongue in cheek rocking out.  Here's their cover of James' classic tune.

Fire and Rain

RIP Glenn Frey:

Desperado

Day 24: January 24: Sunshine Sunshine

"And sunshine means a lot to me.  I say sunshine."

Pretty vocals, overbearing orchestration.  This first album is mostly working through kinks with sporadic moments of promise.  This one is a bit forgettable, but important for the completist.

Sunshine Sunshine

Here's Paul performing a live version of a better sunshine song:

Good Day Sunshine

Day 23: January 23: Mean Old Man

"Refused to wash or shave.  I was horrid to my nurse."

James gets romantic by explaining what a jerk he was before love turned him around.  This one leans to much on his jazz tendencies and not enough on his folk ones for my taste but it's kind of sweet and a little bit amusing.

Mean Old Man

The late great Warren Zevon takes his crack at the self-deprecation- only in his case with more of an edge and without a happy ending.

Mr. Bad Example

Day 22: January 22: Ain't No Song

"If there were a way to say it, you know I would have played it."

Here's a catchy one from the "Walking Man" album.  James says no song I can write is enough to express the love I have.  Sappy love song.  James is pretty good at those.

Ain't No Song

And here's a cheesy 80's version of the same sentiment:

More than Words Can Say

Day 21: January 21: You've Got a Friend

"Winter, spring, summer or fall, all you have to do is call."

We were out of town with shaky internet service for a few days so I've fallen behind.  I'll catch up in the next few days.

This is James' biggest collaboration with his old friend Carole King and one of his biggest songs with or without her. This isn't the only song James recorded that Carole wrote, and they performed together frequently, but this is one of his staples.  There's an over-earnestness to it, but the sap doesn't prevent it from being touching. Everyone you know over the age of 30 can sing along with this one.

You've Got a Friend

Here's a great Carole King that doesn't directly involve James.  The lyrics have that same kind of earnestness, but somehow Carole manages to not let that hamper its effectiveness.  

Child of Mine

Day 20: January 20: Angel From Montgomery

"There're flies in the kitchen. I can hear 'em there buzzing."

Among all of the great songs on John Prine's debut album, you can find the beautiful Angel From Montgomery.  It tells the story of a restless middle-aged woman growing more and more dissatisfied and disillusioned with the cards (and the man) that life has dealt her. The song has been covered by many- John Denver, Old Crow Medicine Show, and most famously, Bonnie Raitt to name a few.  Carly recorded it in 1972 for her No Secrets album, but it didn't make it onto the record and was never released commercially until her box set "Clouds in My Coffee" was released in 1995.  James is hardly on the track, but you can hear his vocals toward the end.  This version doesn't really give you a sense of the beauty of the song, but Bonnie and John singing it together is something special.

Angel From Montgomery

John struck gold with his sad song "Hello in There" about the emptiness resulting from growing old.  Someone suggested that he should write another song about old people, but he felt like he had adequately covered the issue,  But when he thought about writing from the perspective of a woman, it appealed to him so he penned "Angel from Montgomery."  Here's the song that started it.  It's mournful and John seems pretty connected in this performance.

Hello in There

Day 19: January 19: If I Keep My Heart Out of Sight

"I'd be hurting, I'm certain.  I'd be uncool to let you know that you're the one."

This is the closing cut on James' great JT album.  It's not a standout track but it's pretty enough.  The premise seems to be that James doesn't dare show his love interest just how much he cares in fear that he'll scare her off by coming on too strong.  But... if he can just pretend indifference- or at least the right amount of interest, then he'll be able to win her over.  Head games.  

If I Keep My Heart Out of Sight

This is the best example I could think of of a song that expresses the danger of too much too soon.  Frank and Nancy have the definitive version, but I find the father/daughter combination there a bit creepy.  Raul Malo has an amazing voice.  Jana and I saw him with the Mavericks as an opening act the first time we saw Mary Chapin Carpenter back in Pensacola some 20 years ago.  He seemed like a jerk, but he can sure sing.

Something Stupid

Day 18: January 18: Shed a Little Light

"Let us turn our thoughts today to Martin Luther King."

James released this tribute to Dr. King on his New Moon Shine album in the mid 90's.  I didn't instantly appreciate it, but I have grown to consider it one of the classics from the second half of his career.  I think he agrees as it seems to have grown to be a staple of a James Taylor concert.  I wish I could have found a performance a little closer to when this was originally released, but this is a decent rendition.  Thank you, Dr. King.

Shed a Little Light

I briefly considered posting "Abraham, Martin, and John" as the companion piece to the James song, but when I thought of this, it was a no-brainer.  The boys are famous at this point of their career but they aren't yet iconic.  They look like little boys. This isn't their first important song, but it is one of their most poignant.  I think Bono may be the most important pop star of my generation and their tribute to Dr. King hold up really well all these years later.  For the Reverend Martin Luther King, sing.

Pride

Day 17: January 17: In France They Kiss on Main Street

"Thrilling to the Brando-like things that he said."

Long before Carly, James and Joni Mitchell were an item.  As a result, (or maybe as a cause) he ends up on several of her songs. Today's is a lesser track and James is barely audible singing back-up.  I've always had a hit and miss relationship with Joni.  The hits are songs I treasure, but they are greatly outnumbered by the songs I can do without.  Sadly, this song fits in the latter category for me.  But if you dig Joni, perhaps you'll dig this track.

In France They Kiss on Main Street

In contrast, this one is really nice. California is originally on Joni's best album, Blue.  This live video has lots of personality. Joni is charming and the song is beautiful.  As I just got a plane ticket for San Diego last week, I though this was fitting.  I caught myself grinning as I watched this one.  I hope it does the same for you.

California

Day 16: January 16: Mexico

"I never really been so I don't really know."

So the story goes that James took a vacation south of the border but ended up with a bad case of dysentery and ended up spending the whole trip in his hotel room.  The result is this song (hence I never really been so I don't really know).  The studio version features David Crosby and Graham Nash and while this song didn't quite crack the top 40, it's a pretty well known portion of the JT canon.  Hope you enjoy it- and feliz cumpleanos mamacita.

Mexico

My favorite singer tells his own tale from my ancestral homeland.  I'm hoping to get tickets this weekend to see Mr. Prine in concert for the fourth time this summer.  It's got a funky riff and it's one of my favorites.

Mexican Home

Day 15: January 15: Dance

"Kick off your shoes and lose your blues."

Here's a nice little song from the highly underrated "One Man Dog" album.  It's not deep or complicated but it sure is catchy and pleasant.  On the album it's one of a string of songs connected much like side two of Abbey Road so it starts and stops abruptly, but it's still a nice listen.

Dance

And if you need more incentive to boogie- here's another step you can learn that all the kids are crazy about.

Wilbury Twist

Day 14: January 14: Chanson Francaise

"Suffice it to say, I'm never going to write another French song."

Self proclaimed Francophile James penned this one in French for the Flag album.  Makes it hard to appreciate the lyricism but a translation suggests it's a bit of a jumbled message about being away from people he loves, one someone in particular, that expressing his feelings in French gives a nuance that English can't, and that he doesn't plan on penning anymore French songs.  It's a curiosity, but little more.

Chanson Francaise

Only one verse is in French here, but this is Billy Joel's attempt for a similar outcome.  One big difference is that Billy doesn't speak French,  He had to call in a translator to "write" the second verse.  And since Billy doesn't speak French, apparently his pronunciation isn't good.  When he played it in Paris it wasn't well received.  When he asked what the problem was, the feedback he got suggested they thought he was singing in Polish.  Regardless, even if it is a bit pretentious, I think it's a pretty tune.  Here it is:

C'Etait Toi

Day 13: January 13: The Nearness of You

"It isn't your sweet conversation that brings this sensation."

Today marks the ninth anniversary of saxophonist Michael Brecker.  Michael was a 15 time Grammy winner.  Jazz saxophone isn't really my thing, but while I don't think I'd really be into his solo stuff much he's worked with some people I really like.  He played sax on James' "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" as well as with Billy Joel on a couple of albums.  He apparently worked with John Lennon, Aerosmith, Steely Dan and Dire Straits He also played the sax on Paul Simon's "Still Crazy After All These Years".  Additionally, he was part of the SNL band in the early '80's.  This song features James singing lead on an old Hoagy Carmichael tune.  I like the first half more than the second as it dissolves into looser jazz. 

The Nearness of You

This might be the most beautiful song that I'm aware he worked on.  I was tempted to post the video with Lego characters reenacting the story, but they cut the end of the song off and that's where the sax is most prominent.

Same Old Lang Syne 

Day 12: January 12: Treat Her Like a Lady

"We're on a similar course, it's just a different source, but I'm in danger of extinction too."

Back before he became a parody of himself, Jimmy Buffett put out a ton of great music. For some of that music James was a subtle contributor.  He lends his talents to multiple tracks on Jimmy's great album Volcano.  This one has a nice melody and a nice emotional build.  James harmonizes on the bridge leading to the chorus.  This is a good one.

Treat Her Like a Lady

The first time I saw John Prine live his opening act was a dude named Keith Sykes who was a former Coral Reefer and cowrote the title track on the Volcano album with him.  He played it that night and commented on which lines were his and which were Jimmy's.  It's a nice memory and this is a fun song.  This version is from the ill-fated attempt to compete with Saturday Night Live that aired in the 80's called Fridays.  The show featured future Seinfeld stars Michael Richards and Larry David- and also featured the famous Andy Kaufman meltdown.  It's cheesy and this version isn't as tight as the studio one, but the visuals are fun.  

Volcano

Day 11: January 11: Since First I Saw Your Face

"And your sweet beauty past compare, made my poor eyes the bolder."

Jazz guitarist Lee Ritenour turns 64 today.  I'm not really familiar with his work except that James sings a song on one of his albums.  It's a bit of an unwelcome departure from the kind of stuff James usually does.  It has the feel of something you'd hear sung at a Renaissance festival, and I don't really mean that as a compliment.  This makes sense as the lyrics were apparently written in 1617.  James voice is clean but the song is a bit boring.  Still, if you're a fan, you should give it a listen.

Since I First Saw Your Face

So, it turns out this guy isn't really my style.  He seems to be acclaimed, and I'm sure for the kind of music he plays, it's great and all, but it's just not for me.  The best I could find is another collaboration, this time with Keb Mo and Taj Mahal, two guys I have loads of respect for.  

Am I Wrong?

Day 10: January 10:  Bonefields

"Today you think that I don't even like you, but don't you know you are my world?"

Shawn Colvin turns 60 today.  I've always felt like I was supposed to like her a little more than I do.  Her music is totally cemented in the genre I like best and I always hope I'm going to like her stuff when it comes out.  However, I usually find myself wishing for a little more melody and a little more of a hook.  About 15 years ago, James sang back up on her track Bonefields from her album "Whole New You." You can really hear him in the chorus, and the harmony there is the highlight of the song. 

Bonefields

Shawn has a new album out of cover songs and she chooses lots of great songs: Baker Street, Lodi, Not a Drop of Rain, and American Tune to name a few.  As I sampled them though, they mostly made me nostalgic for the originals.  So, I picked her most famous song and what is likely her best.

Sunny Came Home

Day 9: January 9: Montana

"Tectonic creation, erosion, mutation; somethin' to pleasure God's eye."

This new album is a little hit and miss for me, but this one really hits.  Pretty chord progressions, soothing vocals.  James says in a Stereogum interview that if this song was a painting, it would be a landscape painting.  It's descriptive and beautiful.  Apparently he had the chords determined for about 15  years before he ever put lyrics to it.  He had isolated himself in a friend's place in Montana to do some writing and the song became to be about where he was while writing it.

Montana

So when I started to think about another Montana song to pair with this one, my first thought was Jimmy Buffett.  Come Monday came to mind- but it turns out he has several- Miss You So Badly, Livingston Saturday Night, Ringling Ringling.  I was leaning toward the last of those until I thought of this beautiful Nanci Griffith tune,

Midnight in Missoula

Day 8: January 8: Hound Dog

"They said you was high-class.  I can see through that."

James has a handful of covers that really work.  Up on the Roof, Handy Man, Everybody Loves to Cha-Cha-Cha to name but a few.  The Covers collection though is mostly made up of misfires.  On what would have been Elvis Presley's 81st birthday, here is Hound Dog.  The arrangement is a bit schmaltzy, but James' tongue is firmly in his cheek.  It's not awful.  And those are some pretty big blue suede shoes to fill.

Hound Dog

So if I'm gonna pick my favorite Elvis track (which I am) I think I'm going with this one.  I grant that there's a little cheese, but it really works for me. This is the Elvis era where he reminded us why he was famous.  The movies weren't Elvis- but this special...man, this special truly was special.  It only made the jump suits and thrown scarves that came not much later even sadder.  Enjoy...and the Spanish lesson is free.

If I Can Dream

Day 7: January 7: Sarah Maria

"Everyone was a-talking about such a pretty girl"

Here's a real pretty one from James' album Gorilla which is one of his best.  Sarah Maria is the daughter of James and Carly who later went by Sally (since it was easier for her to say when she was little).  She was just a baby when this one came out. I thought this was a good choice today on her birthday. Tender, melodic, beautiful.

Sarah Maria

I don't know much about Sally's musical career, but I'm not crazy about what little I do know.  This song is just okay- but the video has some cool family photos through the years.

Unsung Dance

Day 6: January 6: Winter Wonderland

"In the meadow we can build a snowman."

More harmless fluff from the Christmas album.  It's a little too saccharine-y for my tastes but I do love James hamming it up for the Today Show audience in this clip.

Winter Wonderland

Seems like everyone should hear this one at least once a winter:

Bob Rivers

Day 5: January 5: I Think It's Gonna Work Out Fine

"Do you remember they used to call you 'Dapper Dan'?"

So in honor of my parent's anniversary, I chose this deep track from Linda Ronstadt's Get Closer album.  Seems like James and Linda had a "you sing one on mine and I'll sing one on yours" kind of deal.  Linda got this one and James got "One Morning in May" from his One Man Dog album.  Linda got the better deal.  One Morning is fine, but this one is lots of fun.

Ike and Tina have a version that seems pretty different with Ike doing lots of talking and lots of background vocals behind Tina.  I like this version better.  

I Think It's Gonna Work Out Fine

I really like Linda's early work. I think her later stuff changes the way we think about her but she worked with some cool folks early on.  Don Henley and Glenn Frey sang back up for her- and she seemed to really dig one of my favorite bizarre songwriters, Warren Zevon.  She did at least four covers of his songs- Poor Poor Pitiful Me, Hasten Down the Wind, Mohammad's Radio- and this beautiful cover of Carmelita.

Happy anniversary mom and dad.

Day 4: January 4: The Frozen Man

"I know what it means to freeze to death."

I really like this one.  James takes a sci-fi spin on a National Geographic story of an old frozen body being thawed out.  It's not ground-breaking.  Similar tales have been told in movies like "Iceman" but James takes on the perspective of the "monster" in a way that is both bittersweet and clever.  It feels like Mary Shelley writing Frankenstein from the perspective of the doctor's creation.  Metaphorically, it feels a bit like Buffett's "A Pirate Looks at 40"- an exploration of a man out of time, out of place.  

Apparently the fine folks at Books-a-Million are amused by the concept too as I stumbled on this today:

The arrangement on this one is a little bloated.  I think I like it better with just James and his guitar, but the banter here was fun enough to make me choose this video. Plus it's live in Knoxville.  The Frozen Man

And in case that didn't make you cold enough:  B-R-R

Day 3: January 3rd: Another Day

"Put your shoes on. Walk with me into the light."

This one is pretty enough.  I wish the verses had a little more melody, but overall it's a nice mellow listen which is generally what you're looking for in a JT song.  Yo Yo Ma playing cello is a nice touch,  We'll  hear them collaborate a few more times over the year.  The version below is without Yo Yo, but you can hear him on the studio version found on Hourglass.  This is from VH1 Honors back when VH1 aired stuff like this.

Another Day

One more- not related to JT- just a more famous song also called Another Day by someone who helped make James famous.

Another Another Day

Day 2: January 2nd: Taking It In

"Two black-eyed peas wait on the side"

James is still trying to figure it out at this point.  It's experimental, not too melodic and a definite misfire.  It's paired here with the original "Something in the Way She Moves" - we'll visit the more famous version later in the year, but Paul McCartney plays on this one.

Update- I was confused- Paul plays on Carolina in My Mind, not this one.  This is, however, the song James played for Paul and George that got him signed to Apple records (Something- not Taking it In)

Taking It In

Here's a better song related to the beginning of the year:

Happy New Year

365 Days of James Taylor

Day 1: January 1st: Auld Lang Syne

"We'll take a cup of kindness, yet"

It's not his best work, but it's a respectable version.  Christmas albums usually indicate a desperation to stay relevant, or at least to milk a few more bucks from your fans- and there's a taste of that on this fairly sappy collection but at least this track works for me.

Auld Lang Syne

Here's my favorite version of this song.  What's yours?

Chip's favorite