Day 74: March 15: Jesse

"He cut out my heart like a paper doll."

I've always thought of this song as a Carly classic that doesn't get it's fair due when you think of Carly's greatest hits.  I still think it's really catchy but listening more closely the lyrics are oddly misogynistic.  How will she ever survive without this worthless guy who broke her heart?  James sings back up.  If you don't think about it much it's a fun four minutes.

Jesse

Another song called Jessie about getting back with someone who probably isn't very good for you- this time with the gender flipped.  When Jana and I first heard this song about these two tangled lovers and their cat names Moses we thought Elton John had released a new song.  Instead we fell in love with Joshua Kadison.  This album was his only hit (especially the track Picture Postcards from LA) but we loved the next three or four albums before he more or less disappeared.  If you don't know him, you should.

Jessie

Day 73: March 14: Something's Wrong

"Wrap your hands around that small change and tiptoe softly out the door."

This existed in some form before the eponymous album was released, in fact an instrumental version appears on the James Taylor and the Flying Machine album.  However, it doesn't show up on any other official album release but later surfaced as the b-side to Shower the People probably a decade after it was written.  It's not too special but as a 45 only release, it's kind of interesting.

Something's Wrong

Elton John has several b-side only releases.  U2 eventually released an album worth of them.  This one is one of Billy Joel's.  I like this better than a handful of the tracks that made it onto some of his albums.  Unlike James' song, this one did eventually show up on a box set.

You Picked a Real Bad Time

Day 72: March 13: Hello Old Friend

"I've got stories to tell about how I snatched the devils catch and outran the hounds of hell."

Over-orchestrated and slightly bloated track from the average Walking Man album.  The sentiment of coming home is nice and there are some good lines, but this is mostly forgotten and forgettable.

Hello Old Friend

Eric Clapton's take is a much better song. The Old Grey Whistle Test was a little before my time but they have some great footage.

Hello Old Friend

Day 71: March 12: Enough to be on Your Way

"It's enough to cover ground."

This one is beautiful.  A story of James saying goodbye to an old friend named Alice (in this video oddly played by Barbara Hershey) who has passed on.  The real meaning, though, is James singing about his late brother Alex, the dad of sweet baby James, and the oldest of the Taylor boys.  He changed Alex to Alice and vaguely hid his intentions.  As he searches for answers, he concludes that the journey is important, even if the end result isn't what you'd hoped.  It's also interesting to me that he filmed a video for a song that contains an f-bomb (which means it's not likely to get much broadcast play).  One of the best on the Hourglass album.

Enough to be on Your Way

Here's big brother Alex with a track from his Friends and Neighbors album.  I think he's wrong, but James has said he's the best singer of the Taylor siblings.

Take out Some Insurance

Day 70: March 11: Great Heart

"Sometimes I feel that you barely know me."

Jimmy tries his hand at unlocking African mysticism or perhaps at ripping off Paul Simon.  James sings backing vocals and you can almost make him out in the chorus.  It's catchy enough but this is close to the end for Jimmy.  I mean he's put out a lot of music since this...but there aren't too many Buffett albums after Hot Water that have much of value on them.

Great Heart

Here's a lesser known Buffett track from around this era.  The title track of Floridays is pretty, punny, and well worth a listen.

Floridays

Day 69: March 10: So Far Away

"Holding you again could only do me good."

Brooding, pensive, young-man James plays guitar for Carole King in this version of her famous song. It's a strong live version, but she's the star here, not James.

So Far Away

A decade later Carole seems to have moved on.  This is a great live version.

One Fine Day

Day 68: March 9: Believe it or Not

" I would hold on for one more heartbeat."

Album track from Dad Loves His Work.  I kind of view this album as a bridge from "Baby James" to his middle aged and beyond work.  This one is pretty enough though there's not an awful lot to it. Just a melancholy love song.

Believe it or Not

Same title, very different vibe, very similar amount of cheese

Believe it or Not

Day 67: March 8: Fill 'Er Up

'You gotta fill her up with love."

James sings some quirky background vocals on Sting's tale of a gas station attendant pondering the theft of the station he works at and immediately feeling regret.  It's an odd five and a half minutes, but they've both done worse.  

Fill "er Up

I'm guessing this song has been in many weddings but James had Sting perform it live when he got married.

Fields of Gold

Day 66: March 7: Heart of Gold

"And I'm getting old."

James famously sings back up harmony with Linda Ronstadt on Neil Young's beautiful original.  Here James covers it in tribute.  It pales in comparison, but it's fitting homage.  When you have Emmylou Harris, Elvis Costello and Shawn Colvin singing back up you know it's a pretty good band.  

Heart of Gold

 Here's one of my all-time favorite Neil Young tracks.  I'm not sure I'd want Neil to wait on my table at a diner though.

Unknown Legend

Day 65: March 6: Country Road

"Your way and my way seem to be one and the same."

When people think of James Taylor this is the kind of song they think about.  Cool and breezy hippie-folk to dance to in your sandals.  I'm guessing it's a rare JT concert that doesn't feature this one at some point.

Country Road

It's a popular vibe.  Man, I'd love to go to Farm Aid.

Take Me Home Country Roads

Day 64: March 5: Sun on the Moon

"He says making money's just a waste of time."

OK, here's one that's a lot better before you start examining it.  It's catchy and it's a bit of departure but it's real silly.  The first half of the song seems to be James making a proclamation of annoyance about people milking money out of him.  The second half seems to be about a rendezvous with a wasted woman.  Sun on the moon makes a mighty nice light.

Sun on the Moon

Here's another cryptic song involving hooking up and the sun.  This one from Gordo.

Sundown

Day 63: March 4: Whenever You're Ready

"Take a big sip from the loving cup."

Groovy horns, sentimental lyrics, this one is a winner.  I like most of this album and this one is a keeper.  Be prepared, it's a toe-tapper.

Whenever You're Ready

Same title.  Very different song.  Go get 'em, Elton.

Whenever You're Ready

Day 62: March 3: Is That the Way You Look?

"Whoever wakes me up, I'm going to knock him down."

A fun throwaway from the Flag album.  It's over almost before it starts but James' foray into doo-wap is catchy and enjoyable.  Albeit silly.

Is That the Way You Look?

I think George was going for the same vibe here on the Gone Troppo album.

I Really Love You

Day 61: (I'm a) Roadrunner

"Can't stay in one place too long."

Average cover of a Junior Walker song.  I think this version (which looks like it might be about 20 years before the Covers album might work a little better than the recorded one.  James looks like he's having fun- which might be all the difference.

(I'm a) Roadrunner

I'm not familiar with Junior Walker, but I've heard this one.  It seems like it was used in a tv show, but I can't quite place it.  It's catchy despite only using one chord the whole song.

Shotgun

Day 60: March 1: Nobody But You

"Sure is strange how things can turn themselves around."

One of the best James songs you've probably never heard.  I think this is my favorite track off of One Man Dog.  It a time capsule of the era it was created in but its thoughtful lyric and catchy tune make it a winner 40+ years later.

Nobody But You

Ringo's version is more famous, but I prefer John's.

Only You

Day 59b: February 29 (bonus day): Day Tripper

"She was a day tripper, a Sunday driver."

This is my least favorite James Taylor cover, my least favorite track on Flag, and possibly my least favorite James Taylor song.  Some of it is because of my love for the original, some of it is that the great guitar lick is cheesed up pretty badly, and some of it is that James is trying really hard to be something he's not.  The idea of being a "day tripper" in the Beatles sense is pretending to be cool- you trip (get high) during the day (or at least appear to be into that scene) but when it's night and the real action is happening, you aren't involved.  In short, you're a poser, you talk a good game but when it's showtime you don't love up to the hype.  There's a sad irony in this cover.

Day Tripper

If you want to cover The Beatles, here's a clinic for you.  Joe makes the song his own and it still rocks.  I'm also amazed by how on the Belushi impression was,

She Came in Through the Bathroom Window

Day 59: February 28: T-Bone

"He's just trying to forget what his remembers."

This one is a bit esoteric,  Some speculate it's about rehab, that T-Bone might be James referencing himself, but it's all a mystery to me.  It's one of the catchier tunes on Never Die Young though, despite some fairly odd lyrics.

T-Bone

So, I doubt that last song was about T-Bone Burnett, but just in case here's one he produced.  He's formed a relationship with the Coen brothers most famously on the O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack.  I love that album, but his work on Inside Llewyn Davis is wrongly more obscure.  Underrated film.  Beautiful music.

Fare Thee Well

Day 58: February 27: Sending the Old Man Home

"We'll only have the picture books of land and sea and foam."

A pretty one about aging from Jimmy Buffett.  James sings back-up and plays guitar but I can't really pick out his voice in the harmonies.  If Jimmy still made them like this, I'd still be buying his cd's.  But alas, he's become a cartoon.  I bet his concerts are a lot of fun though.

Sending the Old Man Home

This song came out on the same album, although this concert performance is from a good bit later.  It's lots of fun.  One time when we saw the Tampa Bay Devil Rays play, the grounds crew worked to thids song, complete with the Fins dance.  I have no evidence that this song was inspired by Chevy's landshark sketch on SNL, but I wouldn't be the least bit surprised.

Fins

Day 57: February 26: Jump Up Behind Me

"Old Dan can bear us both."

James jokingly refers to this song as being "jaunty" and I like that description.  It seems to tell the tale of a boy far from home planning to return there and encouraging his love to join him.  It's sweet and catchy.  A fine track from Hourglass.

James has said that this song was inspired by his dad driving 13 hours to save him when he was strung out in New York City.  He showed up in his station wagon and drove James back home where James stayed for about six months to dry out.

Jump Up Behind Me

There aren't many folks who can do a respectable cover of Louis Prima, but Brian Setzer is one of them.  

Jump Jive and Wail