Archive-name: music/james-taylor
Last-modified: 1994/4/19
Version: 2.4



=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) for alt.music.james-taylor
Version 2.4
April 19, 1994
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


C O N T E N T S:

1.0  INTRODUCTION
 1.1  Overview
 1.2  New Since the Last Major Revision
2.0  WHERE TO GET MORE INFORMATION
 2.1  JT World Wide Web Page
 2.2  JT FTP Site
3.0  BIOGRAPHY/CHRONOLOGY
4.0  WORKS
 4.1  Albums
  4.1.1  U.S. Albums
  4.1.2  Non-U.S. Albums
 4.2  Singles
 4.3  Work On Other Albums
  4.3.1  Solos
  4.3.2  Duets, Trios, and Backup
  4.3.3  Other Compositions
 4.4  Videos
  4.4.1  Concert Videos
  4.4.2  Single-Song Music Videos
  4.4.3  Appearances In Other Videos
 4.5  Bootlegs
5.0  APPEARANCES
 5.1  "Saturday Night Live"
 5.2  "The Tonight Show"
 5.3  "Sesame Street"
 5.4  Concerts on TV 
 5.5  Radio
 5.6  Major Live Performances
 5.7  "The Simpsons"
6.0  TOUR INFORMATION
7.0  BIBLIOGRAPHY
 7.1  Biographies
 7.2  Major Articles/Interviews
 7.3  Sheet Music and Music Books
8.0  TIDBITS
 8.1  "Fire and Rain"
 8.2  The Rock In Rio concerts
 8.3  "Sweet Baby James"
 8.4  "Mona"
 8.5  "Suite for 20G"
 8.6  Carly Simon's "You're So Vain"
 8.7  "Mexico"
 8.9  JT/Carly Simon breakup
 8.10  JT's Guitars and Pickups
9.0  RELATED ARTISTS
 9.1  JT's Siblings
  9.1.1  Alex
  9.1.2  Livingston
  9.1.3  Kate
  9.1.4  Hugh
 9.2  JT Alumni
  9.2.1  Carly Simon
  9.2.2  Carole King
  9.2.3  Joni Mitchell
  9.2.4  Others
10.0  POINTERS
 10.1  Where To Find JT's Albums
 10.2  Fan Mail
11.0  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
 

_________________________________________________________________________


1.0  I N T R O D U C T I O N

1.1  Overview

This FAQ is an attempt to compile some useful information about James Taylor
and his music.  This FAQ is constantly being expanded, so you'll notice some
holes.  If you can fill in some of the missing information, please send it
along to the address below.  Also, if you find any errors, please let me
know so I can correct them.


 -= Joel Risberg =-= jrisberg@garnet.acns.fsu.edu =-



1.2  New Since the Last Major Revision

Section: Description:
4.3.2 - Added additional references to JT's work with Joni Mitchell
4.4.1 - Added Telluride Bluegrass Festival video
5.0 - Reorganized to accommodate "The Tonight Show" appearances 
5.1 - Added details about "Saturday Night Live" appearances
5.2 - Added details about several "Tonight Show" appearances
5.4 - Added info about "Squibnocket" video's origin on the Disney Channel
5.4 - Added exact date for "Evening at Pops" concert
7.2 - Added _Guitar Extra_ article reference
8.10 - Added tidbits on JT's guitar and pickup preferences
9.2.3 - Added discography for Joni Mitchell
10.2 - Added phone number for Peter Asher Management



2.0  W H E R E   T O   G E T   M O R E   I N F O R M A T I O N

2.1  JT World Wide Web Page

Users with access to a World Wide Web browser such as Mosaic or Lynx can 
connect to the JT WWW Home Page for the current FAQ, archive of articles on
the newsgroup, lyrics files, GIFs, and sound samples.  The URL is:

http://garnet.acns.fsu.edu/~jrisberg/JT.html


2.2  JT FTP Site

The current FAQ, graphics files, lyrics, and the amj-t newsgroup archive can
all be found at the JT FTP site.  Be sure to use binary mode for the graphics
and sound files.

ftp.vcu.edu     in    pub/misc/music/JT

The URL is:

ftp://ftp.vcu.edu/pub/misc/music/JT



3.0  B I O G R A P H Y / C H R O N O L O G Y

James Vernon Taylor was born in Boston, Massachusetts on March 12, 1948
His mother's name is Gertrude. His father's is Issac.
Brothers: Alex (1947-1992), Livingston (born 1950), and Hugh (b. 1952?)
Sister: Kate (b. 1949)
All the siblings have recorded albums.
JT studied cello before giving it up for the guitar.

1952 - Family moves to Chapel Hill, NC
     - His father, Dr. Issac Taylor, was the dean of the University of North
        Carolina-Chapel Hill medical school.

1953 - JT begins attending Milton Academy outside Boston, but leaves during
 his junior year.

1960 - JT's parents buy him his first guitar

1963 - JT meets Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar on Martha's Vineyard.
     - JT and Kootch win a hootenanny contest.
     - JT and Kootch played folk gigs locally.

1964 - JT joins a band, The Fabulous Corsairs, with brother Alex

1965 - Moves to to New York City
     - 17-year-old JT spends ten months in McLean Psychiatric Hospital in
        Massachusetts as a result of depression. His song "Knocking 'Round
        the Zoo" was inspired by his stay there

1966 - Kootch and Joel O' Brien join JT to form The Flying Machine
     - Release one single: "Night Owl" / "Brighten Your Night With My Day"
     - The Flying Machine makes studio recordings. Songs weren't released
 until 1970 under the title "James Taylor and the Original
 Flying Machine."

1967 - The Flying Machine breaks up

1968 - Began using heroin
 Probably stopped by the early 1980s
     - Went to London and recorded demos. Auditions them for record companies.
     - Introduced to Paul McCartney by Peter Asher and signed to the Beatles'
 record label, Apple Records.
     - JT was the first outside artist signed to that label.
     - "James Taylor" released in U.K. with little commercial success

1969 - Returns to U.S.
     - Enters Austin Riggs, another mental hospital in Massachusetts, partly
 due to his heroin addiction
     - "James Taylor" released in U.S.
     - Two singles, "Carolina In My Mind / Taking It In" and "Something's
 Wrong" released.
     - JT debuts at The Troubadour in Los Angeles.
     - Breaks both his hands in a motorcycle accident and is forced to stop
 playing for several months.
     - Signed to Warner Brothers label and moves to California with Asher.

1970 - "Sweet Baby James" released on Warner Brothers label.
     - Album went to number one and was a best-seller for two years.   
     - Performs with Joni Mitchell on BBC radio show.  Recordings of the show
 are often bootlegged under the titles "In Perfect Harmony" or "You Can
  Close Your Eyes."
     - "James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine" released.

1971 - JT on the cover of _Time Magazine_, touted as originator of the
 "singer/songwriter era" (March 1 issue date).
     - Appears in film "Two Lane Blacktop", a film "only a whitewall could
 love," according to one critic
     - "Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon" released.
     - Plays to sold-out audiences in 27-city tour

1972 - Wins Grammy, "Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male" for "You've Got A 
 Friend." Song also earns Carole King the "Song of the Year" Grammy.
     - Marries Carly Simon -- son Ben and daughter Sarah from that marriage.
 Sarah is the subject of his song "Sarah Maria."
     - "One Man Dog" released

1974 - "Walking Man" released
     - "Mockingbird" duet with C. Simon released as a single (million-seller)
 and on Simon's "Hotcakes" album.

1975 - "Gorilla" released

1976 - "In the Pocket" released
     - "Greatest Hits" released (goes platinum)
     - Leaves Warner Brothers for Columbia Records

1977 - "JT" released on CBS label (goes platinum)
     - Produces and performs for Kate Taylor's single "It's In His Kiss."

1978 - Wins "Best Pop Vocal Performance" Grammy for "Handyman."
     - Peter Asher wins "Producer of the Year" Grammy
     - JT produces and performs on Kate Taylor's self-titled album.

1979 - Wrote "Millworker," "Brother Trucker," and a the music for a third song
 for the Broadway musical "Working."
     - "Flag" released.  Included recordings of "Millworker" and "Brother
 Trucker."
     - Performed at a series of 5 antinuclear concerts called "MUSE/No Nukes".
 See section 5.5 for more information.

1981 - "In Harmony" Sesame Street album wins "Best Children's Recording"
 Grammy.
     - "Dad Loves His Work" released
     - Live performance at Fox Theater in Atlanta broadcast nationally on
 radio.
     - Plays role of truck driver in PBS TV production of "Working."
     - Month-long tour of Far East with shows in ten cities.

1982 - Divorces Carly Simon

1985 - Performs at Rock in Rio concert in Brazil
 Song "Only a Dream In Rio" inspired by this visit
     - "That's Why I'm Here" released 
     - "Live In Rio" released by Columbia Brasil
     - Performs at first Moscow Rock festival.  Highlights shown on Showtime
 cable network.
     - Second marriage to Kathryn Walker in New York City.
     - Plays five Italian cities in 2-week tour.

1986 - Two-week tour of Australia.
     - Five-week tour of Europe.
     - Two-week tour of Brazil.

1988 - "Never Die Young" released
     - Two-week Australian tour.

1991 - "James Taylor" re-released on tape and CD by EMI
     - "New Moon Shine" released

1993 - "James Taylor (LIVE)" released



4.0  W O R K S

4.1  Albums

4.1.1  U.S. Albums

"James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine" -- Recorded 1966-67, released 
 1970 - Euphoria
Reference #: Z4RS-1335 (vinyl)
Not available on CD
Songs:
 Rainy Day Man
 Knocking 'Round the Zoo (lead vocal by JT)
 Something's Wrong
 Night Owl
 Brighten Your Night With My Day
 Kootch's Song (Danny Kortchmar)
 Knocking 'Round the Zoo (lead by Kortchmar)


"James Taylor" -- 1968 - Apple Records
Remastered and re-released on CD and tape by EMI Records in 1991
Reference #: CDP 7975772 (U.S.) / SAPCOR3 (U.K.)
Songs:
 Don't Talk Now
 Something's Wrong
 Knocking 'Round the Zoo
 Sunshine Sunshine
 Taking It In
 Something In the Way She Moves
 Carolina In My Mind
 Brighten Your Night With My Day
 Night Owl (later recorded by Carly Simon)
 Rainy Day Man
 Circle Round the Sun
 The Blues Is Just a Bad Dream


"Sweet Baby James" -- 1970 - Warner Brothers Records
Reference #: 1843-2
Songs:
 Sweet Baby James
 Lo and Behold
 Sunny Skies
 Steamroller
 Country Road
 Oh, Susannah
 Fire and Rain
 Blossom
 Anywhere Like Heaven
 Oh Baby, Don't You Loose Your Lip On Me
 Suite For 20G


"Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon" -- 1971 - Warner Bros.
Reference #: W2 2561
Songs:
 Love Has Brought Me Around
 You've Got A Friend
 Places In My Past
 Riding On A Railroad
 Soldiers
 Mud Slide Slim (with Carole King, Kate Taylor, et al.)
 Hey Mister, That's Me Up On The Jukebox
 You Can Close Your Eyes
 Machine Gun Kelly (with Peter Asher)
 Long Ago and Far Away
 Let Me Ride (with Kate Taylor)
 Highway Song
 Isn't It Nice To Be Home Again


"One Man Dog" -- 1972 - Warner Brothers 
Reference #: WAR 25933 
Songs:
 One Man Parade (with Carole King, Abigale Haness, and Carly Simon)
 Nobody But You
 Chili Dog
 Fool For You
 Instrumental I
 New Tune
 Back On the Street Again
 Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
 Woh, Don't You Know (with Alex and Hugh Taylor)
 One Morning In May (with Linda Ronstadt)
 Instrumental II
 Someone
 Hymn
 Fanfare (with Abigail Haness and Carole King)
 Little David
 Mescalito (with Carole King and Abigail Haness)
 Dance
 Jig


"Walking Man" -- 1974 - Warner Brothers 
Reference #: WAR 2794
Songs:
 Walking Man
 Rock 'n' Roll Is Music Now (with Paul and Linda McCartney, Carly
  Simon, and Rick Marotta)
 Let It All Fall Down (with McCartneys and Simon)
 Me and My Guitar (with Peter Asher and Simon)
 Daddy's Baby (with Carly Simon)
 Ain't No Song (with Carly Simon and Asher)
 Hello, Old Friend
 Migration
 The Promised Land
 Fading Away


"Gorilla" -- 1975 - Warner Bros.
Reference #: 2866-2
Songs:
 Mexico (with Graham Nash and David Crosby)
 Music
 How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) - (with Carly Simon)
 Wandering
 Gorilla
 You Make It Easy
 I Was a Fool To Care
 Lighthouse (with Nash and Crosby)
 Angry Blues
 Love Songs
 Sarah Maria


"In the Pocket" -- 1976 - Warner Bros.
Reference #: 2912-2
Songs:
 Shower the People (with Carly Simon)
 A Junkie's Lament (with Art Garfunkel)
 Money Machine
 Slow Burning Love
 Everybody Has the Blues
 Daddy's All Gone
 Woman's Gotta Have It
 Captain Jim's Drunken Dream (with Garfunkel)
 Don't Be Sad 'Cause Your Sun Is Down (with Stevie Wonder)
 Nothing Like a Hundred Miles (with David Crosby and Graham Nash)
 Family Man
 Golden Moments


"Greatest Hits" - 1976 - Warner Brothers
Reference #: WAR3113
Songs:
 Something In the Way She Moves (re-recording since debut album)
 Fire and Rain
 Carolina In My Mind (re-recording)
 Country Road
 You've Got A Friend
 Shower the People
 Mexico
 Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
 Sweet Baby James
 How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
 Walkin' Man
 Steamroller Blues (live version)


"JT" -- 1977 - CBS Records
Reference #: CK 34811
Also available in a new edition on a 24K gold CD with 20-bit recording
Reference #: CBS 53787
Songs:
 Your Smiling Face (supposedly written for JT's friend Judy Collins)
 There We Are
 Honey Don't Leave L.A.
 Another Grey Morning
 Bartender's Blues (with Linda Ronstadt)
 Secret O' Life
 Handyman
 I Was Only Telling A Lie
 Looking For Love On Broadway
 Terra Nova (with Carly Simon)
 Traffic Jam
 If I Keep My Heart Out Of Sight


"Flag" -- 1979 - CBS
Reference #: CD 36058
Songs:
 Company Man (with Graham Nash)
 Johnnie Comes Back
 Day Tripper
 I Will Not Lie For You
 Brother Trucker (with Alex Taylor)
 Is That the Way You Look?
 B. S. U. R. (with Carly Simon)
 Rainy Day Man
 Millworker
 Up On the Roof
 Chanson Francaise
 Sleep Come Free Me


"Dad Loves His Work" -- 1981 - CBS 
Reference #: CBS 37009 
Songs:
 Hard Times (with David Lasley and Arnold McCuller)
 Her Town Too
 Hour That the Morning Comes
 I Will Follow (with Lasley and McCuller)
 Believe It Or Not
 Stand And Fight (with Lasley and McCuller)
 Only For Me (with Lasley and McCuller)
 Summer's Here
 Sugar Trade (co-written by Jimmy Buffett)
 London Town (with Lasley and McCuller)
 That Lonesome Road (with Peter Asher, Jim Gilstrap, Bernard Ighner,
  Lasley, McCuller, and Jennifer Warnes)


"That's Why I'm Here" -- 1985 - CBS
Reference #: CK 40052
Songs:
 That's Why I'm Here
 Song For You Far Away
 Only A Dream In Rio
 Turn Away
 Going Around One More Time (written by Livingston Taylor)
 My Romance (only on CD version)
 Everyday
 Limousine Driver
 Only One (with Don Henley, Joni Mitchell, et al.)
 Mona
 The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (with Graham Nash)
 That's Why I'm Here (reprise)


"Never Die Young" -- 1988 - CBS
Reference #: CK 40851
Songs:
 Never Die Young
 T-Bone
 Baby Boom Baby
 Runaway Boy
 Valentine's Day
 Sun On the Moon
 Sweet Potato Pie
 Home By Another Way
 Letter In the Mail
 First Of May


"New Moon Shine" -- 1991 - Columbia
Reference #: CK 46038
Songs:
 Copperline
 Down In the Hole
 (I've Got To) Stop Thinkin' 'Bout That
 Shed a Little Light
 The Frozen Man
 Slap Leather
 Like Everyone She Knows
 One More Go Round
 Everybody Loves To Cha Cha Cha
 Native Son
 Oh Brother
 The Water Is Wide


"James Taylor (LIVE)" -- 1993 - Columbia
Reference #: C2K 47056
Songs: (all new live versions recorded in concert)
 Disc 1:
  Sweet Baby James
  Traffic Jam
  Handy Man
  Your Smiling Face
  Secret O' Life
  Shed a Little Light
  Everybody Has the Blues
  Steamroller Blues
  Mexico
  Millworker
  Country Road
  Fire and Rain
  Shower the People
  How Sweet It Is
  New Hymn

 Disc 2:
  Walking Man
  Riding On A Railroad
  Something In the Way She Moves
  Sun On the Moon
  Up On the Roof
  Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
  She Thinks I Still Care
  Copperline
  Slap Leather
  Only One
  You Make It Easy
  Carolina In My Mind
  I Will Follow
  You've Got A Friend
  That Lonesome Road


4.1.2  Non-U.S. Albums

"Classic Songs" -- 1987 - CBS/WEA (Germany)
Reference #: iMi10985 (Pastel colors with photo from "JT" album)
Reference #: CBS 465643-2 (Australian version with a concert photo instead)
Songs:
 Fire and Rain
 Mexico
 You've Got a Friend
 How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
 Carolina In My Mind
 Something In the Way She Moves
 Shower the People
 Sweet Baby James
 That's Why I'm Here
 Everyday
 Up On the Roof
 Your Smiling Face
 Her Town Too
 Handyman
 Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
 Only a Dream In Rio



"Best Classics" -- ? - ?
Reference #: ?
Songs:
 ?


"Starbox" -- ? - Alex Imports (Greatest hits collection from Japan)
Reference #: ALE 393
Songs: (Note: no new material on this collection)
 ?


"Live In Rio" --  1985 - Columbia (Brasil)
Reference #: 700.060
Songs:
 Long Ago and Far Away
 Carolina In My Mind
 Up on the Roof
 You've Got A Friend
 Shower the People
 Fire and Rain
 Mexico
 Walking Man
 Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
 Knock on Wood
 How Sweet it Is                         


4.2  Singles

 Carolina In My Mind / Taking It In (3/69)
        Something's Wrong (7/69)
        Sweet Baby James / Suite For 20-G (4/70)
        Fire and Rain / Anywhere Like Heaven (8/70)
        Carolina In My Mind / Something's Wrong (11/70)
        Country Road / Sunny Skies (1/71)
        You've Got A Friend / You Can Close Your Eyes (5/71)
        Long Ago and Far Away / Let Me Ride (9/71)
        Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight (10/72)
        One Man Parade / Hymn (2/73)
        Hymn / Fanfare (3/73)
        Daddy's Baby / Let It All Fall Down (7/74)
        Walkin' Man / Daddy's Baby (8/74)
        How Sweet It Is / Sarah Maria (5/75)
        Mexico / Gorilla (8/75)
        Shower the People / I Can Dream of You [written by Liv Taylor] (5/76)
        You Make It Easy / Woman's Got To Have It (10/76)
        Handy Man (4/77)


4.3  Work On Other Albums

4.3.1  Solos

"A League Of Their Own Soundtrack"
 JT sang two songs: "Paper Moon" and "I Didn't Know What Time It Was"
 Apparently neither song appeared in the movie.

"Second Star To the Right" -- JT sang it on "Stay Awake," a collection of
        Disney songs (A&M records number 3918)

"Jelly Man Kelly" -- Sang it on the 1979 Sesame Street album "In Harmony"
 Co-written by JT's daughter, Sarah.

"Getting To Know You" -- Sang it on "For Our Children," a benefit album for
 pediatric AIDS research.


4.3.2  Duets, Trios, and Backup

- "Perfect Love" -- Cohn/JT duet on Cohn's self-titled album

- "Mockingbird" -- Duet with then-wife Carly Simon on her album, "Hotcakes,"
 and also on her Greatest Hits album.
 A live version appears on the 1979 "No Nukes" album.

- "Song of Long Ago" -- Carole King/JT duet on her album, "Music" - 1971

- "The Water is Wide" -- Duet with Karla Bonoff on her 1979 album "Restless 
 Nights" (J. D. Souther sang backup)
 JT recorded it solo on "New Moon Shine."

- "Old Blue" -- With violinist Mark O'Connor on his album "On the Mark" - 1987

- "City Light" -- Duet with brother Livingston on his 1988 album "Life Is
Good"

- "Back In the High Life" -- JT sang backup for Steve Winwood on this song

- Sang and played on Joni Mitchell's 1971 album, "Blue." Also performed on
 her albums "The Hissing of Summer Lawns," "Dog Eat Dog," and
 "Wild Things Run Fast."

- "Wonderful World" recorded with Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel in 1978

- "It's In His Kiss" --Duet with sister Kate Taylor on her 1978 album, "Kate
 Taylor."
 See section 9.1 below.

- "Crying In the Rain" -- Duet with Art Garfunkel on his 1994 album,
 "Up 'til Now."

- "Gonna Work Out Fine" -- Duet with Linda Ronstadt on her album "Get Closer."

- "Bartender's Blues" -- Sang backup for George Jones' 1977 cover of JT's
 own song.

- "Devoted To You" -- duet with Carly Simon on her 1978 "Boys In the Trees"
 album.

- Nascimento, Milton (Brazilian artist) -- JT sings backup on his 1994 album,
 "Angelus."

- Young, Neil -- JT sings backup for three songs on his 1992 album, "Harvest
 Moon."  The songs are: "From Hank to Hendrix," "War of Man," and "One
 of These Days."

- King, Carole -- JT plays guitar on her "Writer," "Tapestry," "Music," and
 "Thoroughbred" albums.

- "New Star Shining" -- duet with Ricky Scaggs on his album, "Love's Gonna
 Get Ya."



4.3.3  Other Compositions

- "Millworker," "Brother Trucker," and the music to a third song written for
 Broadway musical "Working" in 1979.  "Millworker" and "Brother
 Trucker" were later recorded on JT's album, "Flag."

- "Slow and Steady" recorded on Kate Taylor's 1978 album "Kate Taylor"



4.4  Videos

4.4.1  Concert Videos

"James Taylor in Concert" -- 1979 - Warner Bros.
First JT video.  Recorded Summer of 1979 at Blossom Music Festival during JT's
        "Flag" tour.  Hard to find, but may still be available in video rental
        stores.
Songs:
        Blossom
        Millworker
        Carolina in my Mind
        Handyman
        Brother Trucker
        Secret 'O Life
        Your Smiling Face
        Up on the Roof
        Steamroller Blues
        Don't Let Me Be Lonely
        Long Ago & Far Away
        I Will Not Lie
        Walking Man
        Mexico
        Honey Don't Leave LA
        Sweet Baby James
        How Sweet It Is
        Summertime Blues
 Fire and Rain


"Ohne Filter Musik Pur" -- 1986
Pioneer Laser Disc
Not available on VHS
Recording of 1986 appearance on German television program.
Approx. 50 min.
 You Can Close Your Eyes
 Sweet Baby James
 Wandering
 That's Why I'm Here
 Only A Dream in Rio
 Handyman
 Your Smiling Face
 Traffic Jam
 Sea Cruise
 Everyday
 Only One
 Fire and Rain
 How Sweet It Is


"James Taylor In Concert" -- 1988
Recorded March 1988 at the Boston Colonial Theater in Boston, MA.
Broadcast by PBS.
Sony
VHS, 69 minutes
Songs:
 Something in the Way She Moves
 Fire and Rain
 Your Smiling Face
 Only One
 Shower the People
 How Sweet It Is
 Up On the Roof
 Everyday
 Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
 Never Die Young
 Steamroller
 Carolina in My Mind
 Sweet Baby James


"Squibnocket" -- 1993 
Pre-1992 tour covering through "New Moon Shine"
VHS, 65 minutes, stereo
Songs:
        Secret Of Life
        Wandering
        Traffic Jam
        (I've Got To) Stop Thinkin' Bout That
        You've Got A Friend
        Fire and Rain
        Sun On the Moon
        Frozen Man
        Shed a Little Light
        Copperline
        Sweet Baby James
        Country Road
        Mexico
        Your Smiling Face
        You Can Close Your Eyes
        (and several interviews)


"The Seventeenth Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival" - 1994
Distributor: Pacific Arts
Producer: Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Inc. 1-800-624-2422
VHS, 90 mins.
Reference #: PAV 857

JT performs "Shower the People," "Sweet Baby James," and "Old Blue."
Other artists appearing include:

Strength in Numbers, Sam Bush, Shawn Colvin, Mary-Chapin Carpenter,
Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, Mark O'Connor, David Wilcox, Jerry
Douglas, Jonathan Edwards, Edgar Meyer, Peter Rowan, The Subdudes, Tom
O'Brien, Harvey Reid, and The Left Hand String Band.



4.4.2  Single-Song Music Videos

- Her Town Too
- Everyday
- Only One
- Only A Dream In Rio
- Never Die Young
- Copperline


4.4.3  Appearances In Other Videos

- "Nu Nukes"
- "In Our Own Hands"
- "Moscow Rock Festival"
- "Sing Yourself Silly" -- Sesame Street Home Video - 1990
 JT performs "Jelly Man Kelly."  See section 4.3.1.
- "Telluride Bluegrass Festival" -- 1994 - See Section 4.3.1.


4.5  Bootlegs

- "In Perfect Harmony" -- Bootleg recording of 1970 BBC radio performance
 with Joni Mitchell. Also named "You Can Close Your Eyes."
 See section 5.4.

- "Isn't It Nice To Be Home Again"



5.0  A P P E A R A N C E S

5.1  Saturday Night Live (NBC network - U.S.)

Mid-October, 1976 - Sang "Shower the People" and "Sweet Baby James."
 Host: Lily Tomlin

1979 - Sang "Johnnie Comes Back" and "Up On the Roof"
        Also played small role in a skit as a ship's crewmember.
 Host: Eric Idle

100th episode special (1980?) - Sang with Paul Simon on "Sunny Skies,"
        "Take Me To the Mardi Gras" (a Simon song), and "Cathy's Clown" (made
        popular by the Everly Brothers).

January 23, 1988 - Sang "Never Die Young," "Sweet Potato Pie," and "That
 Lonesome Road." Host: Robin Williams

December 14, 1991 - Sang "(I've Got To) Stop Thinkin' Bout That," "Shed a
 Little Light," and "Sweet Baby James." Host: Steve Martin

November 13, 1993 - Sang "Memphis" (written by Chuck Berry, 1959), "Slap
        Leather, and "Secret 'O Life."
        Also played himself in a skit satirizing a Frank Sinatra duet
                compilation that had recently been released.


5.2  "The Tonight Show" -- NBC Network (U.S.)

Oct. or Nov. 1985 - Host: Gary Shandling
 JT sang "Only A Dream In Rio" and "Everyday."  No interview.

February 2, 1988 - Host: Johnny Carson
 JT sang "Never Die Young" and "Sweet Potato Pie."  Interview.

October 2, 1991 - Host: Jay Leno
 JT sang "Copperline" and "Shed A Little Light."  Interview.

Late 1991 or early 1992 - Host: Johnny Carson
 JT sang "(I've Got To) Stop Thinkin' Bout That" and "Frozen Man."
 Interview.

August 9, 1993 - Host: Jay Leno
 JT sang "Country Road" and "Secret O' Life."  Interview.



5.3  "Sesame Street" (PBS Network - U.S.)

Several appearances on the daily children's television program.

On one occasion he sang "Up On A Roof" while on the roof of a building.


5.4  Concerts on TV 

"Evening at Pops" -- July 16, 1993 - PBS
With the Boston Pops Orchestra conducted by John Williams
Songs:
 Secret 'O Life
 Carolina in My Mind
 The Water is Wide
 The Way You Look Tonight
 Copperline
 Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
 Steamroller Blues


"Squibnocket" -- April 1992 - Disney Channel
Distributed on video tape as "Squibnocket."  See section 4.4.1 


5.5  Radio

1970 - Performed with Joni Mitchell on BBC radio show. See section 4.5.

May 12, 1980 - Performed at anti-nuclear arms rally in Central Park, New York
 City. Broadcast nationally. 

1981 - Performed for a live national radio broadcast from the Fox Theater in 
 Atlanta.


5.6  Major Live Performances

1979 - MUSE/No Nukes concerts - 5 shows from Sept. 18-22
 Documentary film, also called "No Nukes, may be available on video.
        Highlights of the shows at New York's Madison Square Garden were
        released on a triple album (vinyl) and documentary film, both
        titled "No Nukes."  The show was organized by Musicians United for
Safe
        Energy, which was a founded by JT, Carly Simon, John Hall and Bonnie
        Raitt.

1984 - Rock in Rio concert
 Recorded for "Live in Rio" album.  See sections 8.2.

1985 - Moscow Rock Festival
 Excerpts shown on Showtime cable network (U.S.)

5.7  "The Simpsons" - animated weekly series on Fox Network (U.S.)

2/24/94 - JT appeared as himself in an episode centering on Homer Simpson 
 being chosen by NASA for a space mission.  JT was called in to calm the
 frantic crew by singing a couple songs for them over the radio.  He
 started with "You've Got A Friend" and later sang part of "Fire And
 Rain," at one point changing the lyrics to avoid saying "flying 
 machines in pieces on the ground" since the rocket was expected to
 burn up on re-entry.  Hilarious inside jokes were made in reference to
 JT's home on Martha's Vineyard and his friendship with Art Garfunkel. 
 When JT suggested a way to save the astronauts and it failed miserably,
 the NASA head honchos turned on him angrily.  His response: "Gotta go."
 And he did.

 Look for sampled recordings of JT's appearance on both the Web home
 page and the FTP site.



6.0  T O U R   I N F O R M A T I O N

U.S. tour planned for Summer of '94.  Watch the newsgroup for updates.


7.0  B I B L I O G R A P H Y

7.1  Biographies

None known.


7.2  Major Articles/Interviews

_Guitar Extra_

 Spring, 1992 - Page 52 - "James Taylor, Back To The Well"

_Guitar Player_

 5/84 - Page 90 - "The instrumental side of James Taylor"

_Life_

 10/85 - Page 17 - "Pop's rainy day man is singing a sunnier tune"

_New York Times_

 4/8/81 - Page C24 - "Taylor: After the Turmoil and Wanderlust"
 2/3/88 - Section C - "The Pop Life"

_Newsweek_

 11/4/85 - Page 79 - "Grown-up James, adult Joni" (JT and Joni Mitchell)

_People_

 10/6/80 - Page 104 - "No nukers Carly Simon and James Taylor have a
  new cause: stopping fission at home"
 8/24/81 - Page 26 - "The five singing Taylors find smooth sailing in
  their first family concert"

_Rolling Stone_

 7/10/80 - Page 16 - JT's benefit concerts for the Anderson campaign
 6/11/81 - Page 28 - "Fathers and Lovers" (interview)

_Stereo Review_

 1/78 - Page 62-67 - "A Talk With James Taylor"

_Time Magazine_

 1971 - JT was the subject of a cover story.
 10/23/85 - Page 64 - JT's second marriage



7.3  Sheet Music and Music Books

"James Taylor" -- 1971 - Amsco Music Publishing Co.
  It contains the entirety of the 1st two albums ("James Taylor" and "Sweet
Baby James") in piano/vocal format, and (unusually for its day)
contained a separate section for guitarists featuring some performance notes
and guitar tabulature (a means of writing music for guitar that has becpme
very popular only in the last 4-5 yrs.)  The tabulature parts were written by
Happy Traum, himself a recording folk musician, and now head of Homespun Tapes
in Woodstock, which offers music instruction tapes by well known musicians,
including one by Livingston.  The book also contained the original Apple
release, an interview with James, a letter he wrote about himself, and a
reprinted review of a 1970 Carnegie Hall concert. It is easily recognizable by
its black & white cover photo of a rather severe looking JT.  This book was de
rigeur for folk guitarists in the 70s. A great many copies were once in
print, which means it may be easier to locate at used book shops for those
interested.



8.0  T I D B I T S   (Gossip, stories, etc.)

8.1  "Fire and Rain"

From William Palmer (wpalmer@oasys.dt.navy.mil):

Something I heard about this line goes like this: JT had a girlfriend
that he was really focusing on. Some friends decided that she was a
bad influence on him, and convinced her to go away for awhile. They
bought her a plane ticket, she got on the plane, and en route, it crashed
and she was killed in the accident. She was the 'sweet dream', and the
plane was the 'flying machine'.


From Jonathan Abramowitz (jabramowitz@msuvx1.memst.edui):

The real story behind "Fire and Rain", as I understand it, is that some
friends of James' were going to surprise james by bringing his
girlfriend, Suzanne, to one of his concerts- unbeknownst to James.
According to the story, Suzanne's plane crashed ("sweet dreams and
flying machines in pieces on the ground") on her way to see the concert
and Suzanne dies (Suzanne the plans they made put an end to you").


From Carrie Schwanke (ces@gwis.circ.gwu.edu):

"Fire and Rain" was written about a friend of JT's, Suzanne.  They met
when they were in Austin Riggs for heroin addition.  They became very
close *friends*.  After JT was released, they spoke on the phone alot,
helping each other out ("hours of time on the telephone line").  Suzanne was
supposed to be released, but committed suicide very close to her release
date.

The line "Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground" refers
to JT's past--and the breakup of his first band (Flying Machine).



8.2  The Rock in Rio concerts in January 1985

From Andre Valente (andre@lri.jur.uva.nl):

I was present in JT's concerts and almost all days from the festival
(10 days total) because I lived in Rio by that time.

- It started with JT alone in the guitar for a few songs, then with
the addition of two wonderful back-vocals (one male one female, both
black). This was the part I liked most. I prefer the slow songs (Long
Ago and Far Away, You Can Close Your Eyes, etc.) generally, and their
performance for so many people created an incredible effect: can you
imagine 200.000 people in a rock festival almost completely silent,
sitting on the ground? It was this magic mood that made the experience
incredible, and the origin of the magic was JT's music.

- The other instruments entered slowly, up to the moment where the group
was complete. Then followed "You've Got a Friend", "Fire and Rain",
"Mexico", etc. All the big hits, everything I wanted to hear. I think
he finished with "Up on a Roof", but I am not certain.

The fact that the audience was so big (the biggest from the 10 days of
the festival) was due to a large extent to JT. He was (is) very famous
in Brazil, especially for the generation that lived the 70s.


8.3  "Sweet Baby James"

The song is most likely about JT's brother Alex's son, James, though people
often associate the title with JT himself.


8.4  "Mona"

From Ethan Harvey (sunking@inca.gate.net):

He told the story at a concert I went to years ago, but I don't remember all
of it. He did own a pig named Mona, but he didn't shoot her. I think he left
rat poison out to kill the rats on his farm. Instead, Mona got to the poison,
and that was the end of Mona. But the shooting made for a better song, I
guess.


8.5  "Suite for 20G"

From Ken Kwartler (kmklegal@corp.sgi.com):

JT & the gang had purportedly written and recorded all the other songs for
Sweet Baby James, but needed one more.  JT strung together a few different
pieces he was working on into one song, and named it Suite for 20G, as once
they recorded it and gave the record company the finished project, they got
a $20G advance.


8.6  Carly Simon's "You're So Vain"

People often suggest that the song is about JT, but according to Carly
herself, it was about Warren Beatty. Other theories survive, though.


From JD Delorme (jdd9642@ritvax.isc.rit.edu):

The rumor going 'round when I was but a lad was that "You're
So Vain" was about Mick Jaggar - whom she dated for awhile - and who heard
it and knew it was for him. Then he begged to be allowed to do background
vocals - a little twisted humor - sort of the ultimate irony for the whole
idea that "you probably thing this song is about you". Of course - it may
well have been more urban folklore, too.


From Charles R. Center (CENTERCR%DFL@pcmail.usafa.af.mil):

Saw an interview once, and she said it was about Beatty, and acknowledged
that alot of people mistakenly attributed it to JT.


8.7  "Mexico"

From Carrie Schwanke (ces@gwis.circ.gwu.edu):

JT's song "Mexico" refers to a trip he took with his family
to this country.  JT came down with the craps and a fever and didn't leave
his hotel room for the entire trip, hence, the line: "I've never really
been so I don't really know."


8.9  JT/Carly Simon breakup

From Carrie Schwanke (ces@gwis.circ.gwu.edu):

The reason Carly and James broke up was because James was spending alot of
time on the road, totally concentrating on his music (and we really don't
mind).  Carly now had 2 kids by JT, and gave him a bit of an ultimatum:
Quit spending so much time on your music and more time with your kids or
I'll divorce you.
James' answer lies in the title of his next album: "Dad Loves His Work."


8.10 JT's Guitars and Pickups

From Sergio Ramirez (bsergio@cs.utexas.edu) citing a Spring 1992 
_Guitar Extra_ article:

For two years previous to the interview he had been playing guitars made
by a guy in St. Paul, called James Olsen.  He used those guitars in "New
Moon Shine."  He played a Yamaha for a while, but lately he had been
playing the Olsens only. He owned three Olsens, one of each of the sizes
Olsen made: a "parlor-size," a dreadnought, and a cutaway.

He was using a Lloyd Bags pickup under the bridge, and when playing live
he used a Pendulum audio preamp.  This was a 4-band equalizer with a
variable notch filter that helped him take out "some of the 'oinky,' sort
of unpleasant metallic sound that you get out of a piezoelectric
transducer."

He used to use a dreadnought guitar, and loved its profound sound, but he
found that with a piano and bass player he was taking too much room, so
he went for a smaller, more concise guitar with a narrower and prettier
range; this way the guitar can make a statement without getting tangled
up in bass and piano.  But when he drops the low E to a D, he goes back
to the dreadnought.



9.0  R E L A T E D   A R T I S T S

9.1  JT's Siblings

9.1.1  Alex

 "With Friends and Neighbors" -- 1971
 "Dinnertime" -- 1972
 "Dancing With the Devil" -- ?

9.1.2  Livingston:

 "Livingston Taylor" -- 1970 - Capricorn/Atco - Reference #: SD 33-334
 "Liv" -- 1971 - Capricorn - Reference #: SD 863
 "Over the Rainbow" -- 1973 - Capricorn - Reference #: CP 0114
 "3-Way Mirror -- 1978 - Epic/Legacy (released on CD 1/94)
 "Echoes" (compilation) -- 1979 - Capricorn - Reference #: CPN 0220
 "Man's Best Friend" -- 1981 - Epic - Reference #: JE 36153
 "Life Is Good" -- 1988 - Atco/Critique - Reference #: 90941-2
 "Good Friends" -- 1993
 "Our Turn to Dance" -- 1993

9.1.3  Kate

 "Sister Kate" -- 1971
 "Kate Taylor" -- 1978 - Columbia - Reference #: JC 35089

9.1.4  Hugh:

 No specifics known.


9.2  JT Alumni

9.2.1  Carly Simon

- Ex-wife and frequent collaborator
- Successful recording artist
Albums:
 "Another Passenger" -- Elektra - Reference #: ELE 1064
 "Anticipation" -- Elektra - Reference #: ELE 75016
 "Boys In the Trees" -- Elektra - Reference #: ELE128
 "Carly Simon" -- Elektra - Reference #: ELE 74082
 "Come Upstairs" -- Alex (import) - Reference #: ALE 3520
 "Coming Around Again" -- Arista - Reference #: ARI 8443
 "Have You Seen Me Lately?" -- Arista - Reference #: ARI 8650
 "Hello Big Man" -- Warner Bros. - Reference #: WAR 23886
 "Hotcakes" -- Elektra - Reference #: ELE 1002
 "My Romance" -- Arista - Reference #: ARI 8582
 "No Secrets" -- Elektra - Reference #: ELE 75049
 "Playing Possum" -- Elektra - Reference #: ELE 1033
 "Spoiled Girl" -- Warner Bros. - Reference #: CBS 39970
 "Best of Carly Simon" -- Elektra - Reference #: ELE 109
 "Greatest Hits Live" -- Arista - Reference #: ARI 8526
 "You're So Vain/Nobody Does It Better" (single) -- Elektra
  Reference #: ELE 65929


9.2.2  Carole King

- Wrote JT's major hit "You've Got A Friend" and many other songs
- Frequent collaborator and band member
- JT played guitar of several of her albums
- Successful artist
Albums:
 "Music" -- CBS - Reference #: CBS 34949
        "Plus" -- Collectables - Reference #: COL 5414
        "Rhymes and Reasons" -- CBS - Reference #: CBS 34950
        "Tapestry" -- CBS - Reference #: 34946
        "Wrap Around Joy" -- CBS - Reference #: 34953
        "Writer" -- CBS - Reference #: CBS 34944
        "Greatest Hits" -- CBS - Reference #: 34967
 "Fantasy" -- 1973 - CBS - Reference #: CBS 34962
 "Thoroughbred" -- 1976 - CBS - Reference #: CBS 34963
 "One To One" -- 1982 - ?
 "Speeding Time" -- 1984 - ?
 "City Streets" -- 1989 - Capitol - Reference #: CAP 90885
 "Colour of Your Dreams" -- 1993 - Scarface - Reference #: SCA 57197
 "In Concert" (live) -- 1994 - Scarface - Reference #: SCA 53878


9.2.3  Joni Mitchell

- Frequent collaborator and successful artist
        Albums:
        "Blue" -- 1971 - Warner Bros. - Reference #: WAR 2038
        "Chalk Mark In A Rainstorm" -- Geffen - Reference #: GEF 24172
        "Clouds" -- Warner Bros. - Reference # WAR 6341
        "Court and Spark" -- Elektra - Reference #: ELE 1001
                Also: Gold disc version by Gold Disc - Reference #: 1025
        "Dog Eat Dog" -- Geffen - Reference #: GEF 24074
        "Don Juan's Reckless Daughter" -- Elektra - Reference #: ELE 701
        "For the Roses" -- Elektra - Reference #: ELE 5057
        "Hejira" -- Elektra - Reference #: ELE 1087
        "Hissing of Summer Lawns" -- Elektra - Reference #: ELE 1051
        "Joni Mitchell" -- Warner Bros. - Reference #: WAR 6293
        "Ladies of the Canyon" -- Warner Bros. - Reference #: WAR 6376
        "Miles of Aisles" -- Elektra - Reference #: ELE 202
        "Mingus" -- Elektra - Reference #: ELE 505
        "Night Ride Home" -- Geffen - Reference #: GEF 24302 and 24388
        "Shadows and Light" -- Elektra - Reference #: ELE 704
        "Wild Things Run Fast" -- Geffen - Reference #: GEF 22019
                Also: Gold disc version by Ultradisc - Reference #: 570


9.2.4  Others

Don Grolnick

 - Produced JT's last two studio albums
 - Member of JT's band
 - Has recorded solo albums

Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar

 - Friend since childhood and longtime member of JT's band

Leland Sklar

 - Member of band

Peter Asher

 - JT's manager and a musician

Arnold McCuller

 - Frequent backup singer for JT

David Lasley

 - Frequent backup singer

George Massenburg

 - Co-produced and mixed JT's latest live album
 - Has also produced other major artists (10,000 Maniacs, Linda
  Ronstadt, et al.)
 - Lurks in alt.music.james-taylor

Russ Kunkel

 - Plays in JT's band

Rosemary Butler

 - Band member

David Crosby and Graham Nash

 - Frequently sang backup for JT
 - Members of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

Paul McCartney

 - Signed JT to the Beatles' Apple Records
 - Played bass on several songs for "James Taylor"
 - Sang with his wife Linda on "Walking Man"

Linda Ronstadt

 - Frequent collaborator and successful artist



10.0  P O I N T E R S

10.1  Where To Find JT's Albums

 All the U.S. albums are available on tape and CD in the U.S.
 Most of the CDs, including the non-U.S. ones, are for sale online.
  telnet zen.holonet.net and login: cdc

 Vinyl albums are harder to find, of course.  If you can't find what
  you're looking for locally, someone suggested Acoustic Sounds 
  at 1-800-525-1630.
 

10.2  Fan Mail

Try reaching JT through his manager, Peter Asher: 
 
 James Taylor
 c/o Peter Asher Management
 644 North Doheny Drive
 Los Angeles, CA 90069

 (310) 273-9433
 If you ask nicely you can get tour dates at this number.

No, JT probably doesn't have an E-mail address, but George Massenburg, who
co-produced JT's latest live album and albums by many other major artists,
does
read amj-t and has said JT will hear about it.



11.0  A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S:

A special thanks to Ken Kwartler (kmklegal@corp.sgi.com), the quintessential
JT guru.

Many others have also contributed to this FAQ, including:

Norma Pincus (norma@hpcllmr.cup.hp.com)
Carrie Schwanke (ces@gwis.circ.gwu.edu)
Jonathan Schilling (jls@summit.novell.com)
Sergio Ramirez (bsergio@cs.utexas.edu)
Jan van Kemenade (U001350@vm.uci.kun.nl)
Michael Lee Raymer (raymermi@cps.msu.edu)
... and many others.  


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


Please email any corrections, additions, or suggestions to the address below:


-- 
 Joel Risberg  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-  jrisberg@garnet.acns.fsu.edu
      "Me?  I'm a fingersmith.  I'm a professional fingersmith."
  -= Roald Dahl -=- "The Hitchhiker" =- 


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