The Best of James Taylor

~ Release by James Taylor (see all versions of this release, 5 available)

Tracklist

▼ CD 1
#TitleRatingLength
1Something in the Way She Moves
recording of:
Something in the Way She Moves
lyricist and composer:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
publisher:
Country Road Music, Inc. (ASCAP-affiliated) and EMI Blackwood Music Inc. (1989-07-24–present)
2:27
2Sweet Baby James
engineer:
Bill Lazerus (in 1969-12)
producer:
Peter Asher (in 1969-12)
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist) (in 1969-12)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Russ Kunkel (in 1969-12)
electric bass guitar:
John London (in 1969-12)
pedal steel guitar:
Red Rhodes (in 1969-12)
piano:
Carole King (in 1969-12)
violin:
Chris Darrow (US country rock multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter) (in 1969-12)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Warner Records Inc. (not for release label use; fka Warner Bros. Records Inc. until 2019) (in 1970)
recorded at:
Sunset Sound in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States (in 1969-12)
recording of:
Sweet Baby James (in 1969-12)
lyricist and composer:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
publisher:
Country Road Music, Inc. (ASCAP-affiliated)
3.352:53
3Fire and Rain
engineer:
Bill Lazerus (in 1969-12)
producer:
Peter Asher (in 1969-12)
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist) (in 1969-12)
double bass:
Bobby ‘Wild, Wild’ West (in 1969-12)
drums (drum set):
Russ Kunkel (in 1969-12)
piano:
Carole King (in 1969-12)
recorded at:
Sunset Sound in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States (in 1969-12)
part of:
The Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 146) and Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 227)
recording of:
Fire and Rain (in 1969-12)
lyricist and composer:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
publisher:
Country Road Music, Inc. (ASCAP-affiliated) (ended), EMI Blackwood Music Inc. (1989-07-24–present) and フジパシフィックミュージック SBK事業部
4.53:25
4Country Road (single version)
engineer:
Bill Lazerus
producer:
Peter Asher
lead vocals:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist) (in 1969-12)
recorded at:
Sunset Sound in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States (in 1969-12)
recording of:
Country Road (in 1969-12)
lyricist and composer:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
publisher:
Country Road Music, Inc. (ASCAP-affiliated)
43:31
5You’ve Got a Friend
engineer:
Richard Sanford Orshoff
producer:
Peter Asher
acoustic guitar:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
acoustic guitar and congas:
Danny Kortchmar
bass guitar:
Leland Sklar (bassist, session musician)
cabasa, congas and drums (drum set):
Russ Kunkel
background vocals:
Joni Mitchell and James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
cover recording of:
You’ve Got a Friend
lyricist and composer:
Carole King
publisher:
Colgems-EMI Music Inc. and Screen Gems–EMI Music Ltd.
sub-publisher:
イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (from 2021-07-01 to present)
4.454:30
6You Can Close Your Eyes
engineer:
Richard Sanford Orshoff
producer:
Peter Asher
acoustic guitar:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
recording of:
You Can Close Your Eyes
lyricist and composer:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
publisher:
Country Road Music, Inc. (ASCAP-affiliated)
52:31
7Long Ago and Far Away
engineer:
Richard Sanford Orshoff
producer:
Peter Asher
acoustic guitar:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
bass guitar:
Leland Sklar (bassist, session musician)
congas:
Danny Kortchmar
drums (drum set):
Russ Kunkel
piano:
Carole King
background vocals:
Joni Mitchell and James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
recording of:
Long Ago and Far Away (James Taylor song)
lyricist and composer:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
publisher:
Country Road Music, Inc. (ASCAP-affiliated)
32:22
8Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
producer:
Peter Asher
mixer:
Robert Appère
recording of:
Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
lyricist and composer:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
publisher:
Country Road Music, Inc. (ASCAP-affiliated), EMI April Music Inc. and EMI Blackwood Music Inc. (1989-07-24–present)
52:37
9Walking Man
engineer and mixer:
Harry Maslin
producer:
David Spinozza
acoustic guitar and background vocals:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
bass:
Andy Muson
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Rick Marotta (US drummer/percussionist)
electric guitar:
David Spinozza
electric piano:
Kenny Ascher
percussion:
Ralph MacDonald
strings:
Gene Orloff
concertmaster:
Gene Orloff
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Warner Bros. Records Inc. (not for release label use, company behind the “WB Records” imprint) (in 1974)
mixed at and engineered at:
The Hit Factory in Manhattan, New York, New York, United States (from 1974-01 until 1974-04)
recording of:
Walking Man (James Taylor song)
lyricist and composer:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
publisher:
Country Road Music, Inc. (ASCAP-affiliated) (in 1974)
53:35
10How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You)
engineer and mixer:
Lee Herschberg
producer:
Russ Titelman and Lenny Waronker
bass:
Lee Sklar (bassist, session musician)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Jim Keltner and Russ Kunkel
electric guitar:
Danny Kortchmar
piano and Rhodes piano [Fender Rhodes]:
Clarence McDonald
tambourine:
Russ Kunkel
background vocals [vocal harmonies]:
Carly Simon
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Warner Bros. Records Inc. (not for release label use, company behind the “WB Records” imprint) (in 1975)
mixed at:
Warner Bros. Recording Studios (North Hollywood, a/k/a Amigo Studios) in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
cover recording of:
How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You)
lyricist:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland‐Dozier‐Holland songwriting team)
composer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
publisher:
ABKCO Music, Inc. (this is a music publisher; for release labels, please use “ABKCO”), EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), Stone Agate Music, Stone Agate Music Division and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部
4.353:36
11Mexico
engineer and mixer:
Lee Herschberg
producer:
Russ Titelman and Lenny Waronker
acoustic guitar:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
bass:
Lee Sklar (bassist, session musician)
drums (drum set) [drums] and shakers:
Russ Kunkel
electric guitar:
Danny Kortchmar and James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
harp:
Gayle Levant (American studio musician, harpist)
percussion:
Milt Holland
background vocals [vocal harmonies]:
David Crosby and Graham Nash
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Warner Bros. Records Inc. (not for release label use, company behind the “WB Records” imprint) (in 1975)
mixed at:
Warner Bros. Recording Studios (North Hollywood, a/k/a Amigo Studios) in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
recording of:
Mexico
lyricist and composer:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
publisher:
Country Road Music, Inc. (ASCAP-affiliated)
53:00
12Shower the People
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
bass guitar:
Leland Sklar (bassist, session musician)
drums (drum set) and percussion:
Russ Kunkel
instruments:
Clarence McDonald
organ:
Nick de Caro
Rhodes piano:
Clarence McDonald
tubular bells and vibraphone:
Victor Feldman (jazz musician)
background vocals:
Carly Simon and James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
conductor:
Nick de Caro
strings arranger:
Nick de Caro
recording of:
Shower the People
lyricist and composer:
James Vernon Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
publisher:
Country Road Music, Inc. (ASCAP-affiliated)
54:33
13Golden Moments
bass guitar:
Leland Sklar (bassist, session musician)
harp:
Gayle Levant (American studio musician, harpist)
organ:
Nick de Caro
triangle:
Bobbye Hall
lead vocals:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
conductor:
Nick de Caro
strings arranger:
Nick de Caro
recording of:
Golden Moments
composer:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
43:32
14Steamroller (live)
engineer:
Lee Herschberg (in 1975-08)
producer:
Peter Asher (in 1975-08), Russ Titelman (in 1975-08) and Lenny Waronker (in 1975-08)
mixer:
Val Garay
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist) (on 1975-08-02)
drums (drum set):
Russ Kunkel (on 1975-08-02)
electric bass guitar:
Lee Sklar (bassist, session musician) (on 1975-08-02)
electric guitar:
Danny Kortchmar (on 1975-08-02)
piano:
Clarence McDonald (on 1975-08-02)
recorded at:
Universal Amphitheatre in Universal City, California, United States (on 1975-08-02)
mixed at:
Sound Factory (1969–1980) in Los Angeles, California, United States
live recording of:
Steamroller (aka Steamroller Blues) (on 1975-08-02)
lyricist and composer:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
publisher:
EMI Blackwood Music Inc. (1989-07-24–present)
5:06
15Carolina in My Mind
engineer:
Val Garay (in 1976-10)
producer:
Peter Asher (in 1976-10)
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist) (in 1976-10)
electric bass guitar:
Lee Sklar (bassist, session musician) (in 1976-10)
fiddle:
Byron Berline (in 1976-10)
pedal steel guitar:
Dan Dugmore (in 1976-10)
reed organ [harmonium] and background vocals:
Andrew Gold (in 1976-10)
recorded at:
Sound Factory (1969–1980) in Los Angeles, California, United States (in 1976-10)
recording of:
Carolina in My Mind (in 1976-10)
lyricist and composer:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
publisher:
Country Road Music, Inc. (ASCAP-affiliated) and EMI Blackwood Music Inc. (1989-07-24–present)
4:00
16Handy Man
recording engineer and mixer:
Val Garay
producer:
Peter Asher
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
bass guitar:
Leland Sklar (bassist, session musician)
cabasa and tambourine:
Peter Asher
drums (drum set) and percussion:
Russell Kunkel
guitar [guitars]:
Danny Kortchmar
keyboard:
Dr. Clarence McDonald
background vocals:
Leah Kunkel and James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
CBS, Inc. (US broadcasting company; file no releases here!) (in 1977)
recorded at and mixed at:
The Sound Factory (1969–1980) in Los Angeles, California, United States (from 1977-03-15 until 1977-04-24)
cover recording of:
Handy Man
writer:
Otis Blackwell (American pianist, singer and songwriter) and Jimmy Jones (writer of “Good Timin’” and “Handy Man”)
publisher:
Bess Music Company, EMI Unart Catalog Inc., Metric Music Company (publisher), Shalimar Music Corp., フジパシフィックミュージック SBK事業部 and ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (holding company – do not use as release label)
4.653:20
17Your Smiling Face
recording engineer and mixer:
Val Garay
producer:
Peter Asher
acoustic guitar, background vocals and lead vocals:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
bass guitar:
Leland Sklar (bassist, session musician)
drums (drum set) and percussion:
Russell Kunkel
guitar [guitars]:
Danny Kortchmar
keyboard:
Dr. Clarence McDonald
conductor:
David Campbell (US‐based Canadian violinist, composer, conductor and arranger)
strings arranger:
David Campbell (US‐based Canadian violinist, composer, conductor and arranger)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
CBS, Inc. (US broadcasting company; file no releases here!) (in 1977)
recorded at and mixed at:
The Sound Factory (1969–1980) in Los Angeles, California, United States (from 1977-03-15 until 1977-04-24)
recording of:
Your Smiling Face
lyricist and composer:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
publisher:
Country Road Music, Inc. (ASCAP-affiliated), イーエムアイ音楽出版 ソニー事業部 (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング EMI外国事業部 (sub‐publisher for foreign (non‐Japanese) works) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
52:48
18Up on the Roof
additional assistant recording engineer:
Lincoln Clapp (engineer) and Michael O’Reilly (engineer)
assistant recording engineer and assistant mixer:
George Ybarra
recording engineer and mixer:
Val Garay
producer:
Peter Asher
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
bass guitar [bass]:
Leland Sklar (bassist, session musician)
drums (drum set):
Russell Kunkel
electric guitar [electric guitars]:
Danny Kortchmar and Waddy Wachtel
conductor:
Arif Mardin
strings arranger:
Arif Mardin
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
CBS, Inc. (US broadcasting company; file no releases here!) (in 1979) and Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (not for release label use! company owned by Sony Corporation of America from 1991–2004, operated worldwide except in JP) (in 1979)
additionally recorded at:
Atlantic Studios (1841 Broadway, New York, 1957–1991) in Midtown Manhattan, New York, New York, United States (from 1979-01-04 until 1979-03-25) and Mediasound Studios in New York, New York, United States (from 1979-01-04 until 1979-03-25)
recorded at:
Sound Factory (1969–1980) in Los Angeles, California, United States (from 1979-01-04 until 1979-03-25)
mixed at:
Sound Factory (1969–1980) in Los Angeles, California, United States
cover recording of:
Up on the Roof
lyricist:
Gerry Goffin and Carole King
composer:
Carole King
publisher:
Screen Gems–Columbia Music, Inc., Screen Gems–EMI Music, Inc. (USA, affiliated with BMI), イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (from 2021-07-01 to present)
34:21
19Only a Dream in Rio
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (not for release label use! company owned by Sony Corporation of America from 1991–2004, operated worldwide except in JP) (in 1985)
recording of:
Only a Dream in Rio
writer:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
45:03
20Bittersweet
recording of:
Bittersweet
lyricist and composer:
John Sheldon
3:44