The Best of James Taylor

by James Taylor

Product Description:

Personnel includes: James Taylor (vocals, acoustic guitar); David Crosby, Graham Nash (vocals); Danny Kortchamar (acoustic & electric guitar, congas); Gayle Levant (harp); Michael Brecker, David Sanborn (saxophone); Clarence McDonald (piano, Fender Rhodes piano); Carole King (piano); Kenny Ascher (electric piano); Leland Sklar (bass); Bobby West (double bass); Russ Kunkel (drums, congas); Jim Keltner (drums); Joni Mitchell (background vocals).

Producers include: Peter Asher, David Spinozza, Lenny Waronker, Russ Titelman, Frank Filipetti.

Compilation producer: David Melees.

When his debut appeared in 1968, James Taylor was the first non-Beatle to release an album on the Fabs' Apple label. Since then, his long, consistent career has been a model of integrity and craft. While he hasn't ventured very far afield as say, his contemporary Joni Mitchell has), Taylor has maintained the gentle, introspective, archetypal singer-songwriter sound he defined over his first couple of albums. Eschewing quantity for quality, he remains a perennial favorite even with infrequent releases of new material.

THE BEST OF JAMES TAYLOR is the first collection to combine tracks from his three labels, rounding the set out with the newly recorded "Bittersweet." Though Taylor was among the first to usher in the era of autobiographical singer-songwriters, he also had a number of hits covering others (from Marvin Gaye's "How Sweet it Is" to Carole King's "You've Got a Friend)." The 20 songs here cover the arc of his career, serving to remind that not only do his early recordings remain essential components to the soundtrack of their era, but that Taylor remains one of the smoothest, most agile singers to emerge from the singer/songwriter boom.