James Taylor

James Taylor's sophomore LP was an epic singer-songwriter's album in much the same way that Carole King's Tapestry was. The understated twangy folk textures of Sweet Baby James connected with the broken hearts of 1960s idealists as the decade came to an end. It also yielded a classic radio hit in "Fire and Rain."

Last August James Taylor was quoted in Rolling Stone thusly: "I hope my next album will be
simpler. It has to be, because the music is simple and a big production job just buries all my
intentions." Well, this first post-Apple album dovetails nicely with that anticipation, even
down to the inclusion of Stephen Foster's "Oh, Susannah," buck-wheat cakes in her mouth
and all. Peter Asher (formerly at Apple with Taylor) produced this album, as well... More >

I have solved the Taylor Perplex, which seems to revolve around whether James was a verier godsend when he was gracing Macdougal Street with the Flying Machine, discovering the Beatles on Apple, or now. My answer: none of the above. Which leaves an even more perplexing question: which god is supposed to have sent him? Not the one in Rock and Roll Heaven, that's for sure. (Grade - B-)