Greatest Hits

James Taylor | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: October 31, 1976
• Label: Warner 1061
• Copyright: 1988 Warner Brothers Records, Inc.
• Genres: Folk/Contemporary Folk, Pop/Adult Contemporary, Pop/Pop Rock, Pop/Singer-Songwriters, Pop/Soft Rock, Rock/Folk Rock, Rock/Singer-Songwriters
• ASIN: B00123NBN2
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not Remastered, July 17, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Greatest Hits (Rpkg) (Audio CD)

I bought this CD since it had 2 songs I wanted not on last year's Best Of (the 1976 version of Something in the Way She Moves and the album version of Country Roads). Since this was just released last month I assumed it was remastered (they had already remastered most of these songs for the Best Of). Well, it was not remastered - what a rip-off. Shame on you Warner Bros. Stick with last year's Best Of, and stay away from all those other recently released Greatest by Warner, like Doobie Bros, Carly Simon, etc (I bet they're not remastered either).

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rock-a-bye, Sweet Baby James, April 18, 2010

By 

Tim Brough "author and music buff" (Springfield, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Greatest Hits (Rpkg) (Audio CD)

When James Taylor wrapped up his years with Warner Brothers records in 1976, that label promptly issued a greatest hits CD that remains one of the label's biggest sellers. Issued one of the RIAA's earliest "Diamond" certifications, this album has sold over ten million copies and remains available to this day. It's a time-capsule of Taylor's early work, spotlighting the years of sensitive singer-songwriters and his calm, soothing voice.

Staring with re-recorded versions of his Apple Records songs "Carolina In My Mind" and "Something In The Way She Moves" and a previously unreleased live version of "Steamroller Blues," this was Taylor before he became a staple on the summer festival circuit and a cover-er of oldies (although his version of "How Sweet It Is" is included here). There's a lot to be said for the simple pleasures of this collection, be it the warm reading of Carole King's "You've Got a Friend" (with Joni Mitchell on back-up vocals, it won Taylor his first Grammy) or the confessional "Fire and Rain."

After this, Taylor would be come more the studious professional that intimate singer-songwriter, continuing to make solid, if predictable soft-rock albums for CBS. There are two best of's since this one, a Columbia round-up on James Taylor's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 and a full on retrospective on The Best of James Taylor (both labels represented, but heavy on the Warners years). The biggest gripe is that this CD has yet to receive a proper remastering, but for the money, it's James Taylor at his best.

5.0 out of 5 stars Shower the people, January 15, 2011

By 

Susan Smiles - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Greatest Hits (Rpkg) (Audio CD)

Not much more to say about this collection other than classic. The white album cover has always spoke snow white simplistic art to me. I've enjoyed this music in various venues: Concert halls, riding in the car, cleaning house, sitting in a cafe or restaurant, and helping to pass the time at work. I don't know anyone who wouldn't recive this as a gift and not feel loved and blessed. Fire and Rain is deep and emotional, Country Road will transport you on a familiar gravel path walking amongst the birds and trees. Walking Man is fun to sing as a lullabye. Steam Roller rocks to the 'blues' core. Carolina In My Mind weaves a sensory memory...with a holy host of others standin' 'round me, still I'm on the dark side of the moon...and it seems like it goes on like this forever...you must forgive me...if I'm up and gone to Carolina in my mind. That line is a nice reference to a verse in Hebrews describing a communion of saints. James Taylor shares musical poetry and we benefit.