Greatest Hits

James Taylor | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: August 23, 1977
• Release Date: August 23, 1977
• Label: Rhino/Warner Bros.
• Copyright: 1988 Warner Brothers Records, Inc.
• Total Length: 43:50
• Genres:
• ASIN: B002DD67XG
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #607 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)
  • #18 in MP3 Downloads > MP3 Albums > Classic Rock

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 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.

33 of 44 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).

5.0 out of 5 stars outstanding!!!, December 18, 2010

By 

Robert W. Smith "Robert Smith, Ph.D." (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Greatest Hits (MP3 Download)

Yes, it has some remakes and not. It's classic James Taylor! I love the quality of the MP3 download, and, as with all downloads, it's easy to download, store, organize, and transport. Many years have passed since I had listen to this set of musical pieces, and I am very happy that I have now heard it. I recommend this for all of us who've grown up listening to James Taylor. I give everything a grade, and I give this a solid "A".