Greatest Hits

James Taylor | Format: MP3 Music

Product Details

• Original Release Date: August 23, 1977
• Release Date: August 23, 1977
• Label: Rhino/Warner Bros.
• Copyright: 1988 Warner Brothers Records, Inc.
• Record Company Required Metadata: Music file metadata contains unique purchase identifier. Learn more.
• Total Length: 43:50
• Genres:
  • Classic Rock
  • Rock
• ASIN: B002DD67XG
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (180 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #450 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)
  • #8 in MP3 Downloads > MP3 Albums > Classic Rock

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 48 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for the young at heart January 26, 2000

By Jason

Format:Audio CD

As a 14 year old boy, i am expected to listen to Lymp Bizcuit and the terrible music produced today. What a refreshing type of music James Taylor has created; like no other type around, JT's music provides a soothing sound everytime I listen to it. When I'm down it cheers me up. When im too excited it calms me down. It is the greatest CD ever created. With great hits such as "You've Got A Friend", "How Sweet It Is(To Be Loved By You)", "Carolina On My Mind", and "Fire and Rain", James Taylor's Greatest Hits is a must for anyone.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars great--as far as it goes, that is (three and one-half stars) May 6, 2008

By Matthew G. Sherwin HALL OF FAMETOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

James Taylor Greatest Hits is a good retrospective even though at twelve songs I think it's a bit too short. They should have added a song or two; but what we do get is excellent material. The quality of the sound is excellent and the artwork is tastefully done.

"Something In The Way She Moves" has a very pretty melody and the guitar and James' singing carry the bulk of the melody. This song is a sweet one that has traces of folk music in it; and the string instruments are very well placed into the musical arrangement. "Carolina In My Mind" features James Taylor front and center--and that's OK with me! The melody is very solid and James sings this with all his heart and soul. Excellent! James' voice is very rich and full of masculine warmth; his uncanny sense of timing enhances his performance even further.

"Fire And Rain" tugs at my heartstrings whenever I hear this torch song; it's all very beautiful and James sings this passionately. James carries this tune well and the piano works well for this love ballad. "Country Road" again places James right in the spotlight--and he doesn't waste a minuet! James delivers "Country Road" with panache and this impresses me greatly. The slight twist of folk and country music elements enhances the natural beauty of "Country Road."

"You've Got A Friend" is probably my very favorite song on this CD; James delivers this flawlessly and the emotion again tugs at my heartstrings because James sings of unconditional and undying love and friendship. The guitar carries the melody well but the other instruments help out, too. James also handles tempo changes effortlessly--although we know that it really wasn't so easy; James could make it seem easy because he is so talented....

"How Sweet It Is (To be Loved By You)" has a pop music flavor to it; and I can never tire of hearing James Taylor singing this fine tune! The melody stuns me with its beauty and there's no wonder why this was a huge hit for James. Great! "How Sweet It Is (To be Loved By You)" is clearly a major highlight of this album. In addition, James Taylor does a great job on "Shower The People;" this touching love song stresses the importance of showing your special people just how much you really love them.

The CD also ends very strong with James Taylor performing "Steamroller." "Steamroller" is a live track that James carries perfectly and his adoring audience loves every minute of it!

James Taylor fans will want this CD if they don't already have these songs in their collections. Because this album is so short it may be best suited for the casual fan who doesn't care to delve too deep into James Taylor's work. I have to take off one and ˝ stars to make this a three and ˝ star review because the CD is just too short to be called a "greatest hits" collection. Read more ›

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Mellow Out July 30, 2000

By PeterHousener

Format:Audio CD

This is a great CD. Makes me mellow and makes me remember the past. Sometimes best of albums are the best buy. Get this one. And I do not personally know cydneyday but I kinda like her reviews. I read her profile after that nasty comment from some reviewer. He must not get it. I like her personal touches not just saying whats on the cd or in the book. She seems okay to me. Stay mellow and buy James Taylor today.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

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

By Tim Brough TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format: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.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Starter for JT Fans June 1, 2000

By Jeffrey Sykes

Format:Audio CD

James Taylor's Greatest Hits is one of the best CD's I own. I love listening to the CD and I keep it in my CD at all times. I recommend listening to "Something in the Way She Moves" and memorizing the words. Most ladies seem to like the song and you usually don't lose brownie points for serenading them (unless your voice sounds like nails on a chalkboard). The only problem with this CD is James Taylor has too many hits and this is only a one disk set.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars In my mind I'm going to Carolina! February 28, 2002

By "rockrollmusicislife"

Format:Audio CD

There has always something very soothing and pleasant about the soft rock god James Taylor. He's not a great guitar player, nor a great singer, yet his down home personality and poetic whimsy of his songs can bring you on a train to heaven after you've been through heck.

Greatest Hits Volume One gather together some of the greatest songs from James Taylor's creative peak. Within these 12 tracks are tales of love won, love lost, lost friends, wandering a Country Road, dreams of "women and glasses of beer, and a glorious trip to Mexico. All centered around a simple accoustic guitar and a simple voice that just might be you or me. There's something very beautiful about that. (Oh yeah! If you think this man is "sensitive" you have yet to hear this classic live version of Steamroller)

So if you want to hear some relaxing (but never boring) folk-rock/singer-songwriter music then I suggest you look towards one of the best. One of the most personal, most melodic, most modest, simply one of the greatest songwriters around turn to James Taylor. And if you want to start with the best, start here!

P.S. Get Greatest Hits Volume 2 after that.

P.S.S. What are you waiting for. Get it NOW!