Customer Reviews

Never Die Young

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

James Taylor has given us so many wonderful albums over the last couple of decades (Gee, is it thirty years already?) that it is truly surprising to see him come up with yet another blockbuster of a song as "Never Die Young" along with a wonderful song cycle as he's produced here. From the opening bars of "Never Die Young", a wry but dreamy recollection of a couple destined to rise above the level of the ordinary humdrum of small town mentality to the thoughtful and well-arranged "T-Bone" to the reflective "Baby Boom Baby" to the rollicking "Sweet Potato Pie", there isn't a pooch in the passel. As always, this is an eclectic mixture of folk ballads like "Never Die Young" and the pensive and soulful "First Of May", which is my personal favorite here. What we have here, folks, is a guarantee of an entertaining, superbly rendered, and always memorable music by one of the old masters of popular folk-rock. After all, "JT" has now successfully negotiated the fifty-year mark, and like the rest of us boomers, shows no sign of slowing down or repeating himself. Enjoy!

"Never Die Young" is one of JT's greatest CD's recorded in the late 80's.The opening number I just mentioned,about rising above from your humble begining, is the one song I play the most.JT experimented with different sounds and Rhythm's on this tape,and its a up lifting record.There's only a couple of slow ballads,like "Valentine's Day,"but wait untill you hear "Sun on the Moon." This is very different from James Taylor's other songs,and its fantastic.One song I really love is "Baby Boom Baby," about a lost love,and remembering the good times."We sat on the beach and watched as the sun rose into the summer air." This is my second favorite from the tape,that leads into the country,Hoe down,"Runaway Boy." I really enjoyed this number,like all the other songs on the CD.The musicans are Brilliant,but Carlos Vega has got to be the greatest drummer in the world,next to Russ Kunkel.If you want to hear a wonderfull,experimental record,that makes you fill good inside,"Never Die Young" is the record to buy.

This is my favourite James Taylor album. So many great (and largely unknown) songs fill the disc from start to finish. The title track is one of his all-time masterpieces, but it's in such good company it's almost possible to not realise just how special a tune it is. Of the songs that make up that company my very favourites are "Baby Boom Baby", "Runaway Boy" and "Letter In The Mail".

Of the rest only "Home By Another Way" falls below par (barely). It depends on my mood as to whether I find lyrics (in reference to the three wise men) like "Some people call them wise, or orientals, even kings. Well, anyway - those guys" amusing or irritating. JT gets points for an all too rare sense of humour in the singer-songwriter genre at any rate. The cover photo makes a nice change too - that wolf is so darn cute!

This is an ideal album if you want to round out your collection with more than the greatest hits albums. Only the title track is represented on those, so there's little repetition, and having that song twice over is hardly likely to bother you. Buy it.

I bought this when it first came out, and I admit that it took a little time for it to grow on me compared to some of his other works. But this is a thoughtful CD with plenty of the usual pleasures to be had from JT, including witty lyrics, interesting musical textures, heartfelt emotion, and his unique and special voice. Favorites include the title track, a tribute to an unhip couple whose true love has helped them weather life together; Valentine's Day, a gem about love whose witty content is combined with a beautifully meandering melody; Sun on the Moon, an uptempo shot in the arm with a funky, syncopated rhythm driving it; Sweet Potato Pie, an unabashed love song; Home By Another Way, which retells a Bible story in an amusing and captivating way; Letter In the Mail, a wistful trip back to an old, now dying rural hometown; and the life-affirming First of May, which makes you want to dance, make love and eat wonderful food. Like I said, it takes a little time to grow on you, but it's worth it. JT is an American master.

In this troubling times, an album like this one in Audio CD, is a life-saver. The tracks/compositions as rendered by this brilliant artist are for me - his best work. One feels that this album among so many greats, was one in which JT truly wanted to convey his bright-line truth of the world at large down to the smallest child's wish in some forgotten place - that James Taylor not only remembered but managed to remind us of...as well.
A great buy, and at the top of my list now & as long as I can still sing along.

Believe it or not I got this for 4$ in a Wal-Mart bin with all the oldies. Well, I knew "Fire and Rain" and "Carolina's in my Mind" but had never heard one song from this album. And it is just so good. The music is so inspiring and he just sings so well. Best bargain I've ever gotten for music. I think people should know about this album.

My goodness, did the man ever release a bad album? Never Die Young is simply another shining example of James Taylor's incredible talent. He has that ability to make even the most mediocre of songs sound like brilliance. This is just more of the same.

"Never Die Young" is a great way to open this album up, cool, like Taylor. It maintains a steady disposition throughout the whole song, and has his signature all over it. "T-Bone" is slightly different. Maybe a little bit of country influence is hidden within it, but by no means overboard. How can you explain it other than it sounds like James Taylor? But he seems to carry this very slight country edge through some of these songs, like in "Runaway Boy". This song has a great, smooth opening that busts out with fiddle and rhythm. Maybe some of these songs would sound slightly off if it weren't for that so gentle voice of sweet baby James. But they're all grand. "Baby Boom Baby" is once again cool, with a saxophone, and its one of my favorites. Now "Valentines Day" is a very interesting take to me. A very subtle song, it sort of weaves our celebrated Valentines Day with sophisticated insinuations of the St. Valentines Day tragedy created by the infamous rival gangs of Al Capone and "Bugs" Moran all those years ago. So Taylor weaves a little history into a brief moment. Sound strange? I'm sure it does, but take my word that this song is sophisticated and gentle. One of my favorites. "Sun On the Moon" is upbeat and unique. Once again, difficult to describe other than 'signature Taylor'. Its a good song, but unfortunately it, like almost all of these other songs are not immediately associated with James Taylor. Well lets face it, he had so many other great hits that some are bound to get lost in the shuffle. "Sweet Potato Pie" is probably his most remembered from this album. Taylor did a duet of it with Ray Charles on Ray's duet album with other various artists entitled "Genius Loves Company". I urge you to check it out. The last three tracks on this album are mostly mild and all just as good as the other. I like "Home By Another Way" the best out of them, but they're all worth the listen.

So this is just another 5 star album by a very gifted artist. We can alway use more of sweet baby James, and this is a welcomed addition. If you like James Taylor then I'm sure you will agree, and if you don't know the man very well, this is a great opportunity to.

Thanks James.

By far my favorite JT album, from beginning to end. The title track is infamous, but it really does not have a bad song on the entire album. Personal favorites are "Home by another way" and "Valentines Day" along with of course, "Never Die Young". Had my best friend listen to it and fell in love himself with JT single-handedly through this album. IT'S A MUST BUY.

I love this CD because it is simple, fun music. It holds many summer memories for me so it is especially enjoyable.

I PURCHASED THIS CD FOR ONE SONG. THE TITLE TRACK. IT IS A WONDERFUL, SOFT, SWEET SOUNDING TUNE. MY FAVORITE TAYLOR TUNE OF ALL TIME. I ACTUALLY GIVE THIS CD 6 STARS FOR THAT ALONE. IT WAS WORTH IT. THE REST OF THE TUNES ARE ACTUALLY OVERSHADOWED BY "NEVER DIE YOUNG". I LISTENED TO THEM ONCE. ITS STILL A GREAT CD.