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62 of 62 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of-a-kind portrait of a living legend., November 13, 2007
James Taylor is that rarest of creatures -- an unpretentious superstar. The 59-year-old iconic singer and songwriter, originally from North Carolina, presented his so-called "One Man Band" show at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, MA during July 2007 with such effortless charm that it was as if he were sitting around the fireside at home, talking with a bunch of old friends. But the ease with which he put it all across belied the rigorous attention to detail and sheer craft that went into the making of this delightful show.
Larry Goldings, who accompanies Taylor on piano, organ, synth, harmonium and melodica, is a one-man band. He has developed a following in the jazz world for his own compositions and recordings, as well as his live performance.
James Taylor sang some of his most beloved recordings, interspersing them with his insightful and humorous anecdotes on the inspiration for the songs.
He and Larry together serve up a full menu of Taylor's work over the past 40 years, from "Something in the Way She Moves" (the song which won him his first contract with the Beatles' Apple Records in 1968) right up to "Mean Old Man" and "My Travelling Star" from his most-recent release October Road.
An illustrated voyage around Taylor's life and times, the show begins with him alone, singing the gentle melody and picking out the lilting chord sequence of "Something in the Way She Moves", one of the first songs that he wrote.
Joined on stage (and on the record) by the piano player Larry Goldings, he moves on to another of his early songs, "Never Die Young".
.."That's always good advice", he told the audience. "But far too late for me, of course"...
On this 19-song set -- which marks a return to an earlier, simpler style of performance for the perennial, quintessential singer-songwriter -- Taylor sings with a touch that is nothing short of perfection.
You will enjoy some of his biggest hits "Sweet Baby James", "Carolina in my Mind" and "Fire and Rain" and the gentle, life-affirming mood of the album will continue to resonate long after your listening.
This isn't an album for fans of shoot-outs and car chases, as you might expect from a man who sings: "The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time".
The album's highlights : "Carolina On My mind", "Chili Dog", "Something in The Way She Moves" and "You've Got a Friend".
All in all, this is an extraordinary, one-of-a-kind portrait of an artist, his renowned repertoire and the personal stories behind the songs.
Enjoy!
One Man Dog
The Best of James Taylor
James Taylor - Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
James Taylor (Live)
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