James Taylor - The Best of James Taylor [2003]

To compile a comprehensive one-disc best-of James Taylor album is a daunting task in and of itself. To compile it from material from three labels is a gutsy thing for David McLees and Warner Bros. to do and expect to make fans -- let alone pompous critics (no exception here) -- happy. Over 20 tracks, Warner has succeeded -- with full cooperation from Taylor, who wrote the liner notes -- in giving an accurate representation of the songwriter, who has survived and even flourished for over 35 years in the music biz. More importantly, they've displayed the great range of the artist as a songwriter of purpose, humanity, and empathy, an artist who has never placed himself above his audience. The album kicks off with "Something in the Way She Moves" from his only release for the Beatles' Apple imprint, and moves to the Warner material that covers the years 1969-1976, many would argue his greatest years. It's strange how songs like "Fire and Rain," "Country Road" (the 45 version), "Mexico," "Walking Man," and "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" do not seem to age; they feel as immediate and relevant in the 21st century as they did in the 1970s. And who can forget Taylor's version of "You've Got a Friend," with the searing backing vocal from Joni Mitchell? The producers also chose for inclusion here the 1976 version of "Carolina on My Mind" and the live take of "Steamroller" from the first Taylor Warner hits compilation in 1976 -- it's now the only way to get these tracks. From the Columbia years there are only five tracks. Two from JT ("Handy Man" and "Your Smiling Face"), his unforgettable read of the Goffin/King classic "Up on the Roof" from Flag, and "Only a Dream in Rio" from That's Why I'm Here. Some would argue with this one as opposed to something from Hourglass, but it's a small, nearly insignificant complaint. There is also a new recording here, "Bittersweet," finished just before release with Taylor's new band, that is a nice icing on the cake, but, to be a critic about the whole thing, this writer would have preferred they include "Anywhere Like Heaven" from Sweet Baby James instead -- another miniscule complaint. This is one of the most accurate and representative best-of packages to come down the line in a long time. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

Name Credits Aaron Rapoport Photography Airto Moreira Percussion Alan Fletcher Project Assistant Alison Shaw Photography Andrew Brucker Cover Photo Andrew Gold Harmonium, Vocals (Background) Andy Muson Bass April Milek Project Assistant Arif Mardin Conductor, String Arrangements Barry Sheffield Engineer Bill Inglot Remastering Bill Lazerus Engineer Bill Payne Keyboards Billy Miranda Assistant Blaise Castellano Assistant Bobby West Double Bass Bobbye Hall Triangle Byron Berline Fiddle Carly Simon Vocal Harmony Carole King Piano Clarence McDonald Keyboards, Fender Rhodes, Hornorgan, Piano Clifford Carter Keyboards Craig Doerge Piano Curtis King Vocals Dan Dugmore Guitar (Steel) Dan Hersch Remastering Danny Kortchmar Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Conga, Producer David Campbell String Arrangements, Conductor David Crosby Vocal Harmony David Henson Assistant David McLees Compilation David Sanborn Saxophone David Spinozza Producer, Arranger, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric) Donn Landee Engineer Elaine Eliaf Vocals Frank Filipetti Producer, Engineer, Mixing Gary Peterson Discographical Annotation Gayle Levant Harp George Ybara Assistant Graham Nash Vocal Harmony Harry Maslin Mixing, Engineer Henry Diltz Photography Hugh Brown Art Direction J. Maraniss Translation James Taylor Vocal Harmony, Vocals (Background), Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals, Producer, Liner Notes, Guitar (Electric), Arranger Jim Keltner Drums Jim Shea Photography John London Bass John Sheldon Guitar Joni Mitchell Vocals (Background) Kenia Gould Vocals Kenny Ascher Piano (Electric) Kevin Gore Project Assistant Komeka Freeman Project Assistant Leah Kunkel Vocals (Background) Lee Herschberg Engineer, Mixing Leigh Hall Project Assistant Leland Sklar Bass Lenny Waronker Producer Lincoln Clapp Assistant Loyd Clifft Assistant Engineer Malcolm Toft Engineer Maria Villar Art Direction Michael Brecker Sax (Tenor) Michael O'Reilly Assistant Milt Holland Percussion Moira Marquis Assistant Nick DeCaro Voice Organ, Hornorgan, String Arrangements Niko Bolas Engineer Norman Seeff Photography Peter Asher Producer, Engineer, Tambourine, Cabasa Phil Ramone Engineer Ralph MacDonald Percussion Randy Brecker Vocals Randy Perry Project Assistant Red Rhodes Guitar (Steel) Renatta Blauer Assistant Richard Sanford Orshoff Engineer Richie Blakin Assistant Engineer Rick Marotta Drums Robert Appere Mixing, Engineer Russ Kunkel Conga, Drums, Shaker, Cabasa, Percussion, Tambourine Russ Titelman Producer Sheryl Farber Project Assistant Steve Jordan Drums Steven P. Gorman Photo Editing Ted Jensen Remastering Tim Scanlin Project Assistant Tony Levin Bass Tony Pipitone Project Assistant Val Garay Mixing, Engineer Victor Feldman Orchestra Bells, Vibraphone Waddy Wachtel Guitar (Electric) Willie Weeks Bass Zbeto Vocals