Sweet Baby James

by

James Taylor

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With the launching of this album, a thirty-year career was sent into high orbit. Of course, it is still up there, spinning and lightening our loads as we make our way through the days and evenings of our lives. If the baby boomers have a long-play soundtrack to their lives, most of the songs on this album would be on it, beginning with "Sweet Baby James", a lullaby written for his nephew but detailing his voluntary `escape' from the Austin Riggs center in Stockbridge. Massachusetts, riding down the turnpike to Boston, and on to London, where he was `discovered' by the Beatles.

Then there is "Fire and Rain", another autobiographical tune that was one of the biggest smash hits of all time, one covered by more solo artists than any other, and "Country Road", by now instantly identified by its opening chords by thousands of Taylor fans. It is all here, folks; the voice, the songs, and the guitar work that made James Taylor the superstar/singer/songwriter laureate of the seventies. Along with John Denver, Cat Stevens, Elton John, and Van Morrison, he virtually revolutionized popular music for a generation with his very personal, often intense, and always very approachable and melodic approach to music. There are hours and hours of wonderful experience in store for anyone with this album, whether you've come down in a space ship and are just introducing yourself to his work, or you are an old friend stopping by to sit on the front porch for a spell while Mudslide Slim plays and sings in his unforgettable voice for you. Enjoy!