Friday Night Jukebox, Vol. CVI--James Taylor: Sweet Baby James

The first record I ever bought (would have been about 1974 or 75) with my own money was James Taylor's Greatest Hits.  Unlike the first album purchase of many a music fan, it's not an album I've outgrown or long ago thrown to the wayside.  I still have my original copy, though the LP itself is well-worn and the album cover long ago lost the luster of its original lily-white.  And lo these forty some odd years later, listening to James Taylor remains one of my most comforting artists to listen to when all seems bleak.

And just the perfect antidote for what 2017 appears to be, when you consider that we're about to swear in an incompetent and idiotic turd as our next President in two weeks time.

Sigh.

By the time he was twenty-one, James Taylor had committed himself to two different mental institutions and had a full-blown heroin addiction.  By the time he was twenty-three, he'd had a top ten album, a #1 single, and was on the cover of Time magazine.  This isn't to say that all was well with Taylor--he battled his heroin addiction into the 80's.  But he did carve out quite the career--17 studio albums, over 100 million records sold, induction into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and still draws millions of fans whenever he tours.  He also has the distinction of being the first American act signed to Apple Records (both Paul McCartney and George Harrison made guest appearances on his first album), and of having his first #1 single in 1971 (a cover of Carole King's "You've Got A Friend") but not having his first #1 album until forty-four years later in 2015 (Before This World--truthfully, not one of his better efforts).  In fact, Taylor has the second longest wait in chart history, behind Tony Bennett at 54 years, for having his first number one LP.

Oh, the things you'll learn here on Friday Night Jukebox...

And for those who come here for politics, Taylor is a long time supporter of Democratic candidates and regularly makes appearances and performs at their rallies (John Kerry, Deval Patrick, Barack Obama among many others).  Thanks, Mr. Taylor!

"Sweet Baby James,"released in 1970 on his appropriately enough titled second LP, Sweet Baby James, was the first single from the LP but surprisingly enough, since it's a concert staple and fan favorite, never charted.  The song is basically a lullaby--Taylor composed the lyrics while driving through Massachusetts to see his first nephew, also named James, and thus the song was an ode to said nephew (though Taylor admits there is an element to it that is for himself, as well).  Taylor considers it his best written song and admits to spending more time on it than any other song he wrote.

One of the marks of a song featured here that I really enjoy is how much I sing it after listening to it a few days before writing the post--and this one has been in my head and sung in the shower pretty much constantly for the past few days.  It's just such a gentle song--there's a peacefulness to it that you don't hear much in contemporary music (though"Good Night" by the Beatles does come to mind).  The song features an acoustic guitar, some light strings, and a soft piano--but mostly it features the soothing vocals of Mr. Taylor.  And it truly is a lullaby--although none of them will remember it, at one time or another I sang it to all three of my children when they were babies on those nights when they were having trouble sleeping.  It's just a beautiful little piece of comfort pie for those looking for a respite from the daily strife.

Lyric sheet:  "A song that they sing of their home in the sky/Maybe you can believe it if it helps you to sleep/But singing works just fine for me..."

Enjoy:

Fuck Donald Trump,
emaycee