The album that launched a thousand heavy-hearted singer-songwriters on their not-so-merry way, Sweet Baby James was arguably the first shot in what became the soft revolution of the early '70s. A refugee of the Beatles' Apple label, Taylor struck commercial gold with Sweet Baby James by augmenting his acoustic guitar and soothing vocals with laid-back accompaniment (which included equally influential singer-songwriter insurrectionist Carole King on piano) and penning a slew of songs that drew upon folk, soul, and rock influences. "Fire and Rain" stands as the quintessential early Taylor tune: musically mellow and lyrically restive, it put Taylor in the Top 10 and set the tone for a popular school of '70s sound. --Steven Stolder
Sweet Baby James,James Taylor,Warner Bros / Wea,Adult Contemporary,Folk-Rock,Pop,Pop/Rock,Popular Music,Rock,Rock/Pop,Singer/Songwriter,Soft Rock,United States of America
Sweet Baby James
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Sweet Baby James
James Taylor Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000002KB3 Release Date: 1990-10-25 |
Tracks:
- Sweet Baby James
- Lo And Behold
- Sunny Skies
- Steamroller
- Country Road
- Oh, Susannah
- Fire And Rain
- Blossom
- Anywhere Like Heaven
- Oh Baby, Don't You Loose Your Lip On Me
- Suite For 20 G
Amazon.com
The album that launched a thousand heavy-hearted singer-songwriters on their not-so-merry way, Sweet Baby James was arguably the first shot in what became the soft revolution of the early '70s. A refugee of the Beatles' Apple label, Taylor struck commercial gold with Sweet Baby James by augmenting his acoustic guitar and soothing vocals with laid-back accompaniment (which included equally influential singer-songwriter insurrectionist Carole King on piano) and penning a slew of songs that drew upon folk, soul, and rock influences. "Fire and Rain" stands as the quintessential early Taylor tune: musically mellow and lyrically restive, it put Taylor in the Top 10 and set the tone for a popular school of '70s sound. --Steven StolderCustomer Reviews:
Still Shiny After Many Decades.......2007-01-08
This album is an introduction to his style of presenting music, which includes a great variety of genres, all found in this one collection. Although he basically performs folk type of music, he also brings in country, rock 'n' roll, jazz, and expecially blues to his work, as can be heard on this album. A common trait to the songs here is his smooth, mellow voice, and his down-to-earth lyrics about feelings, thoughts, relationships, traveling through life and going to places. All of these songs consist of straightforward words about these experiences and feelings, in a contemplative and personal way. The album also initially appeared during a turbulent era in society, yet does not hint at the issues that were swirling around at the time, as many other records of that year did so prominently. The listener can retreat from those issues by tuning in to the "Sweet Baby James" album which hosts themes that are timeless and not connected to any particular date or historical events and concerns. If someone were to hear these songs for the first time, more than thirty years after they were released, they would sound as fresh and contemporary as they did in the early 1970s.
The folk style predominates in several of these tracks that are found in the central part of the album. A very popular and perhaps the most well-known of these songs is "Fire And Rain", about the unexpected death of a friend or a loved one; it deals with feelings about various things, both good and bad. This song reached #3 on the pop chart, and was remade into a country hit by another singer many years later. The other folk-sounding hit that came off of this album is "Country Road", an introspective, mild piece in which he contemplates thoughts as he walks down a road, both literally and figuratively. It reached #37 on the pop music chart. "Blossom" is a guitar piece that compares a girlfriend to a flower that brings sunshine and "melts my cares away." Then there is the remake of singer-songwriter Stephen Foster's poem "Oh Suzanna", addressed to a girl. James Taylor puts his own twist on this timeless gem.
The steel guitar so prevalent in country music is heard in a couple of the songs here: the title track (and initial song) is "Sweet Baby James", a country/Western lullaby ballad in 3/4 time, first a story of a cowboy singing a song, then about traveling on a long snow-covered highway from Stockbridge to Boston and beyond. "Anywhere Like Heaven" is a country-style track that contemplates about life, time slipping by, and visiting a town and realizing that the city is not a place in which he would be happy.
"Sunny Skies" is bouncy, light-hearted and jazzy, with lively folk guitar picking; it personifies the sun-filled sky as if it were a person, a friend, with its own feelings and actions. The preceding track "Lo And Behold" showcases blues and soul gospel, with religious overtone amidst a backdrop of folk guitar. James sings the verses, then the background singers join in for the chorus. The popullar "Steam Roller Blues" starts out gently with a folk guitar along with a blues overtone, then changes pace and steps up the volume midway through with brass horns, adopting the jazz and rock 'n' roll sound while still retaining its blues features. The fairly brief blues track, "Oh Baby, Don't You Lose Your Lip On Me" very much fulfills the description of blues, where wailing depicts the sadness, and ends with brisk strumming.
The last track "Suite For 20 G" is the longest and serves as a grand finale to this versatile album. This composition begins as a gentle folk ballad with introspective and observant lyrics about spring days passing by, relationships, love and letting go, being free someday. James' friends accompany him on vocals in the background. This changes to a high energy style midway through, with jazz, blues, and rock 'n' roll all blended together. Musical insturments are mentioned as cures for ailments like the common cold, rockin' pneumonia, and boogie woogie flu. The track (and the album) end with just the instruments: brass horns, guitars, and drums as they gradually fade away.
This album should be considered a classic among the popular music listings. Even with the passage of time, these songs sound as fresh as when they were brand new. They have withstood the changes in times and years. Once again, troublesome issues surround the world, but James Taylor's songs still offer a welcome retreat from these concerns.
His first will always seem his best to me..........2006-12-14
One of the first popular music records I ever listened to.......2006-01-19
Remind yourself how good this was.......2006-01-17
Sail on home to Jesus, won't you good girls and boys?
I'm all in pieces, you can have your own choice . . .
Mama don't understand it, she wants to know where I've been
I'd have to be some kind of natural-born fool to want to pass that way again
But you know I can feel it on a country road.
Everyone seemed to face some choices eventually, and having `Sweet Baby James' to listen to in the meantime helped a whole generation imagine some cowboy with nothing but songs and a fire. "But I always thought that I'd see you again" was the expectation raised by `Fire and Rain,' even if "Won't you look down upon me Jesus?' was a line in there somewhere. In `Blossom,' sunshine is the big relief with an empty road behind. "Much too long a day" doesn't sound too bad, but James Taylor could make a complaint out of "They don't see the days slipping by, and neither do I" in `Anywhere Like Heaven.' Playing around with the blues is the only possible explanation for `Oh Baby, Don't You Loose Your Lip On Me.' Then the album returns to the "Slippin' away" theme, with "You can say, Someday I want to be free," which shows up in `Suite for 20 G.' Then he "Said I'm sure enough fond of my rock `n' roll," which we all ought to feel by now.
Sweet Baby James.......2005-10-07
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The Greatest Ragtime of the Century
Manufacturer: Shout Factory ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00009PJST Release Date: 2003-06-10 |
Tracks:
- Shreveport Stomp - Jelly Roll Morton
- Sweet Man - Jelly Roll Morton
- Tom Cat Blues - Jelly Roll Morton
- A New Kind Of Man With A New Kind Of Love For Me - Thomas 'Fats' Waller
- Nobody But My Baby - Thomas 'Fats' Waller
- Got To Cool My Doggies Now - Thomas 'Fats' Waller
- Maple Leaf Rag - Scott Joplin
- Weeping Willow Rag - Scott Joplin
- Something Doing - Scott Joplin
- Steeplechase Rag - James P Johnson
- Twilight Rag - James P Johnson
- Charleston Rag - Eubie Blake
- It's Right Here For You - Eubie Blake
- Fare Thee Honey Blues - Eubie Blake
- Mr. Freddie Blues - Jimmy Blythe
- Regal Stomp - Jimmy Blythe
Customer Reviews:
Awesome to hear the old masters almost live........2007-03-27
The Greatest Ragtime of the Century.......2005-10-30
As a former dancer, Flapper, wth the Charleston in my routine, I do appreciate Great Music. I'm not quite as good as I used to be, but neither are you, Gal. Will be 66 next birthday. Still have the rhythm and love life.
Put some spice in your life and don't let this CD get away. Please, just get it today.
A great introduction and sampling........2005-08-23
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Lullabies: A Songbook Companion
Manufacturer: Essay ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00000083Z Release Date: 1997-11-18 |
Tracks:
- All Through The Night
- All The Pretty Little Horses
- All Night, All Day
- Armenian Lullaby
- Baby's Bed's A Silver Moon
- Baloo, Baleerie
- Brahms' Lullaby
- Brezairola
- Traumerei, Op. 15, No. 1
- Can Ye Sew Cushions
- By'm Bye
- Bye, Baby Bunting - Golden Slumbers
- Dance To Your Daddy - Dance, Little Baby
- Fais Dodo
- Good Night To You All
- Jocelyn: Berceuse
- Hush, Little Baby
- Kumbayah
- Little Boy Blue
- Suo Gan
- Matthew, Mark, Luke, And John
- Mozart's Lullaby
- Chanson de Nuit, Op. 15, No. 1
- Now The Day Is Over - Raindrops
- Raisins And Almonds
- Rock-A-Bye, Baby
- Rocking - The Sandman
- Tales Of Hoffman: O Bell Nuit - Bacarolle
- Skidamarink
- Sleep, Baby, Sleep
- Sweet And Low
- Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
- Toora, Loora, Loora
- Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star: Twinkel, Twinkel, Little Star
- When At Night I Go To Sleep
Amazon.com
Released as a companion piece to the award-winning book Lullabies: An Illustrated Songbook, this hour-plus of music is a wonderful mix of stately classical themes and child-friendly vocals. The selections range from "All the Pretty Little Horses" to a global spread of lullabies drawn from classical and folk traditions. The music is spare, with Kapp on piano, Julianne Baird and Kapp's daughter Madeline on vocals, and Mela Tenenbaum on violin, viola, and occasional vocals. Most of the classical selections (from Robert Schumann, Johannes Brahms, Edmund Elgar, W.A. Mozart, et al.) get a straight-ahead, accomplished treatment. Lest you think the project stuffy, each of the melodies is in the one- to two-minute range, which effectively mandates a stronger sense of flow than most children's collections. Kapp, who managed to create a visual and poetic flow in the Lullabies book, keeps things nicely in a groove here, knowing enough to segue into silly tracks about halfway through the CD to provide a wider emotional range. This album every bit as accomplished as the book. --Andrew BartlettCustomer Reviews:
Wonderful!.......2007-02-14
Simple and sweet songs.......2006-04-02
Marvellous cd, enchanting music.......2005-10-18
Good if you want to sing from the book but can't read music.......2004-02-10
Didn't like the voice........2002-12-11
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Veni, Veni, Emmanuel
Manufacturer: White Line ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000030Z3 Release Date: 1996-10-15 |
Tracks:
- Veni, Veni, Emmanuel
- What Sweeter Music
- Once In Royal David's City
- The Angel Gabriel
- Ding Dong Merrily On High
- A Hymn To The Virgin
- Noel Nouvelet
- This Is The Truth Sent From Above
- Sir Christhmas
- Bethlehem Down
- Wither's Rocking Hymn
- Swete Was The Song The Virgin Soong
- In Dulchi Jubilo
- Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day
- The Shepherd's Farewell
- Lully, Lulla, Thou Little Tiny Child
- Remember, O Thou Man
- We Three Kings Of Orient Are
- Adam Lay Y-Bounden
- Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!
- O Come, All Ye Faithful
- The Wexford Carol
- New Year Carol
- Benedicamus Domino
Customer Reviews:
Unexpected Gem.......2005-12-10
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Cantorum Christmas! - The Anniversary Carols
Soli Deo Glroia Cantorum , and Cathy Bundock Moore Manufacturer: Soli Dei Gloria Rec. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B00000HF2U Release Date: 1998-10-01 |
Tracks:
- O, Come All Ye Faithful
- God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
- Still, Still Night (Silent Night)
- Baby Jesus, Asleep in my Arms
- Joy to the World
- Jesu, Son Most Sweet and Dear
- The Silent Word (What Child is This?)
- Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus
- A Day in a Manger
- A Day in a Manger (Harp solo)
- Angels We Have Heard on High
- Il est ne le divin enfant
Album Description
Jackson Berkey's "Anniversary Carols". Carols of the Season arranged for Mixed Chorus, Harp and ancient percussion by the featured keyboard artist of Mannheim Steamroller.
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Sweet Baby James
James Taylor Manufacturer: Wea/Warner ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00005HGQV Release Date: 2002-03-11 |
Tracks:
- Sweet Baby James
- Lo and Behold
- Sunny Skies
- Steamroller
- Country Road
- Oh, Susannah
- Fire and Rain
- Blossom
- Anywhere Like Heaven
- Oh Baby, Don't You Loose Your Lip on Me
- Suite for 20 G
Album Details
Same as USA Version.
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The String Quartet Tribute to James Taylor
Manufacturer: Vitamin Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000089IYP Release Date: 2003-02-25 |
Tracks:
- Fire And Rain
- Mexico
- Goin' To Carolina
- Sweet Baby James
- October Road
- Your Smiling Face
- Mean Old Man
- You've Got A Friend
- Shower The People
- The Plans I've Made (Original Composition)
Product Description
1. Fire And Rain
2. Mexico
3. Goin' To Carolina
4. Sweet Baby James
5. October Road
6. Your Smiling Face
7. Mean Old Man
8. You've Got A Friend
9. Shower The People
10. The Plains I've Made (Original Composition)
Format: CD
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Lullabies from Around the World
Manufacturer: Wind Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B00004VEGC Release Date: 2004-09-21 |
Tracks:
- Lullaby
- Lullaby
- Lullaby
- Children Are Asleep
- Autumn Night
- Sleep, Darling Baby
- Lullaby
- Lullaby
- Flow Gently Sweet Afton
- Lullaby
- Yi-Li Yi-Li
- Lullaby
- Lullaby
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Happy Birthday Baby
Manufacturer: Livzart ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000CA71AA Release Date: 2004-11-23 |
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Sweet Baby James/Mud Slide/One Man
James Taylor Manufacturer: Phantom Sound & Vision ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000BRHY7E Release Date: 2000-11-21 |
Tracks:
- Sweet Baby James
- Lo And Behold
- Sunny Skies
- Steamroller
- Country Road
- Oh, Susannah
- Fire And Rain
- Blossom
- Anywhere Like Heaven
- Oh Baby, Don't You Loose Your Lip On Me
- Suite For 20 G
Tracks:
- Love Has Brought Me Around
- You've Got A Friend
- Places In My Past
- Riding On A Railroad
- Soldiers
- Mud Slide Slim
- Hey Mister, That's Me Up On The Jukebox
- You Can Close Your Eyes
- Machine Gun Kelly
- Long Ago And Far Away
- Let Me Ride
- Highway Song
- Isn't It Nice To Be Home Again
Tracks:
- One Man Parade
- Nobody But You
- Chili Dog
- Fool For You
- Instrumental I
- New Tune
- Back On The Street Again
- Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
- Woh, Don't You Know
- One Morning In May
- Instrumental II
- Someone
- Hymn
- Fanfare
- Little David
- Mescalito
- Dance
- Jig
Rap Music:
- Ten Summoner's Tales [Enhanced]
- That Was Me: The Best of Todd Snider 1994-1998 [Original recording remastered]
- The Chronicles of Life & Death (Life Art Version)
- The Lake [EP] [EP]
- The Repulsion Box
- The Stranger [Enhanced] [Original recording remastered]
- The Sunlandic Twins
- The Used [Enhanced]
- The Very Best of Michael McDonald
- The Zombies - Greatest Hits [SACD]
Recommended Music:
My House Is Bigger Than Your House