Sweet Baby James
James Taylor
1970
Album Summary
Sweet Baby James is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter James Taylor and his first release on Warner Bros. Records. Released in February 1970, the album includes one of Taylor's earliest successful singles: "Fire and Rain", which reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100. The album itself reached number three on the Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart. Sweet Baby James made Taylor one of the main forces of the ascendant singer-songwriter movement. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Album of the Year, in 1971. The album was listed at number 104 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. In 2000 it was voted number 228 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums.
WikipediaMom was just telling me yesterday that she wanted to see albums from the likes of James Taylor and Carole King. I told her to be patient, but I guess patience isn't necessary. Previously, I'd heard only "Fire and Rain" from James Taylor, and I love that song. He's a great singer-songwriter, akin to Jim Croce but probably a bit younger and more marketable. This is a solid album, with good lyrics and great guitar work. Also a nice degree of variety, so it doesn't feel like a one-note singer-songwriter project--good use of other instruments. The music feels very organic, and James sound right at home in the different genres he explores. I wouldn't say I love it, but it's very good and enjoyable. Favorite songs: Fire and Rain, Oh Baby Don't You Loose Your Lip On Me, Lo and Behold, Steamroller Blues (up until the point where the horns come in). Album art: This is a pretty classic picture. Fits the genre in that it looks like a senior photo. Wikipedia lore says James was basically homeless and couch surfing when he made this album. For that reason, I'll assume he's not wearing pants. Put some pants on, James. Otherwise, great job.
Craving authenticity, Taylor slathers these songs with as much honey as he can get his hands on. Seems to have worked, as he's treated like an angel by many. Occasionally he sounds like one -- even less frequently these songs have a kick -- but the rest of the time he comes off like exactly the kind of dork who'd approve this album title and cover. He was never going to offer the nutritional value of John Prine or Gram Parsons -- I guess fast food salesman is a decent second place.
Super nostalgic for me. This is a fantastic album and Sweet Baby James is an all-time great song. James' voice is smooth and effortless. A real treat.
Very unsettled by this, it’s what I’d expect a murderer to have playing in the background whilst I’m strapped to a chair and he begins to systematically remove my face skin with a scalpel. Then he peels off and wears my face and mouths along to all the lyrics. Especially the song “sunny skies”
Oh Sweet Baby James, you sinister, demented villain. Laying your sappy brand of sap upon the world with merciless vigor, coating the masses in a film of safe, gentle sweetness. The world is stagnant because of you, failing to venture into richer realms of funk and rock, treading circular to nowhere, listening easy and listening safe, the soft drips of the acoustic dragging them all to the ground day by day, with each adult mix blend station play. You and your gaggle of singer/songsucker demons not only won the mid seventies, but irre-“vocally” tainted the hearing skills of so many for ages to come. I will not succumb to it. In my mind sunny skies are not a persons name but an adjective and plural noun. I refuse to be bewitched by your light voice and simplistic stylings, I find refuge in drum beats, in guitars electric, in songs not stupid. You have dulled the souls of millions, Sweet Baby James, but you will not weaken mine, for I too have seen fire and rain, and I know the truth of them. Fire is hot and rain is wet. You, Sweet Baby James are mild and dry.
I've owned this album since I was an early teen and don't remember ever listening to it all the way through. I was obsessed with "Sweet Baby James" and "Fire and Rain" as a young kid, think the latter is one of my earliest memories of songs I've heard on the radio. The record is an impressive blend of country, folk, and blues. Bummer I've waited this long to listen all the way through. Favorite tracks: "Fire and Rain", "Steamroller Blues", "Country Road"
this sounds like a nice cosy evening with raining outside and just chilling inside
More looks on here than I knew him for. The blues was particularly good
Great album. Great acoustic songs, no misses though only a few memorable songs high 4.5
i love this album every song is so good. while i am rating this 5 stars, i acknowledge that i have an extremely positive bias towards this album.
Fuck Facebook! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpDGJbC8RMo&ab_channel=MikeMcCarty I love James Taylor. Fire and Rain is an all-timer.
C'est bien simple, James Taylor est en fait une version évoluée de Gene Clark. En effet, James nous porpose une country impeccable pendant 30 délicieuses minutes, qui parvient même à surclasser celle de son grand ami Eugene Clark. Seul petit bémol, une présence scénique inexistante, James passant l'intégralité de l'album prostré sur son tabouret, à plusieurs mètres du jury. Il faudra travailler l'aspect chorégraphie de sa performance, sans quoi la place en finale risque d'être compromise.
Pour vous donner un peu de contexte, James Taylor venait d'apprendre juste avant l'enregistrement de cet album que ses deux sourcils n'allaient finalement jamais se rejoindre. Ni une ni deux, les textes de ce projet traiteront essentiellement de cette inquiétude passée. Les démons de Taylor ne s'éclipseront toutefois pas en un clin d'œil et son manque de confiance en lui continuera de transparaître dans Sweet Baby James. On entendra en effet dans plusieurs morceaux l'équipe technique lui murmurer des encouragements tels que « rapproche-toi, n'aie pas peur », « chante un peu plus fort on t'entend pas ici » ou encore « allez James c'est pas le moment de craquer »... Le projet d'enregistrer un album entier était peut-être trop ambitieux.
My mom used to listen to a lot of James Taylor when I was a kid and I got very burned out on it, but I was surprised by how much I like it now... maybe I'm getting old. Fire and Rain is great, and Steamroller is fun because Mama Rims used to skip that song because it's too dirty. I still think you need to be in the right mood for James Taylor but I found it pleasantly digestible.
Any artist who uses my name Twice in one album is a rock star in my book! It is amazing how someone so talented had challenges with drug abuse and depression. He has such amazing lyrics that make you stop and listen. He seems to be telling a story of his life and journey in every track. Great talent on loan from God. I just saw him and Carole King doing a live set to an intimate audience and his agent was there. James thanked him for all the years of commitment . I say thank you for all the amazing hits you’ve put out all theses years. His words have healed him and maybe many others
Obviously Fire and Rain is outstanding, but I really enjoyed the rest of the album a lot. It’s a really interesting mix of big band and country and rock that I didn’t realize existed before.
Simple & brilliant. I love the hits (particularly SBJ, Steamroller, and F&R) but I think the other tracks complement them nicely. I really like this album.
Really, really enjoyed this album. So easy to listen to and I honestly can't believe it came out in 1970! Love the country/Americana/blues vibe. Favorite album so far.
A tremendous album, I don't know how I've managed to miss it up to now.
Instant mood lifter. Great for the background of a relaxed evening or cooking
Classic Singer/Songwriter. This album help set the bar for all singer/songwriters to come.
Every year I get older I get more into James Taylor. A quintessential attribute of my suburban white dad final form I have to assume
Surprisingly creative and fun folk/blues/rock album! The covers were great and the slower songs were gorgeous, too!
This album was really good, easy to listen to. I enjoyed all of the songs! 5/5 stars.
Almost tempted to lower this to 4/5 because it's a little cheesy and I've heard the best songs too many times, but it's just too good.
The classic Dad album. Timeless songwriting and great recording. James Taylor is one of the best lyricists of all time and this album resonates with men of many ages. My dad loved it in his time as do I.
Fantastic album. There’s nothing like James Taylor. I could listen to this everyday and find joy in it. What a delight.
He has such a great voice. I don't love every song on this album, but his guitar and voice is just so great makes it worthy of 5 stars.
A true treasure of an album, an aural comfort blanket that lifts the soul and warms the heart. James Taylor could sing the phone book and it would still be worth a listen. "Country Road" has a special place in my heart, featuring as it does in one of my most favourite films. Not one wasted second in this album, and one that I will listen to again and again.
So nice. Makes you want to go fishing all day on a row boat. Fire and rain is one of my favourite songs, but have never really listened to the others.
Great album, one of the first \"Singer Songwriters\" this is a great album, love \"Sweet Baby Jane\" \"Steamroller Blues\" \"Oh Susannah\" and \"Fire and Rain\" James at his best before the alcohol and male pattern baldness kicked in! Look at that Mane like hair! Great Album Rightfully in the list in my honest opinion.
This is great. And I don't usually go for this kind of stuff. But every note, every artistic decision, the voicing and just every touch on the album is perfect. Loved it
I've known of this album for a long time but never given it a proper listen. I loved it. Taylor's voice is just fantastic and coupled with that lovely acoustic guitar playing. Such great stuff.
Great album, comforting vocals, standouts "Fire and Rain", "Sweet Baby James"
Great music to ease your way into the day. Taylor's voice is so pure and rich and music is simple but beautiful. It goes to show you don't need autotune and digital effects when you have pure, raw singing and songwriting talent. Wish we had more music like this today.
I first fell in love with James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain” when I was 10 years old watching Remember the Titans with my parents. After that I listened to more and more of his music and was amazed at his clean vocals and acoustic guitar. He mixes singer-songwriter with blue grass and blues. Even “Oh, Susana” he makes interesting. This is a near perfect album for me.
This was a fantastic album. What a great voice and great songwriting. I don't know how this album could have been better so I've got to give it the coveted 5 stars.
Great production, great songs. It feels weird to give it 5 stars because I don't particularly find it groundbreaking, but it feels like a flawless record.
Fantastic album....could listen to JT all day. Love his voice and his style. This one contains some of my all time favs. 4.5/5
james taylor is a bit of a musical blind spot for me, and i wish he wasn’t, because this is excellent. great vocals, great guitar, the bit with the horns was super cool. just a great album.
Great guitar tone, great voice, reverent to the Americana tradition without feeling derivative. If you like James Taylor, it’s a winner.
My wife and I used to listen to side 2 of this record going to sleep for several years. We'd turn it on and fade away to the smooth timber of his voice and the lovely Travis-picking. It's a great songwriter's record. These are simple songs elevated with great guitar work and smooth effortless voice. There are few things as organic as that and James was probably one of the best. People forget that he was around the Beatles early on and influenced their songwriting, even directly inspiring "Something" by George Harrison. Also, he's one of the most underrated guitar players on the planet. Listening to Lo and Behold off of this record is an absolute master class in finger-picking and writing two completely separate guitar parts that can be played independently and still sound like the song enough to play and sing to, but when played together blend so perfectly that they almost sound like a single piece. Perfect. Story-time: In the summer of 2002 while I was in college, on a lark, my aunt bought me a ticket to see James Taylor live. She knew I liked music and was a bit of a hippy, so she thought that was appropriate. She's... not real hip. I went alone b/c no one else wanted to buy tickets and I was the only person under 60 at the show. Let me tell you, JT and his band were absolutely fantastic. So much so, I bought solo tickets to 6 other shows on the tour and followed him down the I-10 corridor from Jackson to New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio over the next 10 days or so. It was during the summer and I just stayed with college friends along the way. So, the summer after freshmen year in college while my friends were all living it up on summer vacation or following Widespread Panic or gearing up for Phish's imminent reunion or whatever college freshmen do, I was following James Taylor. I was not very cool.
Yes! This was great, I’ve only heard Fire and Rain before. Really nice acoustic songs and powerful harmonies.
Wow. Man was I wrong about James Taylor. This album is so good. I love the variety of genres he dapples in. The beautiful fingerpicking guitar throughout on the slower songs. It was perfect.
chill and refreshing, nothing stuck tho but definitely will listen again
most of this is just very comfy normal folk pop but there are a couple songs that just burst into loud brassy jazz pop partway through and its always a complete suprise. fuckin wild. good album
There's some seriously saccharine stuff here, but when he's on, he's on. Best track: Fire and Rain
Can't deny the James Taylor's talent. And the album is good, really good. However, it is boring.
Lekkere blues rock - Steamroller is een favoriet. Zang in dat nummer vind ik niet heel bijzonder. In country road komt de zang beter uit de verf, maar is de compositie en gebruikte instrumenten weer meer classic rock. Blossom is dan meer een "simon and garfunkel" vibe. Leuke muzikale afwisseling op het album dus. Niet heel verassend of spannend verder, maar zit wel goed in elkaar.
Great album, fine acoustic by James Taylor one of those great 70's folk artists such as Jim Croce, a huge friend of him or Joni Mitchell. Very sentimental, true emotion. Love the guitar work.
We are starting March off, and this week, on a great note. I thought “You’ve Got a Friend” was on this album but these are all new songs to me and I really enjoyed them. James feels like he is exploring the studio space in this album especially on Steamroller Blues and Suite for 20 G. He always reminds me of a very soft rock folksy kind of fella so it was nice to see him try the blues and also cover a few songs too like Oh, Susannah. I liked Fire and Rain and Country Road as well but the standout tracks for me were Lo and Behold and Steamroller Blues. This album was short and sweet but the best part of that was I listened to it twice in a row. The album cover makes it seem like he is slowly getting upset at something but the title of the album and type of music is anything but.
This kind of folky blues isn't really my thing, but I did actually like this. Last track is a tune.
Really good album. Soft slow but upbeat. Amazing guitar playing and voice. 10. Must be one of the first artist to refer to themselves in songs (JT) (also sweet baby James) Really like steamroller blues and 11.
My parents had James Taylor in their music rotation a lot when I was little so most of this album was familiar! Easy to listen to with some pretty classic songs.
Silky throated singer songwriter - with a dark underbelly. Best Tracks: Sweet Baby James, Steamroller Blues, Fire and Rain
I have lots of feelings about this being included in the 1001 Albums list. My family owned this album when I was a 10-year old kid and I was a fan, up to a point. I would have never dreamed this album would end up on any sort of must-listen-to kind of list though. This will be the first time I've listened to this album all the way through in about 50 years. The first thing that strikes me is how relatively deadpan and matter of fact Taylor's delivery is. When delivering emotional material, the tendency at the time (and since) was for singers to try and sell the emotion. James Taylor wasn't having any of that. He just said what he had to say like he's having a conversation with a close friend. I find that both moving and comforting. The second revelation is how much he likes country, the blues, gospel, and R&B. That wouldn't have occurred to me back then because I had no real knowledge of music genres at the time--I just knew what I liked. Taylor pulls off his attempts at different genres with various levels of success. He's aces at country (Sweet Baby James, Anywhere Like Heaven), surprisingly good at gospel (Lo and Behold), but his attempts at blues and R&B are more problematic. Oh Baby, Don't You Loose Your Lip On Me isn't bad, I guess, but it can get unintentionally funny sometimes: "Don't you loose your lip on lovin' man JT, whoo hooooooo...." The more subtle injections of R&B into folk material (Oh, Susannah) work, but when goes full throttle (Steamroller, the 2nd half of Suite for 20 G), the results are kind of embarrassing. It's apparent how much he loves R&B, but James Taylor is a Laurel Canyon singer songwriter down to the marrow of his bones. Listening to him to try be Wilson Pickett is like a little kid trying on profanity to seem more like an adult. The production and arrangements (with the exception of the latter have of Suite for 20 G) suit Taylor admirably. The sound is clean, clear and spacious, as are the arrangements. The backing is by Laurel Canyon stalwarts like guitarist Danny Kortchmar, drummer Russ Kunkel, and Carole King, as well as a couple of country specialists (Red Rhodes on steel guitar and Chris Darrow on fiddle). I should probably mention that Taylor himself is a decent guitarist. The playing is elegant and understated, in keeping with Taylor's approach. How to rate? Nostalgia will do doubt color my opinion. In a low key way, it was quite ambitious of Taylor to include so many genre elements in this music. More often than not, he succeeds wildly. Occasionally his reach exceeds his grasp, but I feel inclined not to punish him too harshly for that. So, I'll subtract a star for Taylor's embarrassing attempts at full on R&B.
Loved this album! Very easy listening. Nice mix of country, blues, indie(?)
I knew this day would come. Where I would listen to an album by a 70s white ‘my car and my guitar’ dude and not want to solder my ears closed. And so it came to pass that the plaintive face on the cover, the awful album title and the hackneyed journey-across-America lyrics inspired not anger, but a kind of beatific wonder. There is enough variety in here that I can believe Taylor cares more about crafting tight songs and exploring a range of modes than he is appearing weather-beaten and road-worn. The tropes are just because that’s the voice he was exploring. Don’t like it? Stick around, he’ll find another mode. Perhaps you’ll like that. Maybe it’s Stockholm Syndrome. Maybe my ankle hurt too much yesterday for me to concentrate, but I felt this as part of a long lineage of genuinely talented songsmiths.