Best Composition by James Taylor

[saltpoint]

This poll asks DUers opinions on the best composition by James Taylor.

It may not be the song you personally like best, but the song you feel is the best of his compositions.

Consider the musical composition itself, the lyrics, delivery, and so forth.

Nine choices plus an 'Other' should open the field.

One website to help prompt responses:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050128/pl_nm/holocaust_cheney_dress_dc

I'll check in after folks have had a chance to respond.


-- TIA --

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. Other.

Fire and Rain.

[LSdemocrat]

2. I agree

[saltpoint]

6. It's very hard to argue with this composition, GAoTriplets.

It certainly stopped me in my tracks when I first heard it.

Very powerful, and very powerfully delivered, too.

[fluffernutter]

14. Fire and Rain for me too.

You've Got a Friend 2nd.

[mitchum]

22. It's actually better than any single song by Nick Drake...

when it comes to harrowing beauty (and I prefer Drakes's overall output to Taylor's) "Fire and Rain" is a phenomenal achievement.

Okay, now all of my fellow Drake fans can burn me at the stake for heresy :)

[saltpoint]

27. Hi, mitchum. I hope no one will burn you for anything --

-- and least of all for making sense.

I simply insist on a world with both Nick Drake and James Taylor. They represent 2 different sensibilities to me, but both were rich in talent. You use the words "harrowing beauty," and I think that is the perfect description.

Untouchably accurate.

I hate George w. Bush but can tolerate living in the world with him as president if I have my music. If Nick and James and Joni etc. were taken away, I'm not real interested in setting the alarm.

Thank you for this post. Appreciated it very much.

[Quetzal]

3. "You've got a friend" baby

we always sing it at family parties.

On Edit: Did he write it, or just do a rendition of it?

[gater]

4. Carol King wrote it.

[saltpoint]

5. Hi, Quetzal. Carole King wrote it and does a fine --

-- version, but Taylor's is the famous recording that everyone knows.

He sings it as if he actually did write it and Carole King plays the piano on that recording.

It's a great song.

[Boswells_Johnson]

7. I forget which one it was. I slept through it.

:)

[saltpoint]

8. Them's fightin' words, B_J. Fightin' words, I tell ya.

[Boswells_Johnson]

10. LOL...Nah, I quite like Taylor, honest!

[saltpoint]

12. Whew! That's good. I was oilin' the rifle...

So do I (obviously). One of my favorite sensibilities, and a good Democrat to boot.

[Boswells_Johnson]

21. I'd love to see him lay a beating on a random moran:) n/t

[saltpoint]

28. : )

Your posts tonight have been strictly top-drawer, by the way.

I appreciate reading them.

[Wat_Tyler]

9. "Where my bitches at?"

[saltpoint]

13. Wat Tyler, you're gonna have to help me. I don't get it.

Please don't say you're making fun of the 11-year old on another DU post tonight who died trying to save his two dogs...

[Wat_Tyler]

17. Not sure what that's about.

I'm talking about my favourite James Taylor song - 'Where My Bitches at?'

[leftofthedial]

11. Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight

is a classic

He has written a boatload of great songs.

[saltpoint]

15. Yes, a good composition and a very singable song.

I'm not a good voice, but people who actually can sing like that song to sing.

I don't blame 'em one bit.

Thanks for your post, leftofthedial.

-----
I love your screen name.

[leftofthedial]

24. cheers!

I used to be able to sing and I always enjoyed it.

[Lex]

16. Kind of off-topic, but James Taylor's "October Road" album

is really good and reminescent of his older work. The album's a couple of years old now but I highly recommend it, if you don't have it.

[saltpoint]

19. Hi, Lex. (Again!) Yes. It is a good album.

I bought it on the way to do laundry a while back and listened to it just roll into my skull. Wonderful stuff.

And you're right -- it does seem to reach back into some of those earlier sounds he loves so much.

[leftofthedial]

23. GREAT record

frigging great

[gardenista]

25. Been listening to it lately. Over and over. Do I have a problem?

Honestly, I must have listened to it 20 times in the last month.

Not only is it reminiscent of his old work, but it's humorously self-referential.

Favorite song of the moment is "Traveling Star"

[Lex]

26. When I listen to it, I listen to it over and over again too.

I can't listen to it just once (like the potato chip commercial).

"Traveling Star" is great! My favorite song on the album changes from song to song, depending on what mood I'm in, if that makes sense.

[gardenista]

31. Makes perfect sense to me!

I always have a soft spot in my heart for "Mean Old Man".

And depending on my mood, I get attached to "September Grass"...

His phrasing is just so lovely. "Would you care to come down at fireworks time..." It's not the way people talk, but it's so beautiful in song. Reminds me also, because of the phrasing, of "Fire and Rain", "Suzanne, the plans they made put an end to you." Hard to explain, I just think he uses the language beautifully.

And, besides all that, he is very handsome and reminds me of a very nice boyfriend I had in highschool.

[saltpoint]

29. No, you don't have any problem at all.

The people with the problem are those who don't listen to good music and stand in line in the rain for hours to vote for a certain cretinous dolt in the White House.

But I ain't namin' names.

[gardenista]

32. Yep. I bet there weren't many JT fans in that line. nt

[SeanQuinn]

18. I < 3 "Sweet Potato Pie" on Ray Charles' last album

Originally from JT's 1989 album, I think.

Favorite goes to Fire and Rain.

[saltpoint]

20. Yes! Hi, SeanQuinn. It's a tune that doesn't get the --

-- attention it deserves.

Great composition, and good lord does it get sung by Ray.

[no name no slogan]

30. The one where he's really whiny and self-obsessed and sings about....

oh, shit, that's everything innit? ;)

[saltpoint]

33. Ok, no name no slogan. We'll be over at your house --

-- in 15 minutes and you better have a nicely worded apology to Mr. Taylor in hand.

Otherwise, there's gonna be trouble.