Having released his last studio album containing original material over 11 years ago, James Taylor has kept his fans waiting for his next collection of songs. In addition to several live CDs, a Christmas collection, and two albums of cover versions, Taylor recently released a greatest hits collection to help tide fans over. The Essential James Taylor provides an overview for newer listeners, as most diehard Taylor fans already have his hits. Still, it is useful to have many of his best-known tracks on one collection rather than the already existing Greatest Hits Vols. 1 and 2 compilations.
Featuring liner notes by music critic Anthony DeCurtis, The Essential James Taylor predictably contains songs that have become old friends to many listeners: “Fire and Rain,” “You’ve Got A Friend,” “Something in the Way She Moves,” and “Sweet Baby James” are all present and accounted for. A curious addition on disc one, “Honey Don’t Leave L.A.” stands as the only non-hit from his 1970s heyday (peaking at No. 61 on the pop charts in 1977). Unfortunately no songs from his self-titled debut LP, released on the Beatles’ Apple label in 1968, are included in this collection.
Disc two demonstrates Taylor’s transition from minimalist production to a slicker sound consistent with the 1980s. Despite this change, his highly personal songwriting, clear voice, and exquisite guitar playing remained the same. His last hit single, “Her Town Too,” is an underrated duet with top composer J.D. Souther. This collection allows for a renewed appreciation of this melancholy track narrating the messy aftermath of a breakup. Taylor and Souther’s voices blend seamlessly — the bridge still sounds as effortlessly lovely as it did in 1981.
The compilation contains disappointingly few songs from modestly successful but stellar efforts like Never Die Young (1988) and New Moon Shine (1991). While singles like “Copperline” and “Never Die Young” are represented here, hidden cuts like “Baby Boom Baby,” “Valentine’s Day,” and “The Frozen Man” are inexplicably absent. His 1997 track “Little More Time with You” charms, as does the delicate “Another Day,” both from Hourglass. Yet one of his finest songs from that album, the heart-wrenching “Enough to be on Your Way,” has been left off.
The Essential James Taylor also includes a handful of live performances; Taylor’s legendary concerts are indeed crucial for appreciating his unique musical gifts. His live renditions of “Secret O’ Life” and “Country Road” improve upon the studio recordings, while “My Traveling Star” (recorded with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus) and his popular concert closing tune, “You Can Close Your Eyes,” reproduce the intimate experience of his recent One Man Band tour. An interesting addition is “Hard Times Come Again No More,” a collaboration with Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, and Mark O’Connor. A bridge between classical and Appalachian music, it illustrates how Taylor’s supple voice can shape itself to fit virtually any genre.
Listeners desiring a general introduction to Taylor’s extensive catalog should enjoy The Essential James Taylor; longtime fans will likely debate over omissions. However, the two-CD set offers convenience in that many of his major hits — and examples of his newer material — are now available in one package.
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