James Taylor is cool. No, really he is. The man is a great composer, a dedicated and inspiring musician, an underrated vocalist and a survivor. Taylor is a staple of the summer-shed tour circuit and always fields a band of elite players who bring their A-game night after night. While many of his contemporaries have lost their muse, vocal abilities and or will, Taylor seems to get stronger each year.
You hear all of that on 1993’s Live, a deft combination of the above traits featuring the late Carlos Vega on drums. Quite frankly, another concert release always seemed redundant. That included 2007’s One Man Band, mostly because the offbeat duo recording felt like such a weird left turn for the singer. Yet, after listening to a new reissue, the charm and appeal is apparent. Available for the first time on vinyl via Craft Recordings, this update includes packaging and photos that are detailed and enticing, and the 180-gram vinyl has a heft to it which, for me, makes vinyl so engaging.
Of course, the playing on the record is even more rewarding. Originally produced by Dave O’Donnell and James Taylor, One Man Band finds the singer-songwriter performing with only long-time keyboardist Larry Goldings. The shift from the usual Taylor big band is a reminder of how great he is as a vocalist and arranger.
One Man Band, with its gatefold jacket, looks good – and the the songs you would expect to be here (and a few surprises) are here, but how does it sound? Mastered at Sterling Sound by Ryan Smith, the album has an undeniable warmth to it that you only get from vinyl.
From the stripped-down lead-off track “Something In the Way She Moves” through the megaphoned “Slap Leather” to the tape-enhanced “Shower the People” and the tear-inducing “Fire and Rain,” it easy to see now why this project was originally released – and the new sonic freshness and stellar packaging of the LP make this reissue a must own for James Taylor fans, as well as fans of the California sound.
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