James Taylor - Covers

Covers is the cd that James Taylor fans have been anticipating for years. Recorded live with his full band in a barn in Massachusetts that was transformed into a studio, the album is a treasury of songs he has performed live over the years, but never recorded. It is an American songbook of tunes made famous by artists as varied Buddy Holly, The Dixie Chicks, The Temptations, Leonard Cohen, George Jones and Eddie Cochran, but embraced and interpreted by James Taylor in a way that makes each one his own. It is a significant work by one of the greatest artists of his generation, which pays tribute to classic American songs from Broadway to Nashville, Detroit to Memphis and across all boundaries. Covers is in itself a classic James Taylor recording. Album Description

Disappointing

I AM one of those people who look forward to Taylor's new releases. But this one just didn't do it for me. He's done a great job with covers over the years, but with the exception on one track on this release, I thought he just didn't bring anything new to these. November 18, 2008

Pure Dreck

So tell me, do you like the song "Summertime Blues" played by either Eddie Cochran, The Who, or Blue Cheer? How about Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne"? Or Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away"? If you want to hear them butchered to the point where all the passion of the original recordings is replaced by campfire sweetness, then you should get this album. Otherwise stay far far away. I'll admit that I do like some of James Taylor's songs from early in his career, but the man should not be within ten miles of "Summertime Blues".

That being said Taylor does have good taste in music. The songs are all great songs and for that I will give one extra star, but still while you can tell he's enjoying singing the songs, he misses out on a lot of the fire of the earlier recordings. November 18, 2008

Vinyl lost art?

Is it likely that the process of engineering and pressing a high-quality LP a lost art? Have we forever lost the warmth and dynamic range of a state-of-the-art vinyl record? For that matter, is the state-of-the-art in vinyl recording something less than it once was?

First the good news. This is classic JT singing HIS favorites. His iconic voice resounds smoothly and strongly in his rendition of the album COVER songs in this record.

Now the bad news. The audio quality of this vinyl recording is mediocre at best (yes, I also have the CD version--which is actually quite good). I have been listening to and collecting vinyl since the 60's. Compared to some of the better quality discs (Mobile Fidelity and various Direct-to-Disc), this recording is second rate at best. The dynamic range and presence you'd expect from a quality LP is simply not there. The quality of the vinyl itself pales in comparison to some of the better LP's seen in the late 70's and early eighties.

If you enjoy James Taylor AND you enjoy the warm analog sound of a good quality LP, this is not the disc for you.

Buy the CD version.
November 16, 2008

This is embarassing....I'm trying to look away, but I can't

Several have noted that his last several releases have been a repack of sorts....although One Man Band as a DVD was absolutely wonderful and the best showcase of the body of work to date, in my opinion. I have been a huge fan of the man and his music over the past 30 years. The voice, guitar stylings and lyrics have been boarderline inspirational to me.

Covers, the CD and tour were a creative disaster. To waste this gift on this collection of over-produced, cheezy, artisticly meaningless and obscure tunes is a reflection of where our hero is right now....and that's nowhere. My goodness, in a world as messed up as this one, could we not have found some comfort in James' view on things? In his own words and with his own musical grace? On Broadway? Jeez.

In his own words, Covers is about:

When I was just a child, my life was, oh, so simple.
And the ways of the great world seemed strange and funny.
Then when I was a young man, I learned of that machine
that turns out all those bails of precious money.

Money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money,
Ooo, that money machine.
Now you can measure you manhood by it. You can get your children to try it.
You can bring your enemies to their knees
with the possible exception of the North Vietnamese.
It takes a strong hit from the money machine, sitting on top, on top of the world.
Strong hit from the money machine, sitting on top, on top of the world.

Oh, General Motors and IBM. AFL-CIO and all the king's men.
When I began the game, see me singing about the fire and rain.
Let me just say it again, I've seen fives and I've seen tens.
It was a strong hit from the money machine, sitting on top, on top of the world.
Strong hit from the money machine, sitting on top, on top of the world.

Money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, ha ha ha.
Money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money.
Give me that dough, give me that dough, give me that dough, give me that dough.

Been living in the lap of luxury too long. Please, Mr. DJ, won't you play my song.
Maybe my baby will listen on the radio.
Come back home to me, help me spend my dough.
I need a strong hit from the money machine. Sitting on top, on top of the goddamn world.
Strong hit, babe, from the money machine, woo, sitting on top, on top of the world.

Money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money.
Money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money.
From that money machine.
November 15, 2008

Covers

I bought this album for my Wife. She really likes James Taylor, and enjoys listening while she is sewing. His music is soothing to her. November 12, 2008

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