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James Taylor - In the Pocket Audio CD

A fair review of the James Taylor "In the Pocket" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all James Taylor reviews here, or go back to the James Taylor tabs.

James Taylor Band: James Taylor
Title: In the Pocket
Rating:
Release Date: 2008-07-15
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Shower the People 2: Junkie's Lament 3: Money Machine 4: Slow Burning Love 5: Everybody Has the Blues 6: Daddy's All Gone 7: Woman's Gotta Have It 8: Captain Jim's Drunken Dream 9: Don't Be Sad 'Cause Your Sun Is Down 10: Nothing Like a Hundred Miles 11: Family Man 12: Golden Moments

James Taylor's 'In The Pocket'
Received on time. Received with no problems. What has James Taylor put out that hasn't been good. Thank You!.


One Of JT's Best
But think of all the classic musical art we'd have missed if all of them had stayed the same. I suppose there is a school of thought that people like Van Morrison,Bob Dylan and (yes) James Taylor-all singer/songwriters of the finest degree should've maintained the sound that made them famous. In the case of James Taylor even he cannot remake "Fire And Rain" and "You've Got A Friend" over and over again. So what was he going to do?Easy really;having shown an interest in R&B,especially on his previous Gorilla JT takes it to the next level. While predominantly containing Taylor originals this recording features musicians such as the Brecker Brothers as well as songs written by Stevie Wonder and Bobby Womack. That along with a group of backing singers and gospelish musical overtones this is one of the only albums James Taylor ever made where a much of it fits into the soul/funk catagory. I personally noticed a lot of people describe much of this as "falling flat" and such. Well being a fan of many types of music,particularly things from the 1970's there was this need among musicians at the time for sounds and genres to kind of bleed together and that happens a lot on this. Even the big hit "Shower The People",if you really think about it has a mildly soulful flavor. There's plenty of traditional JT fare in "Slow Burning Love","Daddy's All Gone","Captain Jim's Drunken Dream","Golden Moments" and "Nothing Like A Hundred Miles" but even then,the production quality has more in common with a period R&B album with a lot of flowery strings and light percussion (much of Carly Simon and Carole King's music of the same period has a similar flavor). Of the slower songs "A Junkie's Lament" is the most interesting-JT uses his great sense of wordplay to spill his cuts about his own "junkie status" over an equally soft soul type production-even though it's in the classic singer/songwriter tradition I wonder if the irony is lost on the listener. It sure was'nt on me. Of the so called "flat" songs they're actually my favorites-of course because I am an R&B,funk and jazz fan first and foremost. "Money Machine" is a great tune,a high octane,jazzy take on Philly funk (JT's "Money,Money" chant in the tune,Money;hello Gamble & Huff influence?) and the lyrics are hilarious in a very satirical way. Another favorite is the upbeat funky pop "Everybody Has The Blues". I've always loved James's use of tuba on songs like "Jelly Man Kelly" on Sesame Street during this period and I am glad that he had it here too-it's a fun bouncy tune filled with contrast and has a great little groove. "Woman's Gotta Have It" is a totally different animal. Written by Bobby Womack,this music has a totally Marvin Gaye feeling with JT crooning the tune out in classic soul boy style and he pulls off this sexy soul number with flying colors. Stevie Wonder actually shows up on the lovely,uplifting ballad "Don't Be Sad 'Cause Your Sun Is Down". It's kind of too bad that the kind of emotional tension and release artists such as James and Stevie pioneered in the 70's has given way to so much pointless angst because I'll bet if you listen to this song enough your sun will,indeed,come back out. Of the uptempo tunes here one of my favorites is "Family Man";again very funky,rhythmic and a lot of fun,even with James's typically introspective lyrics. So to finish my first point:was it a problem for 70's rock stars and singer/songwriters to make R&B type albums? It depended. On some occasions (like the Rolling Stones) it was mistaken for bad disco and for others (such as James Taylor here). . . . . I wonder if it even got noticed. But I noticed it so someone else has to have to as well. Either way,as another reviewer has put it this really is a masterwork of great writing and a few great grooves along the way.


Good Stuff Here
I love ALL the old JT up to this point. . After this LP sad to say I lost interest, but this is a good one. even better are the older ones.


Great James Taylor
And most of it is pretty damned good! James Taylor was another of my sister's favorite performers that, as time went on, I learned all the words to his songs as she played his LPs all the time. When you share a room with your older sister, you are not privy to listening to what YOU want to hear, instead you soak up like a sponge all the music that SHE wants to hear. "In The Pocket" was one of those James Taylor LPs. The songs were great for easy listening and I realize now that I am all grown up and make my own choices in what I want to hear for music, I found myself buying this LP in CD form because I remember those great song so well!.


Talk about your moneys worth
T. J. came out with this effort in the early 80's almost all the songs became great hits. I found revisiting the songs again like finding a long lost friend.


You can see a complete list of all James Taylor discography, or go back to the James Taylor tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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