JAMES TAYLOR *JAMES TAYLOR* - ORIGINAL APPLE 1st PRESS ***Excellent 9/10***

JAMES TAYLOR *JAMES TAYLOR*

***ORIGINAL 1969 APPLE US PRESS SKAO-3352***

DEADWAX: (SIDE 1) SKAO-3352 A6; (SIDE 2) ST2-3352 B4

James Taylor was the first artist to be signed to record on the Beatles' short-lived vanity Apple label. In late 1968, Taylor's sophisticated self-titled disc foreshadowed the introspective singer/songwriter genre that dominated pop music in the early and mid-'70s. Although often touted as his debut, this release is chronologically Taylor's second studio outing. James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine -- an EP recorded a year earlier -- contains rudimentary versions of much of the same original material found here. The album is presented with two distinct sides. The first, in essence, presents a unified multi-song suite incorporating several distinctly Baroque-flavored links connecting the larger compositions. The second is a more traditional collection of individual tunes. This unique juxtaposition highlights Taylor's highly personal and worldly lyrics within a multidimensional layer of surreal and otherwise ethereal instrumentation. According to Taylor, much of the album's subject matter draws upon personal experience. This is a doubled-edged blessing because the emphasis placed on the pseudo-blues "Knocking 'Round the Zoo" and the numerous other references made to Taylor's brief sojourn in a mental institution actually do a disservice to the absolutely breathtaking beauty inherent in every composition. Several pieces debuted on this release would eventually be reworked by Taylor several years later. Among the notable inclusions are "Rainy Day Man," "Night Owl," "Something in the Way She Moves," and "Carolina in My Mind." Musically, Taylor's decidedly acoustic-based tunes are augmented by several familiar names. Among them are former King Bees member Joel "Bishop" O'Brien (drums) -- who had joined Taylor and Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar in the Original Flying Machine -- as well as Paul McCartney (bass), who lends support to the seminal version of "Carolina in My Mind." The album's complex production efforts fell to Peter Asher -- formerly of Peter and Gordon and concurrent head of Apple Records A&R department. The absolute conviction that runs throughout this music takes the listener into its confidence and with equal measures of wit, candor, and sophistication, James Taylor created a minor masterpiece that is sadly eclipsed by his later more popular works. (AMDB)

James Taylor ‎– James Taylor
Label: Apple Records ‎– SKAO-3352, Apple Records ‎– SKAO 3352
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Gatefold
Country: US Released: 17 Feb 1969

Track List:
A1 Don't Talk Now Handclaps [Clapping], Percussion – James Taylor (2), Peter AsherOrgan – Don Schinn* 2:36
A2 Something's Wrong 3:00
A3 Knocking Round The Zoo 3:26
A4 Sunshine Sunshine Harp – Skaila KangaStrings – Amici String Quartet 3:30
A5 Taking It In 3:01
A6 Something In The Way She Moves 2:26
B1 Carolina In My Mind Backing Vocals [Uncredited] – George HarrisonBass – Paul McCartneyGuitar – Mick WayneOrgan – Freddie ReddTambourine – Peter Asher 3:36
B2 Brighten Your Night With My Day Electric Piano – Don Schinn* 3:05
B3 Night Owl Electric Guitar – James Taylor (2) 3:38
B4 Rainy Day Man 3:00
B5 Circle Round The Sun 3:24
B6 The Blues Is Just A Bad Dream 3:42

Manufactured By – Apple Records, Inc.
Pressed By – Capitol Records Pressing Plant, Los Angeles
Printed By – Uni-Pak
Published By – Apple Music Publishing Co., Inc.
Published By – Blackwood Music Inc.
Recorded At – Trident Studios

Backing Vocals [Backing Voices] – James Taylor (2) (tracks: A1, B1, B4), Peter Asher (tracks: A1, B1, B4)
Bass – Louis Cennamo (tracks: A1 to A3, A5, B2 to B4)
Conductor – Richard Hewson (tracks: A2 to A4, B1 to B6)
Drums – Bishop O'Brien (tracks: A2, A3, A5 to B5)
Engineer [Balance] – Barry Sheffield, Malcolm Toft
Harpsichord – Don Schinn* (tracks: A1, A5)
Photography By – Richard Imrie
Producer – Peter Asher
Voice, Guitar – James Taylor (2)
Written-By – James Taylor (2) (tracks: A1 to B4, B6), Traditional (tracks: B5)
Recorded at Trident Studios, London, July to October 1968.

Uni-Pak gatefold sleeve.

Taylor's vocals are credited as "Voice" as that is the way the credit appears on the release.

Peter Asher and Paul McCartney played courtesy EMI

Cat # SKAO-3352 appears on the label.
Cat # SKAO 3352 appears on the spine.
JAMES TAYLOR *JAMES TAYLOR*

ORIGINAL APPLE US 1st PRESS

EXCELLENT 9/10

+CLEANED ON VPI HW-27 TYPHOON* STORED HVAC (all)
+LP’s RE-SLEEVED IN AUDIOPHILE QUALITY INNER SLEEVES*
*JACKETS PROTECTED BY HIGH QUALITY JACKET PROTECTORS*
*STORED HVAC*
(+APPLIES TO OPEN LP’s ONLY)

SHIPPED IN DEDICATED LP BOX/MAILER

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