JT (album)

Last updated
JT
James Taylor - JT.jpg
Studio album by
James Taylor
ReleasedJune 22, 1977 (1977-06-22)
RecordedMarch 15 – April 24, 1977 (1977-03-15 – 1977-04-24)
Studio Sound Factory (Hollywood)
Genre Soft rock
Length37:57
Label Columbia
Producer Peter Asher
James Taylor chronology
Greatest Hits
(1976)		JT
(1977)		 Flag
(1979)
Singles from JT
  1. "Handy Man"
    Released: May 1977
  2. "Your Smiling Face"
    Released: September 1977
  3. "Honey Don't Leave L.A."
    Released: February 1978

JT is the eighth studio album by American singer-songwriter James Taylor. It was released on June 22, 1977, via Columbia Records, making it his first album released for the label. Recording session took place from March 15 to April 24, 1977, at The Sound Factory in Los Angeles with Val Garay. Production was handled by Peter Asher.

Contents

The album peaked at number 4 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in the United States and was Taylor's highest-charting album since Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon . By January 31, 1997, it was certified 3 times Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. At the 20th Annual Grammy Awards, it was also nominated for Grammy Award for Album of the Year, but lost to Rumours by Fleetwood Mac.

The album spawned three singles: "Handy Man" (Taylor's final top 10 hit), "Your Smiling Face" and "Honey Don't Leave L.A.". "Handy Man", a Jimmy Jones cover, peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Adult Contemporary and won the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. "Your Smiling Face", the other big hit, peaked at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #6 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The record also contains other Taylor classics such as "Secret O' Life" and "Terra Nova", with the participation of Taylor's then-wife Carly Simon.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Christgau's Record Guide B [2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
MusicHound Rock Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [5]

The New York Times noted that "perhaps the most obvious way that the new songs don't equal the old is their relative lack of memorable melody." [6]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Your Smiling Face" James Taylor 2:50
2."There We Are"Taylor3:02
3."Honey Don't Leave L.A." Danny Kortchmar 3:05
4."Another Grey Morning"Taylor2:44
5."Bartender's Blues"Taylor4:12
6."Secret O' Life"Taylor3:34
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Handy Man"
3:17
2."I Was Only Telling a Lie"Taylor3:24
3."Looking for Love on Broadway"Taylor2:23
4."Terra Nova"
4:32
5."Traffic Jam"Taylor1:58
6."If I Keep My Heart Out of Sight"Taylor3:01
Total length:37:57

Personnel

Technical

Charts

Chart (1977)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [7] 10
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [8] 31
US Billboard 200 [9] 4

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [10] 3× Platinum3,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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References

  1. ↑ Ruhlmann, William. "JT - James Taylor | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  2. ↑ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: T". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies . Ticknor & Fields. ISBN   089919026X . Retrieved March 15, 2019– via robertchristgau.com.
  3. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0195313734.
  4. ↑ Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel, eds. (1999). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide . Farmington Hills, MI: Visible Ink Press. p.  1125. ISBN   1-57859-061-2.
  5. ↑ "James Taylor: Album Guide". rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on January 5, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  6. ↑ Rockwell, John (8 July 1977). "The Pop Life". The New York Times. p. C11.
  7. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 305. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  8. ↑ "Charts.nz – James Taylor – JT". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  9. ↑ "James Taylor Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  10. ↑ "American album certifications – James Taylor – J.T." Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved January 15, 2021.
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