James Taylor – Greatest Hits 2

Artist: James Taylor

Title: Greatest Hits 2

Label: Columbia

Rating: 7.5/10

James Taylor is a legend, and every time I listen to his music he shows me exactly how he reached that status. Greatest Hits Volume 2 is almost as wonderful as his first Greatest Hits album, but what sets it apart is the inclusion of some of his newer songs, the style of which I find less impressive than his previous circa ’70s work.

Still, I’ll listen twice to a song I’m not crazy about (for example, “(I’ve Got To) Stop Thinkin’ ‘Bout That”) if it means I get to hear one “Your Smiling Face” or “Her Town Too”. One of my favorites is “Handy Man”. James Taylor’s music brings me back to my childhood. His voice is soft yet strong, an ever-welcome lulling daydream, and I’ve never heard another like it. We’re talking about someone who makes me want to listen to his rendition of Carole King’s “Up On The Roof” just to bask in the light of his voice. He and King are neck and neck with their versions of that one; I must admit they both do it well, though I’ve never been very fond of the song.

You really hear the transition in his music with this cd, coming from the ’70s down to the ’90s. It’s not that his more current stuff isn’t good; it’s just that he had so much to live up to because of his past. The newer tracks don’t feature the depth his voice once had, and I miss it. The fluidity is still there, but the actual vocals are a little thin. The best thing about the early James Taylor is the magic of him. It’s something I can’t explain. It can only be heard in songs like “Everyday”, “Fire And Rain” (of the first volume), and the others from early in his career.

If you want an overview of Taylor’s career, both of his Greatest Hits albums are a marvelous place to start. He is all about feel-good music, sunny and bright, even when the tale he tells is one of loneliness or heartbreak. I’m not a huge fan of albums featuring what is thought to be only an artist’s best work, but again, if you want to check out James Taylor, this is as good a place to start as any.

+ alissa shugats