James Taylor – “Gorilla”

The Sleeve:

The Liner/Sleeve Notes:
None.

Personal Review:
 James Taylor is kind of a big deal for folk music and singer/songwriter stuff, he’s one of the most recognized singers of that genre and he’s pretty amazing. So, here we go.

The album opens with the song “Mexico” and that opening guitar riff is strikingly familiar, it’s kind of odd. James’ vocals are amazing as always, and the backing vocals are pretty great too. I’m definitely digging this LP. Yup, this is definitely a good opening track. After that comes the track “Music” and you know, that is a good title for a song on a music album. It’s a bit slower, but it’s still a pretty good track, I really can’t complain about it, it’s done so well. Though, that ‘la la la’ part is kinda bad. Like, just no. After that comes James covering Marvin Gaye’s “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” and hey, you can’t go wrong here. It’s James Taylor, who is great, covering the song of another great. Yup, it’s proving to be a pretty good album so far. Everything about this album is pretty great, and we’re only 3 tracks in. It’s kind of a big deal. After that comes the softer, slower “Wandering” and hey, it’s another good one. I like this song, James’ vocals are pretty great, and the lyrics are deep. Like, everything about this is great. After that comes the title track, “Gorilla” follows next, and well, it’s definitely an interesting track. Not one that I’d probably listen to again, but the ukulele playing is kinda cool. I’m just not too fond of this song for some reason. Not sure if it was James Taylor trying to be funny or what. “You Make it Easy” ends the A-Side, and it’s a turn around from the previous track, like, I’m still trying to figure out what the point of the previous track was. This song is alright, James has had better songs, like, this isn’t totally bad and not all hope is lost, the musicianship is good. Just the song is a little dull for my liking.

 “I Was a Fool to Care” opens the B-Side, and once more it’s a little slower, but it’s still a pretty decent track. The lyrics are really what make this song a good song, nothing more, just the lyrics. They’re pretty good, and sung with lots of meaning. “Lighthouse” comes next, and it’s a more powerful song, well one of the more powerful songs on this album. Like, it’s a pretty great song, the backing vocals and musicianship are pretty strong. “Angry Blues” comes next, and it’s a cool song, a little too blues / funk sounding to me, but not insanely bad or anything. I honestly am really confused about a lot of the songs on this album, as they all sound like they’re from different genres. The bass on this track is pretty great though. “Love Songs” comes next, and I definitely like this instrument that is being played right now, I’m guessing it is an oboe, but not quite sure – as I’m not a instrument aficionado. It’s actually a pretty good song, I’m quite liking this album. The album closes with the song “Sarah Maria” and it’s a pretty good closing track.

Interesting Facts:
None.

Track Listing:
A1 – Mexico
A2 – Music
A3 – How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
A4 – Wandering
A5 – Gorilla
A6 – You Make It Easy

B1 – I Was a Fool to Care
B2 – Lighthouse
B3 – Angry Blues
B4 – Love Songs
B5 – Sarah Maria

Label:
Warner Bros. Records

Catalog Number:
BS 2866

Studio Musicians & Other Album Credits:
Produced by Lenny Waronker & Russ Tittelman
Engineered and Mixed by Lee Herschberg
String Arrangements – Nick DeCaro
Additional Engineering – Donn Landee
Assistant Engineer – Lloyd Clifft
Production Assistants – Trudy Portch & Noel Newbolt
Photography – Norman Seeff
Cover Design – Mike Salisbury
Art Direction – Ed Thrasher
Recorded – Februrary & March 1975, at Warner Bros. Recording Studios, N. Hollywood and The Burbank Studios, Burbank
Mixed and Mastered at Warner Bros. Recording Studios, N. Hollywood
Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Vocal Harmonies, Ukulele & High String Guitars – James Taylor
Vocal Harmonies – Graham Nash. David Crosby, Carly Simon, Lowell George & Valerie Carter
Drums, Percussion, Congas, Tambourine & Shaker – Russ Kunkel
Bass – Lee Sklar & Willie Weeks
Electric Guitar – Danny Kortchmar & Lowell George
Percussion – Milt Holland & Victor Feldman
Harp – Gayle Levant
Pedal Steel – Al Perkins
Drums – Jim Keltner & Andy Newmark
Piano & Fender Rhodes – Clarence McDonald
Accordion – Nick DeCaro
Mandolin Ensemble – David Grisman
Clarinet, Oboe & Clarinet – Jules Jacob
Saxophone – David Sanborn
Horns – George Bohanon & Chuck Findley
Hornorgan – Randy Newman
Wind Chimes – Milt Holland
Marimba – Victor Feldman

Other Albums I Own by James Taylor:
“Greatest Hits”
“Never Die Young”
“One Man Dog”
“Sweet Baby James”

Released:
1975

Related Vinyls:

John Phillips – “John Phillips (John the Wolfking of L.A.)” Terry Melcher – “Terry Melcher” John Lennon – “Plastic Ono Band” America – “History: America’s Greatest Hits”