Summer's here (James Taylor) (LP 4075 - 4078)

James Taylor  Dad Loves His Work (CD, Columbia Records, 1981) ***  

James Taylor  That's Why I'm Here (Vinyl and CD, Columbia Records, 1985) ****  

James Taylor  Never Die Young (CD, Columbia Records, 1988) ***  

James Taylor  Hourglass (CD, Columbia Records, 1997) ***  

Genre: Folk rock, pop

Places I remember: Marbecks Records, Real Groovy Records, The Warehouse, JB Hi Fi

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: That's Why I'm Here

Gear costume: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (That's Why I'm Here), Sun on the Moon (Never Die Young)

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6

Active compensatory factors: At the start of the eighties Carly and James' relationship was in trouble. Carly's ultimatum to be more of a house husband/father resulted in the end of their eleven-year-old marriage. Sadly, James couldn't/ wouldn't give up the work.

Dad Loves His Work emerged out of that period. Her Town Too (a duet with JD Souther) and Stand and Fight were the two best songs on the follow up to Flag (which I don't own). It was another patchy album overall. With every new release I was hoping for another album like Sweet Baby James, One Man Dog or JT.

Thankfully, the next one was like those three. That's Why I'm Here became my go-to JT album during the eighties. Aside from Mona (another 'funny' song about a pig), and maybe the cover of Everyday (too laid back?) each song was a joy to listen to - especially the title song.

After a shaky start with Dad Loves is Work, JT was doing well in the eighties with his next two. Still, three albums in ten years wasn't many, given he released eight in the seventies. Never Die Young is another strong album, without being a killer album. There were no killer singles either, but Sun on the Moon and Sweet Potato Pie are bang on the money!

JT avoids all of the eighties production ticks and just keeps doing what he does - to good effect for the most part.

The nineties were even quieter - only two studio albums. I don't have the first one (New Moon Shine) so Hourglass is next. It's quite an introspective album, as JT examines past events and memories. Along the way he writes about his relationship with his second wife Kathryn Walker (coincidentally it also lasted eleven years - 1985 to 96). It's another inconsistent album - some great songs and some lesser material.

Where do they all belong? Next up - studio albums from the new millennium.