JAMES TAYLOR ‘COVERS’
HEAR MUSIC/UNIVERSAL, MONDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2009
Hear Music/Universal will release James Taylor's exceptional collection of covers from notable recording artists from the fifties, sixties and seventies. The album is aptly titled 'Covers' and will be available in the UK from Monday February 2, 2009.
The album is already out in the USA where it entered the US charts at #4, sold 94,500 copies the first week and has been nominated for two Grammy Awards; Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Male Pop Vocal for the cover of “Wichita Lineman”. The international version will contain three extra tracks – covers of Tom Waits’ “Shiver Me Timbers”, Eddie Floyd’s “Knock On Wood” and “Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin’”.
"An album of other peoples' music is something I've wanted to do for years," says Taylor. "I've enjoyed performing these songs over the years but to record them live in a room with these incredible musicians was just extraordinary."
The album was recorded last January when James Taylor gathered his 'Band of Legends' for a rare 10-day recording session in a converted barn on his property in western Massachusetts. Band arrangements of material featured on the album include covers of Big Mama Thornton's version of "Hound Dog," Junior Walker's "(I'm A) Road Runner" and "Wichita Lineman," (one of the most revered songs penned by Jimmy Webb). These songs were improvised on the spot and recorded live with some of the best players in popular music.
The recording sessions included musical heavyweights Luis Conte, Michael Landau, Jeff Babko, Lou Marini, Arnold McCuller, Jimmy Johnson, David Lasley, Walt Fowler, Andrea Zonn, Kate Markowitz, Steve Gadd, and Larry Goldings. James Taylor and his 'Band of Legends' have been previewing the new material this summer to rave reviews.
Over the course of his career, James Taylor has sold over 40 million albums, and won over 40 gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards as well as five GRAMMY® Awards. Taylor's first "Greatest Hits" album earned him the RIAA's elite Diamond Award, given for sales in excess of 10 million units in the United States. In 2000, Taylor was inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame. In February 2006, The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences named Taylor its MUSICARES Person of the Year.
James Taylor was recently nominated for an Emmy for the PBS - Great Performances broadcast of his One Man Band, a CD/DVD set of live recordings which Rolling Stone Magazine described as "an artistic snapshot of his life" and career to date.
Track Listing:
1. Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin’ (Oscar Hammerstein, II, Richard Rodgers) - best known from the film “Oklahoma”
2. It's Growing (William Robinson, Jr.-Warren Moore) - made popular by The Temptations
3. (I'm A) Road Runner (Edward Holland Jr.-Lamont Dozier-Brian Holland) - made popular by Jr. Walker & the All Stars
4. Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb) - made popular by Glen Campbell
5. Why Baby Why (Darrell Edwards-George Jones) - a big country hit for George Jones
6. Some Days You Gotta Dance (Troy Johnson-Marshall Morgan) - made popular by the Dixie Chicks
7. Seminole Wind (John Anderson) - a big country hit for John Anderson
8. Suzanne (Leonard Cohen) – originally recorded by Judy Collins but best known by the writer
9. Hound Dog (Jerry Leiber-Mike Stoller) – the Big Mama Thornton inspired arrangement
10. Sadie (Joseph Jefferson-Charles Simmons-Bruce Hawes) - made popular by The Detroit Spinners
11. On Broadway (Jerry Leiber-Mike Stoller-Cynthia Weil-Barry Mann) - made popular by The Drifters
12. Knock On Wood (Eddie Floyd-Steve Cropper) – originally a hit for Eddie Floyd
13. Summertime Blues (Eddie Cochran-Jerry Capehart) - a hit for Eddie Cochran
14. Not Fade Away (Norman Petty-Buddy Holly) originally a hit for Buddy Holly and later The Rolling Stones
15. Shiver Me Timbers (Tom Waits) – made popular by Tom Waits
Additional background material for James Taylor can be found at www.jamestaylor.com.
Richard Wootton richard@rwpublicity.com, Claire Horton - claire@rwpublicity.com Richard Wootton Publicity 020 8545 9299
