Greatest Hits, Vol. 2

by James Taylor

Overview

James Taylor's first Greatest Hits album, released in 1976 and consisting of his well-known early '70s recordings on Warner Bros. and re-recordings of some of the songs from his 1968 Apple Records debut, is in the rarefied sales category of double-digit millions, so a second volume, taking in his tenure at Columbia Records, was a no-brainer. The only wonder is why it took so long. But the second part of Taylor's recording career has been different from his first, especially when it comes to hits. All of Taylor's Columbia albums have been good sellers, hitting gold or platinum sales. But he has scored only four Top 40 hits on the pop charts: "Handy Man" (his only Top Ten single on Columbia), "Your Smiling Face," "Up on the Roof," and "Her Town Too." It's a different story on the adult contemporary charts, where he has been a mainstay. But Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 is not so much a collection of Taylor's chart entries as it is a best-of. There are several tracks, among them "Secret O' Life," "Only a Dream in Rio," and "Song for You Far Away," that were never hits but have become audience favorites, frequently played in Taylor's concerts. And there are chart singles, notably "Only One," which got into the adult contemporary Top Ten, and "Hard Times" and "Honey Don't Leave L.A.," which made the pop charts, that have been omitted. That said, this is a well-balanced compilation that should please most of the singer/songwriter's fans and that serves as a good selection of his work, circa 1977-1997.

Product Details

Release Date:	04/15/2010
Label:	Sbme Special Mkts.
UPC:	0886976881320
catalogNumber:	768813
Rank:	6302

Tracks

1. Secret O' Life
2. Handy Man
3. Your Smiling Face
4. Up On the Roof
5. Her Town Too
6. That's Why I'm Here
7. Only a Dream In Rio
8. Everyday
9. Song For You Far Away
10. Never Die Young
11. (I've Got To) Stop Thinkin' 'Bout That
12. Copperline
13. Shed a Little Light
14. Another Day
15. Little More Time With You
16. Enough To Be On Your Way

Album Credits

Performance Credits

James Taylor   Primary Artist,Acoustic Guitar,Vocals,Background Vocals,Penny Whistle
Jerry Douglas   Dobro
Deniece Williams   Vocals
Don Grolnick   Organ,Synthesizer,Piano,Keyboards,fender rhodes
David Lasley   Vocals
Bob Mintzer   Tenor Saxophone
David Sanborn   Saxophone
Yo-Yo Ma   Cello
Valerie Carter   Vocals
Leah Kunkel   Background Vocals
Jimmy Maelen   Percussion
Gene Page   Conductor
Airto Moreira   Percussion
Peter Asher   Tambourine,Cabasa
Dave Bargeron   Trombone
Randy Brecker   Trumpet,Vocals
Rosemary Butler   Vocals
David Campbell   Conductor
Dan Dugmore   Banjo,Guitar,Electric Guitar
Lani Groves   Vocals
Danny Kortchmar   Acoustic Guitar,Electric Guitar
Michael Landau   Guitar,Electric Guitar
Tony Levin   Bass
Clarence McDonald   Keyboards
Bob Mann   Guitar
Arif Mardin   Conductor
Kate Markowitz   Vocals
Mark O'Connor   Fiddle,Violin
Rick Shlosser   Drums
J.D. Souther   Vocals
Carlos Vega   Percussion,Drums
Stevie Wonder   Harmonica
Zbeto   Vocals
Arnold McCuller   Vocals
Waddy Wachtel   Acoustic Guitar,Electric Guitar
Elaine Eliaf   Vocals
Kenia Gould   Vocals
Leland Sklar   Bass
Clifford Carter   Synthesizer,Keyboards
Steve Jordan   Drums
Billy Payne   Keyboards
Jimmy Johnson   Bass
Russell Kunkel   Percussion,Drums
Rick Maretta   Drums

Technical Credits

Edgar Meyer   Cello Arrangement
Carole King   Composer
James Taylor   Composer,Producer
Don Grolnick   Producer
Gerry Goffin   Composer
Gene Page   String Arrangements
Norman Petty   Composer
Otis Blackwell   Composer
Peter Asher   Producer
David Campbell   String Arrangements
James Farber   Engineer
Frank Filipetti   Producer,Engineer,Mastering Consultant
Val Garay   Engineer
Danny Kortchmar   Composer,Producer
Arif Mardin   String Arrangements
George Massenburg   Producer
Stanley Silverman   Cello Arrangement
J.D. Souther   Composer
Waddy Wachtel   Composer
Michael White   Engineer
Danny Clinch   Back Cover Photo
John Godenzi   Engineer
Randy Hutson   Engineer
Stephanie Mauer   Art Direction
Nathanial Kunkel   Engineer