James Taylor (album)

James Taylor is singer-songwriter James Taylor's début album. Released in 1968, it was the first recording by a non-British artist released by Apple Records (see 1968 in music), and would also be Taylor's only release on that label. The album was released under the title First Album on the South African market.

History

The album was produced by Peter Asher, who was A&R head for The Beatles' newly-formed label Apple Records.White, Timothy. James Taylor: Long Ago and Far Away, Omnibus Press, 2002, ISBN 0-7119-9193-6. pp. 134–135. Taylor recorded the album from July to October 1968 at Trident Studios, at the same time The Beatles were recording The White Album.White, Long Ago and Far Away, pp. 136–137. Trident was the most technologically advanced studio in England at the time and was in high demand; some session time booked by The Beatles was used instead to record Taylor's album. Paul McCartney and Asher brought in arranger Richard Hewson to add orchestrations to several of the songs and unusual "link" passages in between them; these would receive a mixed reception at best.

Notable songs include the Taylor classics "Something in the Way She Moves", "Carolina in My Mind" and "Rainy Day Man". McCartney...
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