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Sweet Baby James

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This article is about the album. For the song of the same title, see Sweet Baby James (song).
Sweet Baby James
Studio album by
James Taylor
ReleasedFebruary 1970 (1970-02)
RecordedDecember 1969 (1969-12)
StudioSunset Sound, Los Angeles
Genre
Length31:51
LabelWarner Bros.
ProducerPeter Asher
James Taylor chronology
James Taylor
(1968) 		Sweet Baby James
(1970) 		James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine
(1971)

Sweet Baby James is the second album by American singer-songwriter James Taylor, and his first release on Warner Bros. Records. Released in February 1970, the album includes one of Taylor's earliest successful singles: "Fire and Rain", which reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album itself reached #3 on the Billboard Album Charts. Sweet Baby James made Taylor one of the main forces of the ascendant singer-songwriter movement. The album was nominated to a Grammy Award for Album of the Year, in 1971. The album was listed at #103 on Rolling Stone Magazine's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.[1]

Background

The album, produced by Peter Asher, was recorded at Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, between 8 and 17 December 1969 at a cost of only $7,600 (US$63,145 in 2023 dollars[2]) out of a budget of $20,000.[3] Taylor was "essentially homeless" at the time the album was recorded, either staying in Asher's home or crashing on a couch at the house of guitarist Danny Kortchmar or anyone else who would have him.[4]

The song "Suite for 20 G" was so named because Taylor was promised $20,000 (US$166,171 in 2023 dollars[2]) once the album was delivered. With one more song needed, he strung together three unfinished songs into a "suite", and completed the album.[5]

The album produced two charting singles: "Fire and Rain," backed by "Anywhere Like Heaven," which peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 31 October 1970, and "Country Road," backed by "Sunny Skies," which peaked at #37 on 20 March 1971. An additional single, "Sweet Baby James," backed by "Suite for 20 G," did not chart.[6]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
Robert ChristgauB−[8]
MusicHound4/5[9]
Rolling Stone(favorable)[10]
Rolling Stone Album Guide[11]

Accolades

Track listing

All songs by James Taylor unless otherwise noted.

Side One

  1. "Sweet Baby James" – 2:54
  2. "Lo and Behold" – 2:37
  3. "Sunny Skies" – 2:21
  4. "Steamroller Blues" – 2:57
  5. "Country Road" – 3:22
  6. "Oh, Susanna" (Stephen Foster) – 1:58

Side Two

  1. "Fire and Rain" – 3:20
  2. "Blossom" – 2:14
  3. "Anywhere Like Heaven" – 3:23
  4. "Oh Baby, Don't You Loose Your Lip on Me" – 1:46
  5. "Suite for 20 G" – 4:41

Personnel

Musicians

The horn players are uncredited.

Technical

  • Jack Bielan – brass arrangements
  • Peter Asher – producer
  • Bill Lazerus – engineer
  • Darrell Johnson – mastering
  • Ed Thrasher – art direction
  • Henry Diltz – photography

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[19] 3× Platinum 3,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b Levy, Joe; Steven Van Zandt (2006) [2005]. "103 | Sweet Baby James - James Taylor". Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (3rd ed.). London: Turnaround. ISBN 1-932958-61-4. OCLC 70672814. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  3. ^ David Browne, Fire and Rain: The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, James Taylor, CSNY and the Lost Story of 1970 (Boston: Da Capo Press, 2011) p. 64
  4. ^ Browne, ibid., p. 66
  5. ^ Suite For 20G by James Taylor Songfacts
  6. ^ http://www.billboard.com/artist/304129/James+Taylor/chart?f=379
  7. ^ Ruhlmann, William. Sweet Baby James at AllMusic. Retrieved 2 October 2004.
  8. ^ Christgau, Robert. "James Taylor > Consumer Guide Reviews". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 13 April 2006.
  9. ^ Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (eds) (1999). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Farmington Hills, MI: Visible Ink Press. pp. 1124–25. ISBN 1-57859-061-2. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)
  10. ^ von Tersch, Gary (April 30, 1970). "James Taylor Sweet Baby James > Album Review". Rolling Stone. No. 57. Archived from the original on 2007-11-03. Retrieved 15 June 2006. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ Coleman, Mark; Edmonds, Ben (2004). "James Taylor". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. London: Fireside. pp. 804–805. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. Portions posted at "James Taylor > Album Guide". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  12. ^ "Rock On The Net: VH1: 100 Greatest Albums". www.rockonthenet.com. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  13. ^ "Chris Darrow interview on Outsight Radio Hours". Archive.org. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  14. ^ "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 14, No. 16" (PHP). RPM. 1970-12-05. Retrieved 2014-04-02. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  15. ^ "James Taylor > Artists > Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 2014-04-02. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ "Allmusic: Sweet Baby James: Charts & Awards: Billboard Albums". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
  17. ^ "Billboard.BIZ Top Pop Albums of 1970". billboard.biz. Archived from the original on 2012-12-15. Retrieved 2014-03-27. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ "Billboard.BIZ Top Pop Albums of 1971". billboard.biz. Archived from the original on 2012-12-31. Retrieved 2014-04-17. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ "American album certifications – James Taylor – Sweet Baby JAmes". Recording Industry Association of America.
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