The Best of James Taylor

The Best of James Taylor
The Best of James Taylor
Greatest hits album by James Taylor
Released	April 8, 2003
Recorded	1968–2003
Genre	Folk rock, rock
Length	70:43
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Peter Asher, David Spinozza, Lenny Waronker, Russ Titelman, James Taylor, Frank Filipetti, Danny Kortchmar
Compiler	David McLees
James Taylor chronology
Singles from The Best of James Taylor
	"Bittersweet"; Released: 2003;

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	^[3]

The Best of James Taylor is the fourth compilation album by American singer-songwriter James Taylor released by Warner Bros. Records in 2003. The same album was released in Europe as You've Got a Friend: The Best of James Taylor.^[4]

The album emphasizes Taylor's recordings for the label; fourteen of the twenty tracks on the album are from his time with Warner Bros. It contains one previously unreleased track, "Bittersweet", recorded for this release. It entered the Billboard 200 album chart on April 26, 2003, at number 11, with sales of approximately 73,500 copies.^[5] It remained on the chart for 42 weeks. It was awarded a certified gold record on December 17, 2003, and a platinum record on April 15, 2005, by the RIAA.^[6]

Track listing

All songs were written by James Taylor, except where noted.

"Something in the Way She Moves" – 2:27
"Sweet Baby James" – 2:53
"Fire and Rain" – 3:25
"Country Road" – 3:30
- Single version, previously unreleased on any James Taylor album.
"You've Got a Friend" (Carole King) – 4:30
"You Can Close Your Eyes" – 2:32
"Long Ago and Far Away" – 2:22
"Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" – 2:37
"Walking Man" – 3:35
"How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" (Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland) – 3:37
"Mexico" – 3:00
"Shower the People" – 4:33
"Golden Moments" – 3:32
"Steamroller" – 5:06
- 1975 live version.
"Carolina in My Mind" – 4:00
- 1976 version.
"Handy Man" (Otis Blackwell, Jimmy Jones) – 3:20
"Your Smiling Face" – 2:48
"Up on the Roof" (Gerry Goffin, King) – 4:22
"Only a Dream in Rio" – 5:03
"Bittersweet" (John Sheldon) – 3:44
- A previously unreleased song, recorded specifically for this album in early 2003.

Personnel

Musicians

James Taylor – vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
Carole King – piano
Red Rhodes – steel guitar (on "Sweet Baby James")
John London – bass (on "Sweet Baby James")
Bobby West – double bass (on "Fire and Rain")
Russ Kunkel – drums, percussion
Danny Kortchmar – electric and acoustic guitars, congas
Leland Sklar – bass
Joni Mitchell – background vocals
Craig Doerge – piano (on "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight")
Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone (on "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight")
David Spinozza – electric and acoustic guitars (on "Walking Man")
Kenneth Ascher – electric piano (on "Walking Man")
Andy Muson – bass (on "Walking Man")
Rick Marotta – drums (on "Walking Man")
Ralph MacDonald – percussion (on "Walking Man")
Carly Simon – harmony vocals
Clarence McDonald – piano, Fender Rhodes, hornorgan
Jim Keltner – drums (on "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)")
David Sanborn – saxophone (on "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)")
Nick DeCaro – hornorgan, voiceorgan
David Crosby – harmony vocals (on "Mexico")
Graham Nash – harmony vocals (on "Mexico")
Milt Holland – percussion (on "Mexico")
Gayle Levant – harp
Victor Feldman – vibes, orchestra bells (on "Shower the People")
Bobbye Hall – triangle (on "Golden Moments")
Andrew Gold – background vocals, harmonium (on "Carolina in My Mind")
Dan Dugmore – steel guitar (on "Carolina in My Mind")
Byron Berline – fiddle (on "Carolina in My Mind")
Leah Kunkel – background vocals (on "Handy Man")
Waddy Wachtel – electric guitar (on "Up on the Roof")
Randy Brecker – vocals (on "Only a Dream in Rio")
Eliane Elias – vocals (on "Only a Dream in Rio")
Kenia Gould – vocals (on "Only a Dream in Rio")
Zbeto – vocals (on "Only a Dream in Rio")
Bill Payne – keyboards (on "Only a Dream in Rio")
Tony Levin – bass (on "Only a Dream in Rio")
Airto Moreira – percussion (on "Only a Dream in Rio")
Curtis King – vocals (on "Bittersweet")
John Sheldon – guitar (on "Bittersweet")
Clifford Carter – keyboards (on "Bittersweet")
Willie Weeks – bass (on "Bittersweet")
Steve Jordan – drums (on "Bittersweet")

Technical

James Taylor – Record producer (on "Only a Dream in Rio"), liner notes
Peter Asher – production
David Spinozza – production (on "Walking Man")
Lenny Waronker – production
Russ Titelman – production
Frank Filipetti – production (on "Only a Dream in Rio")
Danny Kortchmar – production (on "Bittersweet")
David McLees – compiler
Bill Inglot – remastering, except "Bittersweet"
Dan Hersch – remastering, except "Bittersweet"
Ted Jensen – remastering (on "Bittersweet")

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2003)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[7]	54
Irish Albums (IRMA)^[8]	9
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[9]	11
Scottish Albums (OCC)^[10]	4
UK Albums (OCC)^[11]	4
US Billboard 200^[12]	11

Year-end charts

Chart (2003)	Position
UK Albums (OCC)^[13]	197
US Billboard 200^[14]	154

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[15]	Platinum	70,000^{^}
United Kingdom (BPI)^[16]	Gold	100,000^{^}
United States (RIAA)^[17]	Platinum	1,000,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ ^a ^b The Best of James Taylor (Media notes). James Taylor. Warner Bros. Records. 2003. R2 73837.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ The Best of James Taylor at AllMusic
^ "James Taylor: Album Guide". rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on January 5, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
^ "The Best of James Taylor (images)". Discogs. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
^ "Chart Search | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
^ "JAMES TAYLOR – THE BEST OF JAMES TAYLOR". RIAA. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 275.
^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography James Taylor". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
^ "Charts.nz – James Taylor – You've Got A Friend - The Best Of". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
^ "James Taylor Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
^ "The Official UK Albums Chart 2003" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2003". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2010 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
^ "British album certifications – James Taylor – The Best Of James Taylor - You've Got A Friend". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
^ "American album certifications – James Taylor – The Best of James Taylor". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 11, 2022.

[notes-1] The Best of James Taylor (Media notes). James Taylor. Warner Bros. Records. 2003. R2 73837.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[2] The Best of James Taylor at AllMusic

[3] "James Taylor: Album Guide". rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on January 5, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2015.

[4] "The Best of James Taylor (images)". Discogs. Retrieved November 19, 2013.

[5] "Chart Search | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved January 18, 2018.

[6] "JAMES TAYLOR – THE BEST OF JAMES TAYLOR". RIAA. Retrieved January 18, 2018.

[7] Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 275.

[ac_Ireland2_James_Taylor-8] "Irish-charts.com – Discography James Taylor". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 3, 2021.

[ac_New_Zealand_James_Taylor-9] "Charts.nz – James Taylor – You've Got A Friend - The Best Of". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 3, 2021.

[ac_Scotland_-10] "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 3, 2021.

[ac_UK2_-11] "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 3, 2021.

[ac_Billboard200_James_Taylor-12] "James Taylor Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2021.

[13] "The Official UK Albums Chart 2003" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved April 3, 2021.

[14] "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2003". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2021.

[AustraliaJames_TaylorThe_Best_of_James_TayloralbumCertRef-15] "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2010 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved December 27, 2021.

[United_KingdomJames_TaylorThe_Best_Of_James_Taylor_-_You've_Got_A_FriendalbumCertRef-16] "British album certifications – James Taylor – The Best Of James Taylor - You've Got A Friend". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 11, 2022.

[United_StatesJames_TaylorThe_Best_of_James_TayloralbumCertRef-17] "American album certifications – James Taylor – The Best of James Taylor". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 11, 2022.

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v t e James Taylor
Studio albums	James Taylor Sweet Baby James Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon One Man Dog Walking Man Gorilla In the Pocket JT Flag Dad Loves His Work That's Why I'm Here Never Die Young New Moon Shine Hourglass October Road Covers Before This World American Standard
Live albums	Live/Best Live One Man Band Amchitka Live at the Troubadour Live at the Beacon Theatre (DVD video)
Holiday albums	A Christmas Album James Taylor at Christmas
Compilation albums	Greatest Hits Classic Songs Greatest Hits Volume 2 The Best of James Taylor The Essential James Taylor
Extended plays	Other Covers
Singles	"Carolina in My Mind" "Knocking 'Round the Zoo" "Sweet Baby James" "Fire and Rain" "Country Road" "You've Got a Friend" "Long Ago and Far Away" "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" "One Man Parade" "Hymn" "Mockingbird" (with Carly Simon) "How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You)" "Mexico" "Shower the People" "Woman's Gotta Have It" "Handy Man" "Your Smiling Face" "Honey Don't Leave L.A." "Devoted to You" (with Carly Simon) "Up on the Roof" "Her Town Too" "Hard Times" "Everyday" "It's Growing" "Change"
Other songs	"Night Owl" "Something in the Way She Moves" "Sunny Skies" "Steamroller Blues" "You Can Close Your Eyes" "Highway Song" "I Was a Fool to Care" "Bartender's Blues" "Secret O' Life" "Millworker" "Summer's Here"
Related articles	Discography James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine Working Vote for Change Tour Troubadour Reunion Tour Carly Simon Sally Taylor Kate Taylor Livingston Taylor Alex Taylor Isaac M. Taylor

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