James Taylor discography

James Taylor discography
James Taylor in concert in 2008.
Studio albums20
EPs1
Live albums4
Compilation albums7
Tribute albums1
Singles42
Video albums7
Music videos15
No. 1 singles6
Other charted songs4

The discography of James Taylor, an American singer-songwriter, consists of 20 studio albums, six compilation albums, at least five live albums, one tribute album, nine video albums, one extended play, and 42 singles.

Taylor signed his first recording contract with Apple Records, where he released his self-titled debut album in 1968. Prior to signing with Apple, Taylor released the single "Night Owl" with the group The Flying Machine. An album of their recordings, James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine was released in 1971 and reached No. 74 on the US pop charts. Taylor released his second studio album Sweet Baby James on Warner Bros. Records in 1970. Its lead single "Fire and Rain" became a significant international hit and gained Taylor his first major exposure as an artist.[1] In April 1971, Taylor released his third studio album Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon, which became his second album to certify multi-platinum in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America and featured his first number one single "You've Got a Friend".[1][2] In 1972 and 1973, he released his fourth studio album, One Man Dog and his fifth, Walking Man; both peaked within the Top 20 on the Billboard 200 albums list.[3]

After releasing more albums between 1974 and 1976, Taylor signed with Columbia Records and issued JT in 1977, which peaked in the Top 5 and sold over two million copies in the United States, certifying two times multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.[1][2] In 1979 and 1981, Taylor released Flag and Dad Loves His Work, respectively, which both certified platinum in the United States and produced Top 40 singles. Nearly four years later, Taylor's next studio album That's Why I'm Here was released and spawned a cover of Buddy Holly's "Everyday", which became a minor hit in the United States. This was followed by Never Die Young three years later and then by New Moon Shine in 1991, both of which sold over one million copies. After recording a two-disc live album in 1993, Taylor returned in 1997 with a fourteenth studio album titled Hourglass. The album not only peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard 200, but also received a Grammy Award for Best Pop Album the following year.[1][3] His fifteenth studio release October Road was issued on August 13, 2002, on Sony BMG[4] and certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.[2] After recording a limited release holiday album in 2004, Taylor released his first major-release holiday album, James Taylor at Christmas on October 10, 2006.[5]

One Man Band was released in 2007 and certified gold in the United States.[2] This was followed by Taylor's first cover album in 2008 on the Hear Music label. There was also an extended play sequel, Other Covers in 2009.[1] In 2015, Taylor released another live album, Georgia on My Mind: Live in Atlanta, 1981, and another studio album, Before This World, which became the first Taylor's album to peak at No.1 in the United States.

Studio albums

[edit]

1960s

[edit]
Title Album details Peak positions
US
[6]
AUS
[7]
James Taylor 62 12

1970s

[edit]
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales threshold)
US
[6]
AUS
[7]
CAN
[8]
NOR
[9]
NLD
[10]
NZ
[11]
UK
[12]
Sweet Baby James
  • Release date: February 1970
  • Label: Warner Bros.
  • Formats: LP, 8-track
3 7 3 6
Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon
  • Release date: March 16, 1971
  • Label: Warner Bros.
  • Formats: LP, 8-track
2 12 4 17 4
  • RIAA: 2× Platinum[13]
One Man Dog
  • Release date: November 1, 1972
  • Label: Warner Bros.
  • Formats: LP, 8-track
4 13 7 27
Walking Man
  • Release date: June 1, 1974
  • Label: Warner Bros.
  • Formats: LP, 8-track
13 50 11
Gorilla
  • Release date: May 1, 1975
  • Label: Warner Bros.
  • Formats: LP, 8-track
6 60
In the Pocket
  • Release date: June 1976
  • Label: Warner Bros.
  • Formats: LP, 8-track
16 65 17 14
JT
  • Release date: June 1977
  • Label: Columbia
  • Formats: LP, 8-track
4 10 2 31
Flag
  • Release date: May 1979
  • Label: Columbia
  • Formats: LP, 8-track
10 18 9 17 17 50
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

1980s

[edit]
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales threshold)
US
[6]
AUS
[7]
CAN
[8]
NOR
[9]
NLD
[10]
NZ
[11]
UK
[12]
Dad Loves His Work
  • Release date: March 1981
  • Label: Columbia
  • Formats: CD, LP, 8-track
10 23 40 20 20 29
That's Why I'm Here
  • Release date: October 1985
  • Label: Columbia
  • Formats: CD, LP, cassette
34 24
Never Die Young
  • Release date: January 1988
  • Label: Columbia
  • Formats: CD, LP, cassette
25 26 37
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

1990s

[edit]
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales threshold)
US
[6]
AUS
[16]
CAN
[8]
NOR
[9]
NLD
[10]
UK
[12]
New Moon Shine
  • Release date: September 24, 1991
  • Label: Columbia
  • Formats: CD, LP, cassette
37
Hourglass
  • Release date: May 20, 1997
  • Label: Columbia
  • Formats: CD, LP, cassette, SACD
9 68 52 38 38 52
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

2000s–2020s

[edit]
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales threshold)
US
[6]
AUS
[17]
CAN
[18]
NOR
[9]
NLD
[10]
UK
[12]
October Road
  • Release date: August 13, 2002
  • Label: Sony BMG
  • Formats: CD, LP
4 48 33 40 39
A Christmas Album
  • Release date: November 1, 2004
  • Label: Hallmark
  • Formats: CD, music download
122
16
Covers 4 21 85 23
Before This World
  • Release date: June 16, 2015
  • Label: Concord Music
  • Formats: CD, LP, music download
1 12 10 16 13 4
American Standard 4 23 1 55 11

Live albums

[edit]
Title Album details Peak chart
positions
Certifications
(sales threshold)
US
[6]
CAN
[8]
Live
  • Release date: August 10, 1993
  • Label: Columbia Records
  • Formats: CD, LP, cassette
20 71
  • RIAA: 2× Platinum[13]
Best Live
One Man Band
  • Release date: November 13, 2007
  • Label: Hear Music
  • Formats: CD, LP, music download
17
Amchitka
(with Joni Mitchell and Phil Ochs)
  • Release date: November 2009
  • Label: Greenpeace
  • Formats: CD, music download
Live at the Troubadour
(with Carole King)
  • Release date: May 4, 2010
  • Label: Concord Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
4 21
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Compilation albums

[edit]
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales threshold)
US
[6]
AUS
[16][7]
CAN
[8]
UK
[12]
Greatest Hits
  • Release date: November 1, 1976
  • Label: Warner Bros.
  • Formats: LP, 8-track
15 67 27
Classic Songs
  • Release date: April 1987
  • Label: Warner Bros.
  • Formats: LP, cassette
48 53
Greatest Hits Volume 2
  • Release date: November 7, 2000
  • Label: Columbia
  • Formats: CD, cassette
97
The Best of James Taylor
  • Release date: April 8, 2003
  • Label: Warner Bros.
  • Formats: CD
11 54 4
The Essential James Taylor
  • Release date: October 29, 2013
  • Label: Columbia/Sony Music Legacy
  • Formats: CD, digital download
50
The Warner Bros Albums 1970–1976
  • Release date: July 19, 2019
  • Label: Warner Bros./Rhino
  • Formats: CD, digital download
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Extended plays

[edit]
Title Album details Peak positions
US
[6]
Other Covers
  • Release date: April 7, 2009
  • Label: Hear Music
  • Formats: CD, music download
122
Over the Rainbow: The American Standard EP[20]
  • Release date: November 20, 2020
  • Label: Fantasy
  • Formats: CD, music download

Singles

[edit]
Year Single Peak chart positions Certification Album
US
[21]
US AC
[22]
US Country
[23]
AUS
[24]
CAN
[25]
CAN AC
[25]
NLD
[26]
NZ
[27]
UK
[28]
1969 "Carolina in My Mind" 118 James Taylor
"Knocking 'Round the Zoo"
1970 "Sweet Baby James" Sweet Baby James
"Fire and Rain" 3 7 6 2 18 42
"Carolina in My Mind" (re-release) 67 64 James Taylor
1971 "Country Road" 37 9 95 19 3 Sweet Baby James
"You've Got a Friend" 1 1 25 2 12 14 4 Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon
"Long Ago and Far Away" 31 4 12
1972 "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" 14 3 18 7 One Man Dog
1973 "One Man Parade" 67 55
"Hymn"
1974 "Let It All Fall Down" Walking Man
"Walking Man" 26
1975 "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" 5 1 35 1 1 30 Gorilla
"Mexico" 49 5 83 8
1976 "Shower the People" 22 1 54 1 In the Pocket
"Everybody Has the Blues"
1977 "Woman's Gotta Have It" 20 11
"Handy Man" /
"Bartender's Blues"
4
1

88
13
1
4

24

JT
"Your Smiling Face" 20 6 11 4
1978 "Honey Don't Leave L.A." 61 63
1979 "Up on the Roof" 28 7 70 36 Flag
1981 "Her Town Too" (with JD Souther) 11 5 54 19 5 29 Dad Loves His Work
"Hard Times" 72 23
"Summer's Here" 25 12
1985 "Everyday"[A] 61 3 26 93 1 That's Why I'm Here
1986 "Only One" 6 80 62 3
"That's Why I'm Here" 8 3
1988 "Never Die Young" 80 3 79 80 Never Die Young
"Baby Boom Baby" 16 24 16
1991 "Copperline" 13 43 10 New Moon Shine
1992 "(I've Got To) Stop Thinkin' 'Bout That" 28 71 19
"Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha" 19 70
"Like Everyone She Knows" 31
1997 "Little More Time with You" 3 68 13 Hourglass
2002 "On the 4th of July" 16 October Road
"Whenever You're Ready" 21
2003 "September Grass" 25
2008 "It's Growing" 11 Covers
2015 "Today Today Today" Before This World
"Angels of Fenway"
"Montana"
"—" denotes releases that did not chart
  • A^ "Everyday" also peaked at No. 21 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart.

Guest singles

[edit]
Year Single Artist Chart positions Certification Album
US
[21]
US AC
[22]
US Country
[23]
US Christian
[29]
AUS
[24]
CAN
[25]
CAN AC
[25]
CAN Country
[25]
UK
[28]
1974 "Mockingbird" Carly Simon 5 10 8 3 34 Hotcakes
1978 "(What a) Wonderful World" Art Garfunkel
(with Paul Simon)
17 1 13 1 Watermark
"Bartender's Blues" (re-recording) George Jones 6 8 Bartender's Blues
"Devoted to You" Carly Simon 36 2 33 50 2 39 Boys in the Trees
1986 "Back in the High Life Again" Steve Winwood 13 1 53 Back in the High Life
1994 "Crying in the Rain" Art Garfunkel 61 25 Up 'til Now
2001 "Sailing to Philadelphia" Mark Knopfler Sailing to Philadelphia
2012 "Soul Companion" Mary Chapin Carpenter Ashes and Roses
2013 "Don't Try So Hard" Amy Grant 24 How Mercy Looks from Here
2018 "Change" Charlie Puth Voicenotes
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Other charted songs

[edit]
Year Single Peak positions Album
US AC
[22]
2001 "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" 4 October Road
2004 "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" 12 James Taylor: A Christmas Album
"Deck the Halls" 5
"Winter Wonderland" 8
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Other appearances

[edit]
Year Song Album
1980 "Jelly Man Kelly" In Harmony
1988 "Second Star to the Right" Stay Awake: Various Interpretations of Music from Vintage Disney Films
1991 "Getting to Know You" For Our Children[30]
1992 "It's Only a Paper Moon" and "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" A League of Their Own: Music from the Motion Picture[31]
2003 "How's the World Treating You" (with Alison Krauss) Livin', Lovin', Losin': Songs of the Louvin Brothers
2006 "Our Town" Cars: Original Soundtrack
2012 "Payday" Quiet About It: A Tribute to Jesse Winchester[32]
2022 "Coming Back to You" Here It Is: A Tribute to Leonard Cohen[33]

Guest and session appearances

[edit]
Year Album Artist Role
1970 Writer Carole King Acoustic guitar; backing vocals on "Goin' Back"
1971 Tapestry Carole King Acoustic guitar, backing vocals
1971 Music Carole King Acoustic guitar on "Some Kind of Wonderful", "Song of Long Ago" and "Too Much Rain", backing vocals refrain on "Some Kind of Wonderful"
1971 Blue Joni Mitchell Guitar on various tracks
1972 Harvest Neil Young Banjo and backing vocals on various tracks
1978 Kate Taylor Kate Taylor Guitar, horn, backing vocals, and arrangements on various tracks
Bartender's Blues George Jones Backing vocals on "Bartender 's Blues"
1979 Restless Nights Karla Bonoff Backing vocals (with JD Souther) on "The Water is Wide"
1986 Back in the High Life Steve Winwood Backing vocals on "Back in the High Life Again"
1988 Life Is Good[34] Livingston Taylor Duet partner on "City Lights"
1991 Marc Cohn Marc Cohn Vocals on "Perfect Love"
1992 Harvest Moon Neil Young Background vocals on various tracks
1994 Angelus Milton Nascimento Vocals on "Only a Dream in Rio"
1995 Faust Randy Newman Role of "Lord"
1996 Eat the Phikis Elio e le Storie Tese Vocals on "First Me, Second Me"
1999 The Prayer Cycle Jonathan Elias Vocals on "Grace"
1999 Brand New Day Sting Featured artist on "Fill Her Up"
2000 Sailing to Philadelphia Mark Knopfler Featured artist on "Sailing to Philadelphia"
2001 Nearness of You: The Ballad Book Michael Brecker Vocals on "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" and "The Nearness of you"
2006 Duets: An American Classic Tony Bennett Duet partner on "Put on a Happy Face"
2007 Shine Joni Mitchell Guitar on "Shine"
2008 Songs of Joy & Peace Yo-Yo Ma Featured artist on "Here Comes the Sun"
2010 The 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Concerts[35] Crosby, Stills & Nash Featured artist on "Love the One You're With"
2018 Voicenotes[36] Charlie Puth Featured artist on "Change"
Honey Don't Leave L.A.[37] Danny Kortchmar and Immediate Family Guitar and backing vocals on "Machine Gun Kelly"

Video albums

[edit]
Year Video details Certifications
(sales threshold)
1979 James Taylor: In Concert
  • Released: 1979
  • Label: Sony Music Distribution
1986 James Taylor Live in Rio
  • Released: 1986
  • Label: Columbia
1988 James Taylor in Concert in Boston
  • Released: 1988
  • Label: Sony
1993 Squibnocket
  • Released: 1993
  • Label: Sony
1998 Live at the Beacon Theatre
  • Released: October 7, 1998
  • Label: Columbia
2002 Pull Over
  • Released: November 19, 2002
  • Label: Sony
2006 A Musicares Person of the Year Tribute
  • Released: September 12, 2006
  • Label: Rhino
2010 Live at the Troubadour

Music videos

[edit]
Year Song Director(s)[39]
1981 "Her Town Too"
1985 "Everyday" Stuart Orme
1986 "Only a Dream in Rio"
"Only One"
1988 "Baby Boom Baby"
"Never Die Young"
1991 "(I've Got To) Stop Thinkin' 'Bout That"
"Shed a Little Light"
1992 "Copperline"
1994 "Secret of Life"
1997 "A Little More Time"
"Enough to Be on Your Way" David Mirkin
"Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier" (with Mark O'Connor)
2003 "How's the World Treating You" (with Alison Krauss) Lawrence Draper
2015 "Angels of Fenway"

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e Ruhlmann, William. "James Ta> Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d "RIAA Gold & Platinum searchable database – James Taylor albums". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  3. ^ a b "James Taylor > album charts". Allmusic. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  4. ^ Ruhlmann, William. "October Road > Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  5. ^ Ruhlmann, William. "James Taylor at Christmas > Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h "James Taylor Chart History – Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
  7. ^ a b c d Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 305. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Results – RPM – Library and Archives Canada – Top Albums/CDs". RPM. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
  9. ^ a b c d "norwegiancharts.com – Norwegian charts portal". Hung Medien. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
  10. ^ a b c d "dutchcharts.nl – Dutch charts portal". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
  11. ^ a b "charts.nz – New Zealand charts portal". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
  12. ^ a b c d e "The Official Charts Company – James Taylor". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "American certifications – James Taylor". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h "British certifications – James Taylor". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 11, 2022. Type James Taylor in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  15. ^ "Gold & Platinum Search – Music Canada – James Taylor". Music Canada. Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  16. ^ a b c d Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 275.
  17. ^ "Discography James Taylor". australian-charts.com. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  18. ^ "James Taylor Chart History – Canadian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  19. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1996 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  20. ^ "Over the Rainbow – the American Standard EP".
  21. ^ a b "James Taylor Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  22. ^ a b c "James Taylor Chart History: Adult Contemporary". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  23. ^ a b "James Taylor Chart History: Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  24. ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  25. ^ a b c d e "Basic search for "James Taylor"". RPM. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  26. ^ "Dutch charts portal – James Taylor". Dutch Charts.NL. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  27. ^ "New Zealand charts portal – James Taylor". charts.nz. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  28. ^ a b "UK Singles charts run – James Taylor". Polyhex. Archived from the original on December 7, 2008. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  29. ^ "Amy Grant: Song & Chart History – Hot Christian Songs". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  30. ^ "Various – For Our Children". Discogs. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
  31. ^ "Various – A League Of Their Own (Music From The Motion Picture)". Discogs. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
  32. ^ Blake, Corey (August 17, 2012). "James Taylor covers Jesse Winchester's "Payday" for tribute album". The Troubadour Tribune. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  33. ^ Leonard Cohen - Here It Is: A Tribute to Leonard Cohen Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved December 23, 2022
  34. ^ "Life Is Good – Livingston Taylor | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  35. ^ "The 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Concerts (4CD)". Retrieved November 25, 2011.
  36. ^ "Voicenotes – Charlie Puth | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  37. ^ "Danny Kortchmar – Honey Don't Leave LA 2018". www.waddywachtelinfo.com. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  38. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2010 DVDs" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  39. ^ "James Taylor Music Videos". MVD Base. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved April 25, 2010.