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James Taylor's commercial breakthrough in 1970 was predicated on the relationship between the private concerns expressed in his songs and the larger philosophical mood of his audience. He was going through depression, heartbreak, and addiction; they were recovering from the political and cultural storms of the '60s. On his follow-up to the landmark Sweet Baby James, Taylor brought his listeners up to date, wisely trying to step beyond the cultural, if not the personal, markers he had established. Despite affirming romance in songs like "Love Has Brought Me Around" and the moving "You Can Close Your Eyes" as well as companionship in "You've Got a Friend," the record still came as a defense against the world, not an embrace of it; Taylor was unable to forget the past or trust the present.
Tracklist
1 Love Has Brought Me Around
2 You've Got A Friend
3 Places In My Past
4 Riding On A Railroad
5 Soldiers
6 Mud Slide Slim
7 "Hey Mister, That's Me Up On The Jukebox"
8 You Can Close Your Eyes
9 Machine Gun Kelly
10 Long Ago And Far Away
11 Let Me Ride
12 Highway Song
13 Isn't It Nice To Be Home Again