Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Download not available
James Taylor's 15th studio album of his first new recordings in 32 years is, if possible, even more familiar and self-referential than ever. By now, it is an article of faith that you could take practically any track from any Taylor album and put it on another one without disturbing the mood, and that is as true of the songs here as it is of those on the other 14. That warm (if slightly deepened) tenor, singing in its odd accent which combines New England and the North Carolina Piedmont, and that acoustic guitar, with its sparkling, unhurried fingerpicking, remain the most prominent elements in the sound. But even more, October Road finds Taylor seemingly intent on evoking his own past. The title track, of course, recalls his song "Country Road," and "Caroline I See You," (even if it refers specifically to his wife), inescapably echoes "Carolina in My Mind." Also, Taylor deliberately recycles themes from his earlier work. "October Road" begins, "Well I'm going back down maybe one more time," while "My Traveling Star" ends, "And shame on me for sure/For one more highway song." Throughout, on what seem like the most personal songs he has written in decades, Taylor appears to be commenting on a second chance he feels he has received, and though he couches the negative aspects in humor ("Mean Old Man," whose subject is the singer, ends with a dog joke, and "Raised Up Family," which contains recriminations, tosses in a musical reference to Gilligan's Island), there are strong hints of a man who feels he's been rescued. As such, it is perhaps fitting (if seasonally curious for an album released in the summer) to conclude with "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," a holiday song from wartime that reaffirms the importance of family in a world gone awry.
© William Ruhlmann /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From £10.83/month
James Taylor, Performer - John I. Sheldon, Composer - John I. Sheldon, Lyricist - Ted Jensen, Mastering Engineer - Russ Titelman, Producer - Russ Titelman, Mixing Engineer - Dave O'Donnell, Engineer - Dave O'Donnell, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment, Inc.
James Taylor, Performer - James Taylor, Composer - James Taylor, Lyricist - Ted Jensen, Mastering Engineer - Russ Titelman, Producer - Russ Titelman, Mixing Engineer - Dave O'Donnell, Engineer - Dave O'Donnell, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment, Inc.
James Taylor, Performer - James Taylor, Composer - James Taylor, Lyricist - Ted Jensen, Mastering Engineer - Russ Titelman, Producer - Russ Titelman, Mixing Engineer - Dave O'Donnell, Engineer - Dave O'Donnell, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment, Inc.
James Taylor, Performer - James Taylor, Composer - James Taylor, Lyricist - Ted Jensen, Mastering Engineer - Russ Titelman, Producer - Russ Titelman, Mixing Engineer - Dave O'Donnell, Engineer - Dave O'Donnell, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment, Inc.
James Taylor, Performer - James Taylor, Composer - James Taylor, Lyricist - Ted Jensen, Mastering Engineer - Russ Titelman, Producer - Russ Titelman, Mixing Engineer - Dave O'Donnell, Engineer - Dave O'Donnell, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment, Inc.
James Taylor, Performer - James Taylor, Composer - James Taylor, Lyricist - Ted Jensen, Mastering Engineer - Russ Titelman, Mixing Engineer - Russ Titelman, Producer - Dave O'Donnell, Engineer - Dave O'Donnell, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment, Inc.
James Taylor, Performer - James Taylor, Composer - James Taylor, Lyricist - Ted Jensen, Mastering Engineer - Russ Titelman, Producer - Russ Titelman, Mixing Engineer - Dave O'Donnell, Engineer - Dave O'Donnell, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment, Inc.
James Taylor, Performer - James Taylor, Composer - James Taylor, Lyricist - Ted Jensen, Mastering Engineer - Russ Titelman, Producer - Russ Titelman, Mixing Engineer - Dave O'Donnell, Engineer - Dave O'Donnell, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment, Inc.
James Taylor, Performer - James Taylor, Composer - James Taylor, Lyricist - Ted Jensen, Mastering Engineer - Russ Titelman, Producer - Russ Titelman, Mixing Engineer - Dave O'Donnell, Engineer - Dave O'Donnell, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment, Inc.
James Taylor, Performer - James Taylor, Composer - James Taylor, Lyricist - Ted Jensen, Mastering Engineer - Russ Titelman, Producer - Russ Titelman, Mixing Engineer - Dave O'Donnell, Engineer - Dave O'Donnell, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2001 Sony Music Entertainment, Inc.
James Taylor, Performer - James Taylor, Composer - James Taylor, Lyricist - Ted Jensen, Mastering Engineer - Russ Titelman, Producer - Russ Titelman, Mixing Engineer - Dave O'Donnell, Engineer - Dave O'Donnell, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment, Inc.
Larry Goldings, Piano - James Taylor, Vocal - James Taylor, Performer - Russ Titelman, Producer - R. Blane, Composer - R. Blane, Lyricist - Steve Gadd, Drums - Jimmy Johnson, Bass - H. Martin, Composer - H. Martin, Lyricist - Clifford Carter, Synthesizer - John Pizzarelli, Guitar
(P) 2002 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
James Taylor, Composer - James Taylor, Lyricist - James Taylor, Performer - Michael Brecker, Performer
(P) 2001 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Yo-Yo Ma, Performer - Yo-Yo Ma, Acoustic Cello - James Taylor, Guitar - James Taylor, Composer - James Taylor, Performer - Edgar Meyer, Performer - Edgar Meyer, Bass - Laura Mitgang, Executive Producer - Mark O'Connor, Performer - Mark O'Connor, Violin - Steven Epstein, Producer
(P) 2000 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Album review
James Taylor's 15th studio album of his first new recordings in 32 years is, if possible, even more familiar and self-referential than ever. By now, it is an article of faith that you could take practically any track from any Taylor album and put it on another one without disturbing the mood, and that is as true of the songs here as it is of those on the other 14. That warm (if slightly deepened) tenor, singing in its odd accent which combines New England and the North Carolina Piedmont, and that acoustic guitar, with its sparkling, unhurried fingerpicking, remain the most prominent elements in the sound. But even more, October Road finds Taylor seemingly intent on evoking his own past. The title track, of course, recalls his song "Country Road," and "Caroline I See You," (even if it refers specifically to his wife), inescapably echoes "Carolina in My Mind." Also, Taylor deliberately recycles themes from his earlier work. "October Road" begins, "Well I'm going back down maybe one more time," while "My Traveling Star" ends, "And shame on me for sure/For one more highway song." Throughout, on what seem like the most personal songs he has written in decades, Taylor appears to be commenting on a second chance he feels he has received, and though he couches the negative aspects in humor ("Mean Old Man," whose subject is the singer, ends with a dog joke, and "Raised Up Family," which contains recriminations, tosses in a musical reference to Gilligan's Island), there are strong hints of a man who feels he's been rescued. As such, it is perhaps fitting (if seasonally curious for an album released in the summer) to conclude with "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," a holiday song from wartime that reaffirms the importance of family in a world gone awry.
© William Ruhlmann /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 15 track(s)
- Total length: 01:04:31
- Main artists: James Taylor
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Columbia
- Genre: Blues/Country/Folk Folk
(P) 2000 Mercury Records Limited, 2001 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc., 2000, 2001, 2002 Sony Music Entertainment, Inc. WARNING: All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.