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Rating:
"JT" came out in 1977. Just a year after the stunning work of "In The Pocket" 1976, Taylor releases twelve very catchy pieces, ten written by him and two retrieved from the archive of American songwriters (a scheme often used in the albums by the Boston author).
It is not a masterpiece, and it’s not even one of the artist’s most successful albums, it still contains some very interesting pieces.
Many of the ballads are extremely syrupy, like the insipid "There We Are" and the more successful and romantic "If I Keep My Heart Out Of Sight" chosen as the closing of the album. In other pieces, "JT" (title of the album and Taylor’s nickname) steps on the rock accelerator, puts aside his beloved classic guitar, and wields the electric one; resulting in some really nice pieces: "Honey Don’t Leave L.A." by Danny Kortchmar and "I Was Only Telling A Lie". A very interesting reinterpretation of "Handy Man" by O. Blakwell and J. Jones, a delicate and engaging ballad with a nice chorus that quickly catches the ear.
The very rhythmic opening track "Your Smiling Face" will become a hit, and will considerably contribute to making this album (all things considered not among the artist’s best) a huge best-seller. This last piece will be for years an inevitable live showpiece for Taylor. Very nice and quirky "Traffic Jam", a piece performed only with voice-percussions, with an ironic and funny lyric about the daily stress caused by traffic jams. Gem of the album: "Secret O’ Life" a splendid 'Taylorian' ballad (one of his most beautiful), sweet, delicate with a beautiful and poetic lyric about the mysteries of our existence on earth, from this 'Planets spinning through space The smile upon your face Welcome to the human race'. A wonderful piece, worth the entire album. Also very beautiful is the bluesy "Bartender’s Blues", the story of a humble bartender, confined between the four walls of his establishment, who sadly sees dozens of unknown faces pass by every day.
In conclusion, a classic James album, that doesn’t amaze, but never disappoints!
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
01 Your Smiling Face (02:47)
Whenever I see your smiling face
I have to smile myself
Because I love you, yes I do
And when you give me that pretty little pout
It turns me inside out
There's something about you, baby
I don't know
Isn't it amazing a man like me
Can feel this way
Tell me how much longer
If it grows stronger every day
Oh, how much longer
I thought I was in love a couple of times before
With the girl next door
But that was long before I met you
Now I'm sure that I won't forget you
And I thank my lucky stars
That you are who you are
And not just another lovely lady
Sent down to break my heart
Isn't it amazing a man like me
Can feel this way
Tell me how much longer
If it grows stronger every day, yeah
How much longer?
No one can tell me that I'm doing wrong today
Whenever I see you smile at me
No one can tell me that I'm doing wrong today
Whenever I see your smiling face my way
No one can tell me that I'm doing wrong today
No one can tell me that I'm doing wrong today
No no darling
Ad lib to end...
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