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THE REVIEW
1985: James Taylor, then 37 years old, was still trying to overcome his drug problems that plagued him for over 15 years. "That's Why I'm Here" is a delicate and balanced album, not among J.T.'s best, but still positive.
The title-track at the opening of the CD has a chilling start, a song with lyrics about friendship, love, and being there for each other (classic themes of James' optimistic and feel-good ballads), is one of the most beautiful on the record. And it will become a staple for James in his subsequent live performances. An absolutely correct move since the song, performed live, certainly gains in appeal. The second track is "Song For You Far Away", a sweet and enveloping ballad that would bring tears even to the toughest of the tough (this is somewhat the characteristic and strength of James' sound). The third track "Only a Dream In Rio" is splendid, certainly the best on the album, not surprisingly this too will become very popular in his subsequent concerts.
The album loses a bit in the middle section, where it becomes a bit flat, and sometimes too slow and syrupy: "My romance". It recovers at the end with the beautiful version of "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Still noteworthy: "Turn Away", "Everyday" which also became a must in live performances, and "Only One" an excellent love song. Fun fact: The song "Mona" is dedicated to James Taylor's pig, accidentally killed by him.
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Summary by Bot
James Taylor's 1985 album That's Why I'm Here reflects his emotional struggle during that period with a delicate and balanced approach. Though not his best, it features memorable songs like the title track and Only a Dream In Rio that became live staples. The album dips in the middle but recovers well by the end with beautiful renditions. It showcases his signature optimistic ballads and strong lyrical themes of love and friendship.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
James Taylor
James Taylor (born 1948) is an American singer-songwriter known for his warm, intimate vocal style and acoustic-guitar-centered songwriting. He emerged in the late 1960s (recording for the Beatles’ Apple label) and became a key figure in the singer-songwriter era, with major albums spanning the 1970s through later acclaimed releases like “Hourglass” (1997).16 Reviews
