My favorite non-hits by James Taylor

So I'm not going to talk about that soul-bearing song about his friend's suicide that defined James Taylor as an artist.

Or the saucy one about the "broken heart mender" that won him a Grammy.

Or the inspiring anthem of undying friendship that he covered and delivered a Grammy to Carole King.

Or any of the songs on the Greatest Hits album that sold 11 million (11 million!) copies.

Not right now, anyway.

This particular page is a collection of my favorite non-hits from my favorite pop singer. Reviews of wonderful James Taylor songs that didn't climb the charts but make my heart soar with feelings of delight, dismay, romance, empathy, hope, and fun.

Another Day - From "Hourglass" (1997)

This song is everything we love about James Taylor. Sweet, sensitive, searching.

I have a favorite iTunes playlist made up of songs that all speak to me in the same way about a dark or sad time being over and the joy and hope of a new dawning. It includes songs from Barry Manilow, the Beatles, Andrae Crouch, and Mary Mary. And this one -- "Another Day".

. . . walk with me into this light . . .

I love the musical structure of "Another Day". It starts with a beautiful line that doesn't really sound like a complete verse or a chorus. The phrase ends on a six-chord that doesn't resolve; it sounds like it's leading into another part. Then other passages follow it, a different one each time, always coming back to the opening, which closes the song on the unresolved chord. It feels like a beginning instead of an ending. I can't think of any other song I know that is structured that way.

Another Grey Morning - From "JT" (1977)

I don't have any real experience with depression myself, but James Taylor does, and I get the feeling that "Another Grey Morning" paints a picture of what depression is like. You can feel heaviness in the song right along with its beauty.

The main guitar riff has a bluesy feel and the bassline partly resembles another great blues tune, Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers. The guitar groove is very appealing and could even sound a little bit funky or sexy if it were paired with a different melody and lyrics, but in the context of the song it adds to the feeling of droning repetition; it succeeds in sounding like a rut instead of a groove.

And James, of course, complements it perfectly with his singing. The intimacy of his vocals help you feel like you're getting inside someone else's head.

Blossom - From "Sweet Baby James" (1970)

Sunny and pretty and romantic. The bright guitar playing and sweet singing bring an instant smile. And I love the "la la la" ending. If he's trying to woo her with a serenade, I think it will definitely work.

The message of "Blossom" seems to be that the nicest way for a guy to get in touch with his feminine side is to hook up with a good woman.

You get the feeling from this live performance that Taylor really likes this song. I love his comment at the beginning: "Sometimes I can't believe I wrote it."

If I Keep My Heart Out of Sight - From "JT" (1977)

Lushly romantic but with a modern edge as well. This song enchanted me when I was a teenager. Every woman's fantasy is that there's some terrific guy out there who's strategizing about how he can marry her.

I love the sparkly electric keyboard accents on this song, and Taylor does an excellent job hitting his high notes without sounding affected or strained.

Mean Old Man - From "October Road" (2002)

First of all, this song doesn't sound like "a James Taylor song". When I first heard it , I thought it was probably a cover and was surprised to find that it's an original. It feels like an old standard, complete with jazz piano accompaniment.

"Mean Old Man" is a fun song. It has a great marriage of music to lyrics, with a melodic sequence that climbs the scale as more and more cutely rhymed words are piled on to form a caricature of the grumpy protagonist.

And so danceable, too.

Oh, Susannah - From "Sweet Baby James" (1970)

Yes, this is a cover of the old folk song. Taylor does it with no other backing instruments or vocals, just himself and his acoustic guitar. He sings and plays it with expression and great musicality. In his hands, even the silly lyrics seem meaningful.

Video from 1971. James Taylor appears on Johnny Cash's TV show and performs "Oh, Susannah", with Cash joining in with a second verse (a different second verse than the one Taylor does on his album).

Sarah Maria - From "Gorrila" (1975)

A love song/lullaby that Taylor wrote for his baby daughter (born in 1974). The chorus is just her name.

Sarah, Sarah Maria

Sarah Maria, ya, ya, ya, ya

Here's a somewhat decent cover version by mumd2003 on YouTube.

Sleep Come Free Me - From "Flag" (1979)

This song is a stunner. It makes me feel sort of like I felt the first time I heard the slow movement of Beethoven's 3rd Symphony. Like I had been completely vacuumed out.

"Sleep Come Free Me" is a portrait of depression and hopelessness, with a protagonist who has a good reason to feel hopeless -- he's serving a life sentence in prison.

I remember reading an article once where a former child abuse victim said that in the home where they grew up, the children were at risk for being beaten during all their waking hours. The only time they felt safe was when they were asleep. The prisoner in this song is having a similar experience. When he sleeps, he's not aware of his situation, and that's the only time.

I think "Sleep Come Free Me" features some of James Taylor's very best singing. He immerses himself in the song, with an emotional performance that sounds totally authentic.

Some Children See Him - From "James Taylor at Christmas" (2006)

I don't think James Taylor is a Christian, but he has shown many times that he can be very comfortable and convincing singing religious lyrics. He does it very well on the entire "James Taylor at Christmas" album (you should also check out his rendition of "Go Tell It On The Mountain").

I admit that I had never heard "Some Children See Him" before I came across his version of it, so my reaction could be more to the song itself than to James. But he does sound great on it. With a song about little children and Christmas, it could be easy to end up sounding syrupy, but he gets it pitch perfect.

Terra Nova - From "JT" (1977)

A co-creation with Carly Simon, to whom he was married at the time. Her backing vocals complement him beautifully in this song that expresses the pull between the excitement of setting out for adventures and the familiar comfort of home.

If I ever decided to study guitar, one of the first things I would want to learn is the opening riff from "Terra Nova". So pretty.

Traffic Jam - From "JT" (1977)

I stay away from even the mildest four-letter words, so this song is a guilty pleasure for me. Everyone can relate to the humor and the emotions expressed. It sounds like Taylor and his background singers are having plenty of fun on this a cappella song, between the four-part harmonies on the chorus and the spoken word verses.

Actually, it's not really a cappella. It has drums.

"Traffic Jam" sounds like a song someone would write in Los Angeles, and indeed he did.

Maybe there's another great non-hit that I haven't heard but I really should. Or maybe you just have different tastes from me.

What James Taylor song do you adore that didn't chart?