Mary: Thank you for a trip through my younger years. You’re So Vain (about Warren Beatty) conjures up memories of my actually seeing the eclipse referenced in the song while in Quebec that summer. Twofer Tuesday is always fun and, in these times music is a necessary tonic. I try to listen everyday.
And, post it to your Good In Us newsletter on Substack. I had to add this because you might have made a video of yourself playing the guitar and you are hiding it. 😀
You must be younger than I am, Mary, because James Taylor WAS part of my early adulthood....an important part. When I started college in 1966, we were singing mostly folk songs, and Peter Paul and Mary-types of songs. I particularly liked "He Had a Long Chain On." Then as the culture changed and hippiedom approached, we flowed over into rock 'n' roll, but I absolutely fell in love with the Blues. I went to university in northern Indiana, and my first year there was also the first year that the school was mandated to enroll a percentage of black students due to Affirmative Action. These black students from Chicago started a blues band, and I was hooked. As a matter of history, Bobbie Kennedy came to our school during his campaign and spoke to us in the gym. I clearly recall him looking right into my eyes for a moment during his speech. Shortly thereafter, Bobbie was assassinated, and I will never forget the sight of these black students, now our friends, huddled around a TV watching the news about it, and every one of them crying. I never have stopped loving the Blues.
Mary, we listened to much of the same music growing up! I was always a huge James Taylor fan, not to mention Carly, Carole, and Joni! I know pretty much every song from JT, and saw him in concert twice. When I was a preschool teacher I was really into kids music and Carole King did an album/movie called Really Rosie! It’s so good! To anyone else with children consider Not for Kids Only by Dave Grisham and Jerry Garcia and another favorite, Singing in the Bathtub by John Lithgow! Music makes everyday better! Thanks Mary!
I sang Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain” so often I almost got kicked off my floor as a first year to the floor where everyone had to speak French... ALL the time. My girlfriend straightened me out, and I survived. She got married. I cried. Time passed. She's a professor there now. A character. When we see each other we start singing, "You're so vain... ."
These are some of the soundtracks of my adolescence and young adulthood. Thanks for the reminder of this lovely this music. Lost my voice to a tracheostomy and my fingers to necrosis after an illness. I stopped making and listening to music. Your essay has inspired me to get back "in the groove. " Thank you, Mary!
James Taylor was a Softer Artist Than Most Men Enjoy, I would venture more Women Than Men are Really Interested In His Music, At 4 to 5 yo the 1st record I wore out was "Carol King's Tapestry" Interesting that It Was A Compilation and I would go on to mix CD Compilations, Thank You For The "Marblehead" & "Cape Cod Bay" references over time, when I read these things, as a Bostonian, I feel closer to you, like a fuzzy feeling, lol, This Newsletter and The Mary Trump Show, I always look forward to, I feel networked in a positive way! your fan John
I had forgotten he was married to Carley Simon! I met him with his wife. Such wonderful people. He was in DC playing at President Obama’s farewell. He had his acoustic guitar with him wrapped in silver duct tape and his phone number written with a sharpie in case it was missed placed. He spoke to ever person who said hello to him. His wife had her handful of magazines and newspapers because she prefers reading that way vs online. Just absolutely charming peaceful people. I did grow up listening to Mud Slide Slim so me meeting him was a wonderful thing ☮️💜
My son and daughter-in-law played James Taylor’s “Secret O’ Life” at their wedding. I see the song as a call to enjoy the present. Take a breather! “And since we’re only here for a while…”
Forever ago! Interesting bio on wikipedia. I knew he was "recovering" but I didn't realize he'd struggled with depression all his life and yet, he's still a very busy man...
Younger brother, Livingston, sang at our local Sunrise Theatre in Southern Pines, NC, in 2000, and our restaurant provided his pre-show coffee jolt (1/2 cup of sugar!) since our musician was his ride from the airport. He sounds just like James and what a wonderful show in that cozy, little theatre! Great memory! Thanx!
Big fan of James Taylor, say him in concert twice at Jones Beach. Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins, Bob Dylan, Harry Chapin, Phil Ochs and Tom Paxton rounded out my hippie years.
I discovered James Taylor, Carly Simon & Carol King when I was babysitting. The parents loved these singers & smoked pot. I wasn't sure what it was at first but figured it out. I eventually bought my own albums & pot. ' You can close your eyes 'was one of my favorites. Thanks for the walk down memory lane.
I did have all of his early albums. From the self titled one on Apple, Sweet Baby James, Mudslide Slim, One Man Dog and a bunch more. He has beautiful vocals and his guitar work might sound simple but is very complex. His brother Livingston put out a few good records. His sister Kate put out one (I think) LP titled Sister Kate that was really good. His harmonies with Mitchell are so good on quite a few songs, but one of my favorites remains his and Linda Ronstadt’s harmonies on Neil Young’s Heart Of Gold.
Mary: Thank you for a trip through my younger years. You’re So Vain (about Warren Beatty) conjures up memories of my actually seeing the eclipse referenced in the song while in Quebec that summer. Twofer Tuesday is always fun and, in these times music is a necessary tonic. I try to listen everyday.
My favorite song tonight is, "You Can Close Your Eyes". Thank you for the Twofer Tuesday, Mary.
Will you ever please make a video of yourself playing the guitar, Mary?
And, post it to your Good In Us newsletter on Substack. I had to add this because you might have made a video of yourself playing the guitar and you are hiding it. 😀
You must be younger than I am, Mary, because James Taylor WAS part of my early adulthood....an important part. When I started college in 1966, we were singing mostly folk songs, and Peter Paul and Mary-types of songs. I particularly liked "He Had a Long Chain On." Then as the culture changed and hippiedom approached, we flowed over into rock 'n' roll, but I absolutely fell in love with the Blues. I went to university in northern Indiana, and my first year there was also the first year that the school was mandated to enroll a percentage of black students due to Affirmative Action. These black students from Chicago started a blues band, and I was hooked. As a matter of history, Bobbie Kennedy came to our school during his campaign and spoke to us in the gym. I clearly recall him looking right into my eyes for a moment during his speech. Shortly thereafter, Bobbie was assassinated, and I will never forget the sight of these black students, now our friends, huddled around a TV watching the news about it, and every one of them crying. I never have stopped loving the Blues.
Big Blues fan here too!
Mary, we listened to much of the same music growing up! I was always a huge James Taylor fan, not to mention Carly, Carole, and Joni! I know pretty much every song from JT, and saw him in concert twice. When I was a preschool teacher I was really into kids music and Carole King did an album/movie called Really Rosie! It’s so good! To anyone else with children consider Not for Kids Only by Dave Grisham and Jerry Garcia and another favorite, Singing in the Bathtub by John Lithgow! Music makes everyday better! Thanks Mary!
I sang Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain” so often I almost got kicked off my floor as a first year to the floor where everyone had to speak French... ALL the time. My girlfriend straightened me out, and I survived. She got married. I cried. Time passed. She's a professor there now. A character. When we see each other we start singing, "You're so vain... ."
"So close your eyes.
You can close your eyes, it's alright."
Tracking with you friend :)
These are some of the soundtracks of my adolescence and young adulthood. Thanks for the reminder of this lovely this music. Lost my voice to a tracheostomy and my fingers to necrosis after an illness. I stopped making and listening to music. Your essay has inspired me to get back "in the groove. " Thank you, Mary!
That will be great! My mother had a tracheotomy. It was tough going but she hung in there, worked, and had fun.
Thank you for the subscription, Maureen. Much appreciated! Keeps me engaged and that's a good thing. (No Martha Stewart pun intended ;-) LOL )
James Taylor was a Softer Artist Than Most Men Enjoy, I would venture more Women Than Men are Really Interested In His Music, At 4 to 5 yo the 1st record I wore out was "Carol King's Tapestry" Interesting that It Was A Compilation and I would go on to mix CD Compilations, Thank You For The "Marblehead" & "Cape Cod Bay" references over time, when I read these things, as a Bostonian, I feel closer to you, like a fuzzy feeling, lol, This Newsletter and The Mary Trump Show, I always look forward to, I feel networked in a positive way! your fan John
Love this album, too. Check out ‘Mud Slide Slim’ by Marianne Faithfull
https://youtu.be/EbiRuXa3cvM
I had forgotten he was married to Carley Simon! I met him with his wife. Such wonderful people. He was in DC playing at President Obama’s farewell. He had his acoustic guitar with him wrapped in silver duct tape and his phone number written with a sharpie in case it was missed placed. He spoke to ever person who said hello to him. His wife had her handful of magazines and newspapers because she prefers reading that way vs online. Just absolutely charming peaceful people. I did grow up listening to Mud Slide Slim so me meeting him was a wonderful thing ☮️💜
My son and daughter-in-law played James Taylor’s “Secret O’ Life” at their wedding. I see the song as a call to enjoy the present. Take a breather! “And since we’re only here for a while…”
Enough said!
Forever ago! Interesting bio on wikipedia. I knew he was "recovering" but I didn't realize he'd struggled with depression all his life and yet, he's still a very busy man...
https://www.jamestaylor.com/
Younger brother, Livingston, sang at our local Sunrise Theatre in Southern Pines, NC, in 2000, and our restaurant provided his pre-show coffee jolt (1/2 cup of sugar!) since our musician was his ride from the airport. He sounds just like James and what a wonderful show in that cozy, little theatre! Great memory! Thanx!
Big fan of James Taylor, say him in concert twice at Jones Beach. Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins, Bob Dylan, Harry Chapin, Phil Ochs and Tom Paxton rounded out my hippie years.
I discovered James Taylor, Carly Simon & Carol King when I was babysitting. The parents loved these singers & smoked pot. I wasn't sure what it was at first but figured it out. I eventually bought my own albums & pot. ' You can close your eyes 'was one of my favorites. Thanks for the walk down memory lane.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DJirE3Rheto
One of my favorite James Taylor songs he wrote about Carly.
I did have all of his early albums. From the self titled one on Apple, Sweet Baby James, Mudslide Slim, One Man Dog and a bunch more. He has beautiful vocals and his guitar work might sound simple but is very complex. His brother Livingston put out a few good records. His sister Kate put out one (I think) LP titled Sister Kate that was really good. His harmonies with Mitchell are so good on quite a few songs, but one of my favorites remains his and Linda Ronstadt’s harmonies on Neil Young’s Heart Of Gold.