November 14, 2025 —– Chart #324
There are those moments when a song lifts you gently and unexpectedly into a quieter space—like a soft breeze on a busy day. That’s what “Anywhere Like Heaven” does. It’s not the headline grabber from Sweet Baby James, but side two of the record holds its own kind of magic.
Written and sung by James Taylor, “Anywhere Like Heaven” debuted in 1970 as the B-side to the soaring single “Fire and Rain.” When Sweet Baby James dropped in February 1970, the world didn’t just hear Taylor’s breakthrough hit; they caught a glimpse of this softer whisper too. Though it didn’t chart on its own, the song quietly captured the hearts of folk-country fans who discovered the album’s deeper layers.
Taylor cut the album in December 1969 at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles, borrowing couches while he had no permanent home—a time of artistry born from humble roots. He was joined by a few future legends in the studio: Carole King on piano and backing vocals, Danny Kortchmar ripping on guitar, Russ Kunkel on drums, John London on bass, and Red Rhodes on pedal steel guitar. Even Randy Meisner showed up to add bass on other tracks. Towards the end, you get this beautifully layered sound—quiet, heartfelt, rich with gentle instrumentation that drips with warmth.
On Sweet Baby James, this track nestles between the confessional of “Fire and Rain” and the rustic longings of “Country Road.” It’s quieter, but haunting in the way it delivers imagery of those who “live day to day, not seeing their life slipping by.” Taylor’s lyric—and Rhodes’s pedal steel—pulls that melancholy without weighing it down.
Though “Anywhere Like Heaven” never rocketed up the charts, it’s become a cherished deep cut for fans—especially those who lean into James Taylor’s reflective side. Streaming data shows it enjoys strong play even today, a gentle companion for nostalgic late-night spins.
If you ever feel like life’s racing on autopilot—traffic, noise, deadlines—hit play on this one. Let his smooth voice and that tender steel guitar float you toward a place where things still feel possible, and where heaven might just be a whisper away.
Keep Rockin’,
Stan Bradshaw