May 12, 2023     —–     Chart #195

Hey folks, welcome to another edition of Chart of the Week. Going back to 1970 today and one of my all time favorite albums and artists. Sweet Baby James is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter James Taylor, released on February 1, 1970, by Warner Bros. Records. The album includes two of Taylor’s earliest successful singles: “Fire and Rain”, and “Country Road”, which reached number three and number thirty seven on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. The album itself reached number three on the Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart. However, today’s selection is not one of those hits but a hidden little gem on side 2 that is barely over 2 minutes long. “Blossom” is one of my favorite songs from this album and a beautiful little tune.

Sweet Baby James made Taylor one of the main forces of the ascendant singer-songwriter movement in the early 1970’s and onward. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Album of the Year, in 1971, and was listed at number 104 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

The album, produced by Peter Asher, was recorded at Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, California, between December 8 and 17, 1969, at a cost of only $7,600 out of a budget of $20,000. Taylor was “essentially homeless” at the time the album was recorded, either staying in Asher’s home or sleeping on a couch at the house of guitarist Danny Kortchmar or anyone else who would have him.

Live with Carole King in 2007:  https://youtu.be/UBw1O7PE9FY

James Taylor live in 1979:  https://youtu.be/93pZzu0UtXw

The song “Suite for 20 G” was so named because Taylor was promised $20,000  once the album was delivered. With one more song needed, he strung together three unfinished songs into a “suite”, and completed the album.

The album produced two charting singles: “Fire and Rain”, backed by “Anywhere Like Heaven”, which peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 on October 31, 1970, and “Country Road”, backed by “Sunny Skies”, which peaked at number 37 on March 20, 1971. An additional single, “Sweet Baby James”, backed by “Suite for 20 G”, did not chart.

If you can’t find a smile with this one, get professional help. Have fun friends!

Keep Rockin’,

Stan Bradshaw