Musical Influences Part 3:James Taylor

I remember the first time that I heard James Taylor (or at least knew that it was him). When I traveled with 180 Degree Ministries several people would come up and say, “you sound a lot like James Taylor”. Of course, it seemed like everybody would tell you that you sounded like somebody so at first I just chalked it up to…..whatever you would call that. But after about the third time I had determined to find out who this guy was. I had actually heard several of his songs but didn’t realize that it was him. I caught a commercial on CMT about a blended concert of James Taylor and The Dixie Chicks. I made arrangements to watch it. I didn’t get to see much of it for some reason. But the first song I heard was “Carolina in my Mind”. All I could think was, “I have got to have a copy of that song.” I had a tendency towards folk, storyteller type music to begin with and when I heard this song, I became a James Taylor fan for life. Contrary to what I had been told, I don’t think I sound like James Taylor. In fact, his voice has a pure quality to it that I don’t think I have heard in anybody in any genre. Needless to say, as an acoustic player I have learned several of his songs. It’s just good music. If I were stranded on an island with a cd player and could take only 3 cds one of them would be James Taylor’s greates hits. Since these posts are about musical influences I guess I should talk about how he has influenced me. I think the influence is found in songs that we do as a band that are just my guitar and the vocalists. Songs like “What I couldn’t do” and “Mexico Breeze”. I’ve got a new one called “Sweetest Taste” that is definately being shaped by the doctor of acousticology. Here’s a clip. I hope you enjoy.