(editor’s note – no ex post facto proof for David Sanborn)
James Taylor holds ’em in the palm of his hand
by Jeffrey Haff, The Times Record, July 20, 1976
James Taylor is one of those adored performers who always seems to have the audience in the palm of his hand. He’s magnetic. People can’t get close enough.
Sporting his usual thermal shirt and white pants, bare-footed Taylor played before a crowd of over 16,000 at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center Sunday night. With the exception of a few smoke bomb and firecracker-crazed morons, everyone came away smiling.
Taylor’s 22-song assemblage excluded most of the remembered ‘hits” that brought fame to the 28-year-old artist over the past seven years. In their place, Taylor substituted some new tunes, a few less-remembered ones, and even some borrowed songs. He loosened up, joked around, and spun a few tales to his legion of followers.
Among the missing were “You’ve Got A Friend”, “Blossom”, “Country Road”, “Long Ago and Far Away”, and “One Man Parade”. He did manage, however, to squeeze in four songs from his new release, IN THE POCKET.
“It’s still early to tell, but sales have been pretty good on the album so far,” Taylor said, standing in a backstage hallway. He, along with good friend Peter Asher, paused to answer a few queries about Taylor’s current tour.
“We’ve been on the road for one week,” added Taylor, “and I’m enjoying it.” Before SPAC, Taylor played in Philadelphia; after Saratoga, the show moved to Rochester. He’ll be back in the area at Tanglewood on Tuesday, Aug. 3.
Asher, who produced Taylor’s first album, SWEET BABY JAMES, and a few others, shifted around backstage during the concert. Asher recently finished helping Linda Ronstadt with her new album, HASTEN DOWN THE WIND, which will be released “in about a week.”
Taylor has added banjoist and fiddler David Lindley to his summer tour. Along with regulars Lee Sklar (bass), Russ Kunkel (drums), Danny Kortchmar (electric guitar), and Clarence McDonald (piano and moog), Lindley gives Taylor ample support—but sometimes too much. Taylor’s soft singing was drowned out on “Family Man” and “Anywhere Like Heaven.”
Subtleties aside, Taylor’s performance appeared to go in the direction he wanted it to. He showed a surprising sense of humor in between songs. He also got away with some good new cuts, including “Money Machine,” and his second encore of “Sweet Baby James” brought down the house.
James Taylor’s world is one unbefitting his ties. Married to the gifted Carly Simon and the son of the Dean of the University of North Carolina Medical School, you’d think he could afford shoes. Perhaps it’s just a sign of what he has overcome. James Taylor has gone against the grain and come out on top.
The Post-Star, July 15, 1976
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