You've Got A Friend

I saw James Taylor and Carole King perform together in the Boston area in the early 70s.  I don't remember where it was, except it was a small venue and I was in the balcony looking pretty directly down at the stage.  This was back before JT learned to smile.  More recently, the two toured again.  This video is from that tour.  It's not the most polished available on YouTube, but I like it because of the audience participation, and their singing is the best. (It's worth mentioning that on every live performance on YouTube, when they come to the lines "they'll kill your soul if you let them--don't you let them," the crowd cheers.)  This video starts and stops abruptly, but it also has the feel of being there, since it's evidently shot from the crowd.  Anyway, this is for Mike, who saw them on this tour.  Happy birthday, friend.

The Secret Of Life

Lots of birthdays to remember this summer, and this song is for all of us.  This rendition is quite recent, and is found on the "One Man Band" CD/DVD which I've been watching and listening to lately, prompting my YouTube searches, and resulting in this little collection.  The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time, and what better way to enjoy the passage of these few minutes than listening to a great song and a great singer.

Sunday Afternoon with J.T.

This version of J.T.'s song, "Shower the People" comes from the 1980s or earlier.  I remember seeing him performing beside the tape machine as backup, which had to be in Washington, when this song was a hit single.

This moment may be hard to remember these days--the festivities surrounding the Inauguration of Barack Obama.  This version of "Shower the People" has less of J.T. and more of these musical guests,  and the sound isn't as good, but it's worth recalling this sweet moment.

Saturday Night with J.T.

We need a little J.T. right about now.  This is his song "Never Die Young" when it was new.  In a more recent video he said that he wrote this ten years ago and still doesn't know what it means.  A great song anyway.  Never give up.  Never grow old.  And never never die young.