JT´s brother…
Livingston Taylor’s musical career has been marked by numerous highs and lows. The younger brother of folk-pop superstar James Taylor, Taylor has had a more modest career. His best selling single, “I Will Be In Love With You,” went no higher than the thirtieth position on the Billboard charts, while his last Top 40 single, “First Time Love,” was released in 1980. Taylor’s exuberant personality and warm charm as a performer has allowed him to maintain a busy concert schedule.
Taylor was the third of five children born to Dr. Isaac Taylor, a member of a prominent southern family, and, his wife, Trudy, a lyric soprano vocalists whose roots lie in the established families of New England. Although born in a suburb of Boston, Taylor was raised in Chapel Hill, North Carolina after his father accepted a position as dean of a medical school.
As a youngster, Taylor experienced many emotional problems. While attending a private, Quaker-run high school in Westtown, Pennsylvania, he suffered from such severe depression that he hospitalized himself at McLean Psychiatric Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts, where James had been hospitalized earlier. Much of his therapy centered around guitar playing and singing. Upon his release in the late-1960s, Taylor remained in the Boston area and began to perform in local clubs and coffeehouses. Discovered by critic/producer Jon Landeau, who later managed Bruce Springsteen, Taylor was one of the first artists signed to Capricorn Records in 1970. His self-titled debut album, produced by Landeau, included the original, biographical song “Carolina Day,” and established Taylor’s intimate and laid-back musical approach. His second album, Liv, again produced by Landeau, included the minor hit “Get Out of Bed.” Taylor’s relationship with Capricorn concluded with his third album, Over the Rainbow, in 1973. Despite the inclusion of an original tune, “Be My New Horizon,” featuring backup vocals by James Taylor and Carly Simon, the album sold disappointingly.
Taylor’s next album, 3 Way Mirror, his first on Epic, wasn’t released until five years later. In addition to featuring “I Will Be In Love With You,” the album included a song, “Going Round One More Time,” that was covered by his brother James on That’s Why I’m Here in 1985. Taylor publicized the album’s release as opening act for Linda Ronstadt’s “Living In The USA” national tour. In 1979, Capricorn released Echoes, a “greatest hits” sampling of songs from Taylor’s first three albums.
The following year, Taylor released his second and last album on the Epic label, “Man’s Best Friend.” In addition to the minor hit, “First Time Love,” the album included a light-hearted ditty, “Pajamas,” that was later adapted into a children’s book by Taylor and his wife, Maggie. In addition to hosting a nationally-syndicated television show, “This Week’s Music”, Taylor began teaching performance arts at the Berklee College of Music in 1984. He didn’t release a new album, however, until four years later when he recorded “Life Is Good,” the first of two albums produced by Artie Traum and Scott Petito. Taylor subsequently worked with Traum and Petito on his 1993 album, “Our Turn To Dance”, while his 1996 album, “Bicycle”, was produced by Petito. Taylor also recorded two albums-“Good Friends” in 1993 and “Arial” in 1997 — for David Chesky’s Chesky label. “Unsolicited Material”, released in 1994, captured the warm-hearted fun of Taylor’s concerts and ranged from humorous tunes including Andy Breckman’s “Railroad Bill” and “The Dollar Bill Song,” a medley of “Songs That Should Never Be Played On The Banjo” and the originals “Jacques Cousteau” and “I Hate Country Music” to heartfelt renditions of Hoagy Carmichael’s “Heart And Soul” and Earl Scruggs’ “Earl’s Breakdown.” In 1998, Razor & Tie released, “Carolina Day: The Livingston Taylor Collection,” an eighteen track retrospective of Taylor’s career.
Words from allmusic.com. Photo from the official website. More information about Livingston Taylor at his official website.
Discography
The Best Of Live
Whistling Dog Music 2019
Tracks: Get Out Of Bed, Good Friends, Bicycle, Sit On Back, Loving Be My New Horizon, I Ask You Once, Blind, Lost In The Love Of You, Our Turn To Dance, Caroline & Thank You Song.
Musicians on the Live album: Livingston Taylor and others.
Live
Whistling Dog Music 2019
Tracks: EARLY LIVE SET 1 1969 - 1977: Hallelujah I Love Her So, Blind, Six Days On The Road, Doctor Man, Sit On Back, Moose And Maggie Good Time, I Will Be In Love With You, If I Needed Someone, Love’s Coming Right In, Where Is Love, Fools Rush In, Caroline, Get Out Of Bed, Cornbread And Buttermilk, Flute Medley & Somewhere Over The Rainbow. EARLY LIVE SET 2 1969 - 1977: Loving Be My New Horizon, Good Friends, Too Much Monkey Business, May I Stay Around, Your Back Is Going To Break, Hands And Feet Strolling, Sometime Man, Oh No Not My Baby, Lost In The Love Of You, You Send Me, Carolina Day, L.A. Serenade, Banjo Medley, Pretty Woman, Falling In Love with You, Grandma’s Hands & Thank You Song. LATE LIVE SET 1 1994 - 2016: Best Of Friends, I’m In A Pickle, Pick Yourself Up, Carolina Day, Many A New Day, I Hate Country Music, Writing A Book, I’m Not As Herbal As I Ought To Be, Call Me Carolina, Answer My Prayer, Heart And Soul To Me, Heart And Soul, Yes, I Wish I Were A Cowboy, Railroad Bill, Our Turn To Dance, Sleepy Is Good & Grandma’s Hands. LATE LIVE SET 2 1994 - 2016: Get Out Of Bed, North To Alaska, There I’ll Be, You’re The Boss Of Me, Valentine’s Day Song, I Shouldn’t Have Fallen, My Baby Don’t Mind, Maybe / Trolley Song Medley, Bicycle, Dollar Bill Song, Pajamas, Walk Until It’s Heaven, I Don’t Want To Mow The Lawn, Over In The Soviet Union, I Believe, Life Is Good, My Father’s Eyes & Somewhere Over The Rainbow. RARITIES: Kitty Hawk December 1903, I Ask You Once, Going Around One More Time, Step By Step, Tell Jesus, Amen, Blue Jeans, White Lightning, Flying High, Coca-Cola, Car Song / Dry Bed Medley, Spider’s Web, Rubber Duckie, Dog Trilogy, Songs That Should Never Be Played On The Banjo, Sullivan Ballou & We Wish You A Merry Christmas.
Musicians on the Live album: Livingston Taylor and others.
Safe Home
Chesky Records 2017
Tracks: I Must Be Doing Something Right, Merry Old Land of Oz / Over the Rainbow, It Might As Well Be Spring, Louie Is Blowing the World Away, Penny Lane, People Will Say We're in Love, Never Never Land, My Romance, Shouldn't Have Fallen for You, Where Is Love, Anything You Can Do, Answer My Prayer, Bye Bye Love & Try to Remember.
Musicians on the Safe Home album: Livingston Taylor and others.
Blue Sky
LT 2014
Tracks: Would You Mind, Pick Yourself Up, Blue Sky, On and On, You Can Take Me Home, Sweet Blindness, Shouldn't Have Fallen, Here You Come Again, Paperback Writer, Boatman, Sleepy Is Good & I Have Dreamed.
Musicians on the Blue Sky album: Livingston Taylor and others.
The Middle Years (1978-1996)
LT 2012
Tracks: Going Round One More Time, Train Off The Track, I Will Be In Love With You, How Much Your Sweet Love Means To Me, First Time Love, Sunshine Girl, You Don't Have To Choose, Pajamas, Marie, Our Turn To Dance, I Must Be Doing Something Right, My Father's Eyes, Vacation, Silvered Wings, I Belong, Boatman, Bicycle & Looking To Love.
Musicians on the Middle Years (1978-1996) album: Livingston Taylor and others.
The Early Years (1970-1977)
LT 2012
Tracks: Sit On Back, Pocket Of Good Times, Hush A Bye, Carolina Day, In My Reply, Can´t Get Back Home, Good Friends, Thank You Song, Get Out Of Bed, Be That Way, Truck Driving Man, Mom Dad, Caroline, Loving Be My New Horizon, Blind, Falling In Love With You, Rodeo, Somewhere Over The Rainbow & Lady Tomorrow.
Musicians on the Early Years (197o-1977) album: Livingston Taylor and others.
Last Alaska Moon
Chesky Records 2010
Tracks: Last Alaska Moon, Everybody´s Just Like Me, Henry, I´m Letting The Whisky Do My Talking, The Girl Is Mine, Kitty Hawk, Never Lose Hope, Christmas Is Almost Here, Answer My Prayer, I´m In A Pickle, Walk Until It´s Heaven & Call Me Carolina.
Musicians on the Last Alaska Moon album: Livingston Taylor and others.
There You Are Again
Chesky Records 2006
Tracks: Best Of Friends, There I'll Be, Yes, My Baby Don't Mind, Step By Step, There You Go Again, Tuesday's Lullaby, Tell Jesus (To Come To My House), Blame It On Me, My Perfect Christmas Day, Wish I Were A Cowboy & You're The Boss Of Me.
Musicians on the There You Are Again album: Livingston Taylor and others.
The Best Of Livingston Taylor
Hip O Records 2005
Tracks: Get Out Of Bed, Carolina Day, Packet Of Good Times, Lost In The Love Of You, In My Reply, Good Friend, Hush a Bye, Loving Be My New Horizon, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Let Me Go Down, Going Round One More Time, I Will Be In Love With You & First Time Love.
Musicians on the Best Of Livingston Taylor album: Livingston Taylor and others.
Snapshot
Whistling Dog Records 1999
Tracks: I Believe, Oh Loretta, I´m Not As Herbal As I Oughta Be, The Dollar Bill Song, Bicycle, Olympic Guitar, You Can Take Me Home, Doggie Jail, Railroad Bill, Walking My Baby Back Home, The Way You Look Tonight, Our Turn To Dance, No Easy Way To Break Somebody, Piano Noodle, Loving Arms, Through The Fire, Songs That Should Never Be Played On The Banjo, My Father´s Eyes & Glad I Know You Well.
Musicians on the Snapshot album: Livingston Taylor and others.
Carolina Days
Razor & Tie Records 1998
Tracks: Get Out of Bed, Carolina Day, Can't Get Back Home, Good Friends, Lost in the Love of You, Packet of Good Times, Caroline, On Broadway, I Just Can't Be Lonesome No More, Loving Be My New Horizon, Lady Tomorrow, Over the Rainbow, Going Round One More Time, I'll Come Running, I Will Be in Love With You, First Time Love, Pajamas & Hush a Bye.
Musicians on the Carolina Days album: Livingston Taylor and others.
Ink
Chesky Records 1997
Tracks: Isn't She Lovely, First Time Love, Hallelujah I Love Her So, Fly Away, Our Turn To Dance, I Must Be Doing Something Right, The Biggest Part Of Me, Get Here, Baker Street, The More I See You, The End Of The Innocence & Never Can Say Goodbye.
Musicians on the Ink album: Livingston Taylor and others.
Bicycle
Coba Records 1996
Tracks are: I Believe, I Belong, Boatman, Olympic Guitar, Bicycle, Don't Let Me Lose This Dream, Oh! Loretta, Nobody Can Make Me Cry, Looking To Love, Dixie Chicken & Last Letter.
Musicians on the Bicycle album: Livingston Taylor and others.
Unsolicited Material
Whistling Dog Records 1994
Tracks: Intro/Life Is Good, Writing A Book, Jacques Cousteau, Olympic Guitar, Elusive Butterfly, Save Your Heart for Me, I Hate Country Music, I Must Be Doing Something Right, Railroad Bill, Pajamas, Jason, Heart & Soul, No Easy Way to Break Somebody's Heart, On & On, Dollar Bill Song, Carolina Day, City Lights, Earl's Breakdown, Eight More Miles To Louisville, Songs That Should Never Be Played On The Banjo, Goodnight, Over In The Soviet Union & Over The Rainbow.
Musicians on the Unsolicited Material album: Livingston Taylor and others.
Good Friends
Chesky Records 1993
Tracks: Out of This World, Jacques Cousteau, Heart & Soul, Carolina Day, If I Only Had a Brain, Grandma's Hands, Blind, Good Friends, Pajamas, Get out of Bed, Save Your Heart for Me, Fifth & Vine, Bluer Than Blue, In My Reply, Somewhere Over the Rainbow & Thank You Song.
Musicians on the Good Friends album: Livingston Taylor and others.
3-Way Mirror
Epic Records 1993
Tracks: Going Round One More Time, L.A. Serenade, Gonna Have A Good Time, Train Off The Track, I Will Be In Love With You, No Thank You Skycap, I'll Come Running, Living Without You, Southern Kids & How Much Your Sweet Love Means To Me.
Musicians on the 3-Way Mirror album: Livingston Taylor and others.
Our Turn To Dance
Vanguard Records 1991
Tracks: Our Turn to Dance, It's My Job, I Must Be Doing Something Right, No Easy Way to Break Somebody's Heart, Make the Change, My Father's Eyes, Silvered Wings, You Got the Right Guy, Someday You May Notice Me, Vacation & Way You Look Tonight.
Musicians on the Our Turn To Dance album: Livingston Taylor and others.
Life Is Good
Critique Records 1988
Tracks: Life Is Good, One Of The Things I Did So Well, City Lights, If I Were You, It's Love, Make It Love, Loving Arms, Louie, Glad I Know You Well, Falling in Love With You & Mary Ann.
Musicians on the Life Is Good album: Livingston Taylor and others.
Man´s Best Friend
Epic Records 1980
Tracks: Ready Set Go, Dance With Me, First Time Love, Sunshine Girl, You Don't Have To Choose, Dancing In The Street, Out Of This World, Face Like A Dog, Pajamas & Marie.
Musicians on the Man´s Best Friend album: Livingston Taylor and others.
Echoes
Capricorn Records 1979
Tracks: Get Out Of Bed, On Broadway, Carolina Day, Lady Tomorrow, Caroline, Lost In The Love Of You, Loving Be My New Horizon, Can't Get Back Home, Gentle Man, Over The Rainbow, If I Needed Someone & Hush A Bye.
Musicians on the Echoes album: Livingston Taylor and others.
3-Way Mirror
Epic Records 1978
Tracks: Going Round One More Time, L.A. Serenade, Gonna Have A Good Time, Train Off The Track, I Will Be In Love With You, No Thank You Skycap, I'll Come Running, Living Without You, Southern Kids & How Much Your Sweet Love Means to Me.
Musicians on the 3-Way Mirror album: Livingston Taylor and others.
Over The Rainbow
Capricorn Records 1973
Tracks: Loving Be My New Horizon, Pretty Woman, Blind, Somewhere Over The Rainbow, Falling In Love With You, Oh Hallelujah, Let Me Go Down, I Can Dream Of You, Rodeo, Lady Tomorrow & If I Needed Someone.
Musicians on the Over The Rainbow album: Livingston Taylor and others.
Liv
Capricorn Records 1971
Tracks: Get Out of Bed, May I Stay Around, Open up Your Eyes, Gentleman, Easy Prey, Be That Way, Truck Driving Man, Mom Dad, On Broadway, Caroline & I Just Can't Be Lonesome No More.
Musicians on the Liv album: Livingston Taylor and others.
Livingston Taylor
Atco Records 1970
Tracks: Sit On Back, Doctor Man, Six Days On The Road, Packet Of Good Times, Hush A Bye, Carolina Day, Can't Get Back Home, In My Reply, Lost In The Love Of You, Good Friends & Thank You Song.
Musicians on the Livingston Taylor album: Livingston Taylor and others.