JT (album)
JT is the eighth studio album by American singer-songwriter James Taylor, and his first album for Columbia Records. Released on June 22, 1977, two hit singles were spawned from the album: "Handy Man", a Jimmy Jones cover, which peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and also topped the Adult Contemporary chart. "Your Smiling Face", the other big hit, peaked at #20. The record also contains other Taylor classics such as "Secret O' Life" and "Terra Nova", with the participation of Taylor's then-wife Carly Simon.
At the 1978 Grammy Awards, Taylor won the Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for his version of "Handy Man". JT itself was also nominated for Album of the Year, but lost to Rumours by Fleetwood Mac.
JT was Taylor's highest-charting album since Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon, and stands as Taylor's biggest-selling studio album in the United States with over 3.5 million copies sold.Track listing
All songs were written by James Taylor unless otherwise noted.
Side One
- "Your Smiling Face" – 2:50
- "There We Are" – 3:02
- "Honey Don't Leave L.A." – 3:05
- "Another Grey Morning" – 2:44
- "Bartender's Blues" – 4:12
- "Secret O' Life" – 3:34
Side Two
- "Handy Man" – 3:17
- "I Was Only Telling a Lie" – 3:24
- "Looking for Love on Broadway" – 2:23
- "Terra Nova" – 4:32
- "Traffic Jam" – 1:58
- "If I Keep My Heart Out of Sight" – 3:01
Personnel
- James Taylor – acoustic guitar, lead and backing vocals
- Danny Kortchmar – guitars
- Dan Dugmore – steel guitar
- Clarence McDonald – keyboards
- Leland Sklar – bass guitar
- Russ Kunkel – drums, castanets, wood block, tambourine, handclaps
- Peter Asher – cowbell, castanets, cabasa, wood block, tambourine, handclaps
- David Sanborn – saxophone
- Red Callender – tuba
- David Campbell – string arrangements and conductor, viola
- Linda Ronstadt – harmony vocals
- Leah Kunkel – backing vocals
- Carly Simon – harmony vocals
Production
- Producer – Peter Asher
- Recorded and Mixed by Val Garay at The Sound Factory.
- Mastered by Doug Sax at The Mastering Lab.
- Art Direction and Design – John Kosh
- Front Cover and Sleeve Photos – David Alexander
- Back Cover and Inside Photos – Jim Shea