Search - James Taylor :: Walking Man (Mlps)

Not his best...but don't pass it up.

Douglas Vencill | San Diego, CA USA | 02/02/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"As someone who's been a JT fan since Day One, this must be said: Every artist that I love has put out at least one weak album in his/her/their career. This would have to be one of James' weaker efforts (along with FLAG), but it would hardly deserve being tossed into the circular file. As I stated when I reviewed this for iTunes, there are some real clunkers on this album, and it makes me wonder what made James include them on what is otherwise another great 70's JT release. For me, the gems on here are the title track (one he thankfully still performs in concert), Let It All Fall Down, Migration, Fade Away, and ESPECIALLY Daddy's Baby. Lord, what a beautiful piece of music that is. Every dad in the world who's a musician must have wished they could write a lullaby like that for their own children. Easily one of the most gorgeous, priceless acoustic guitar ballads James has EVER written. The Vox Humana (vocal synthesizer) coda at the end of the song will send pleasant chills down your spine and maybe bring a tear to your eye.



So here's the bottom line: James has never put out a terrible album--it's not in his nature to do that. There are just other records in his library that are better than this one. But DO NOT pass on this one; for the beautiful songs in here alone, it belongs in your JT library."