#disco 2

Song Review: James Taylor - “Something in the Way She Moves” (Live, Dec. 5, 1970)

By 1970, “Something in the Way She Moves” was already evolving from the arrangement on James Taylor’s 1968 eponymous debut toward the re-recording he’d make for Greatest Hits.

Freshly restored audio and video from his Dec. 5, 1970, appearance on BBC2’s “Disco2” program confirms that and proves George Harrison was wise to steal the title lyric for Abbey Road’s “Something.”

This version is fab for its in-between nature, both familiar and unique as the young singer-songwriter continues fashioning a future classic in real time. Taylor’s written more than his share of exceptional songs over the years, but one of the greatest of them all - “Something in the Way She Moves” - arrived early and is no less impactful on its 1,000th listen than it was on its first.

Grade card: James Taylor - “Something in the Way She Moves” (Live - 12/5/70) - A

Album n°156 :

Song Review: James Taylor - “Riding on a Railroad” (Live, Dec. 5, 1970)

By the time Sound Bites first saw James Taylor in 1984, his concerts already had that visit-from-an-old-friend vibe. It’s a warm feeling that extends to his modern performances, as well.

As Taylor continues to release restored gems from the vault - “Riding on a Railroad” from his Dec. 5, 1970, taping for the BBC’s “Disco 2” program is the latest - the blog couldn’t help but wonder when Taylor first attained that aura.

Was it immediate?

Even deep, mostly forgotten, tracks like “Railroad” come infused with warm fuzzies from Taylor’s singular guitar playing and sonorous voice, so it’s possible.

Or did it come with time?

Taylor was once as new as Billie Eilish and his songs were once not classics, but the latest thing in soft folk-rock, so that’s possible, too.

Whichever is the case, virtually every Taylor tune - his horrid cover of “Day Tipper” and some other forgettable studio albums notwithstanding - is like an old friend now. And it’s always good to catch up.

Grade card: James Taylor - “Riding on a Railroad” (Live - 12/5/70) - A

Song Review: James Taylor - “Country Road” (Live, Dec. 5, 1970)

In 1970, James Taylor was 22 and still feeling his way around a live arrangement of “Country Road.”

Restored footage from his Dec. 5 appearance on the BBC’s “Disco2” program finds Taylor playing solo-acoustic and leaning heavily on the bottom string for emphasis. It’s a tactic he eventually abandoned on the way to making “Country Road” an in-concert showstopper; as a result, this early exploration is akin to a demo, a rare peak at how the song, already immortalized on Sweet Baby James, evolved on stage.

Grade card: James Taylor - “Country Road” (Live - 12/5/70) - B