Folk rock was complete with James Taylor's "Lighthouse." - Page 2

MartyGraw · #16 07-24-2018, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glennwillow

I think I have the Lighthouse CD on a shelf somewhere. I need to go listen to it, because I don't remember a thing about it. I'll get back.

In 1975 I was 27 years old, my wife and I were having our first child, I was very busy at work, and we moved 3 times that year. So I was probably not paying attention to what James Taylor was doing at the time.

- Glenn

If I am not mistaken, the album is actually "Gorilla"....

llew · #17 07-24-2018, 02:32 PM

Yeah...it is. Lots of killer JT songs on that one too. One of my favorites was/is "Mexico".

gfspencer · #18 07-24-2018, 02:36 PM

I am a big James Taylor fan and I have never heard "Lighthouse".

I have listened to "Mexico" many times.

llew · #19 07-24-2018, 02:50 PM

Both songs are on the Gorilla album. Don't think "Lighthouse" got much (if any) radio play back then?

Glennwillow · #20 07-24-2018, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartyGraw

If I am not mistaken, the album is actually "Gorilla"....

Ah... Then I know I have it and I do remember that album. Yes, it was a good album!

James Taylor has been very good over the years at figuring out how to reinvent himself without seeming like he is starting over. For example, Paul Simon, while he was also very successful at reinventing himself, there were periods, such as his African music direction, where it seemed like he was starting over.

Thanks for the clarification!

- Glenn

DavidE · #21 07-24-2018, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

No, I don't mean all the good ideas were spent, but, darn, it sure felt close.

A guy in my four-man dorm room my first year of college (1975) had this album. I generously wore it out for him. The credits read like a who's who. The song is great for a rainy day like this.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Bob

I love Lighthouse. I wish James would play it live. I think the last tine I heard him play it was 1985-1988 when he played Cleveland Music Hall.

StephenHD35 · #22 07-24-2018, 11:42 PM

That was my favorite cut from that album, which I still think is one of his strongest.

cigarfan · #23 07-25-2018, 04:35 AM

Ahhh, JT. So much to love about this mans music. My Gorilla album is full of scratches and pops. May be time to search out a CD.

llew · #24 07-25-2018, 05:46 AM

Several other great songs from that album that I love are Sarah Maria, I Was a Fool To Care, You Make It Easy, and Wandering. It is chock full of great songs that received very little, if any radio play?

drplayer · #25 07-25-2018, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tico

+1!

JT's guitar playing sounds so friendly and accessible, but coming anything close to nailing it is extraordinarily difficult.

I teach and find JT's playing to be a rich mother-load of technique to be mined.
It's so subtle and expressive, yet complex.

When my students and I are selecting their next piece I'll play them some JT, of course only if they're ready for it.
They love it and want to learn it, but I warn them how deceptively difficult it is.

Exactly!!! And that's JT's brilliance...his playing sounds effortless and dare I say simple, but it is anything but. I think that's why he often doesn't get the accolades he deserves as a player...it just doesn't seem like there's that much going on, UNTIL, you try to do it yourself.

zombywoof · #26 07-25-2018, 06:41 AM

Folk Rock hit its peak in 1969 with the release of Fairport Convention's "Liege & Lief."

JT for me though was pretty much a passing fad. I bought his first two LPs but that was it. In the end I guess the "New Folk" did not work for me and I quickly went back to Dave Van Ronk, Ramblin' Jack Elliot and the like.

Everton FC · #27 07-25-2018, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drplayer

Exactly!!! And that's JT's brilliance...his playing sounds effortless and dare I say simple, but it is anything but. I think that's why he often doesn't get the accolades he deserves as a player...it just doesn't seem like there's that much going on, UNTIL, you try to do it yourself.

Absolutely agree. 1000%.

jomaynor · #28 07-25-2018, 10:58 AM

Lighthouse is a lovely, pristine folk-pop song, but it is hardly "rock." Far too polite and self-conscious for that. Not that it matters - James Taylor has a signature style that is all his own.

This exemplifies folk-rock:

Ruppster · #29 07-25-2018, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dog Shape Cloud

When I think "folk rock" I think of these guys, though they're not anything like JT.

Going to see them tomorrow night...

Dog Shape Cloud · #30 07-25-2018, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruppster

Going to see them tomorrow night...

Nice. I saw them a few years back but wasn't a fan of the album they were touring then--the most recent one was great, though.