JT | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | June 22, 1977 (1977-06-22) | |||
Recorded | March 15 – April 24, 1977 (1977-03-15 – 1977-04-24) | |||
Studio | Sound Factory (Hollywood) | |||
Genre | Soft rock | |||
Length | 37:57 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Producer | Peter Asher | |||
James Taylor chronology | ||||
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Singles from JT | ||||
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JT is the eighth studio album by American singer-songwriter James Taylor. It was released on June 22, 1977, via Columbia Records, making it his first album released for the label. Recording session took place from March 15 to April 24, 1977, at The Sound FactoryinLos Angeles with Val Garay. Production was handled by Peter Asher.
The album peaked at number 4 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in the United States and was Taylor's highest-charting album since Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon. By January 31, 1997, it was certified 3 times Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. At the 20th Annual Grammy Awards, it was also nominated for Grammy Award for Album of the Year, but lost to RumoursbyFleetwood Mac.
The album spawned three singles: "Handy Man" (Taylor's final top 10 hit), "Your Smiling Face" and "Honey Don't Leave L.A.". "Handy Man", a Jimmy Jones cover, peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Adult Contemporary and won the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. "Your Smiling Face", the other big hit, peaked at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #6 on the Adult Contemporary chart. 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.
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Christgau's Record Guide | B[3] |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
MusicHound Rock | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The New York Times noted that "perhaps the most obvious way that the new songs don't equal the old is their relative lack of memorable melody."[6]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Your Smiling Face" | James Taylor | 2:50 |
2. | "There We Are" | Taylor | 3:02 |
3. | "Honey Don't Leave L.A." | Danny Kortchmar | 3:05 |
4. | "Another Grey Morning" | Taylor | 2:44 |
5. | "Bartender's Blues" | Taylor | 4:12 |
6. | "Secret O' Life" | Taylor | 3:34 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Handy Man" |
| 3:17 |
2. | "I Was Only Telling a Lie" | Taylor | 3:24 |
3. | "Looking for Love on Broadway" | Taylor | 2:23 |
4. | "Terra Nova" |
| 4:32 |
5. | "Traffic Jam" | Taylor | 1:58 |
6. | "If I Keep My Heart Out of Sight" | Taylor | 3:01 |
Total length: | 37:57 |
Chart (1977) | Peak position |
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Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] | 10 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[8] | 31 |
USBillboard 200[9] | 4 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United States (RIAA)[10] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
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Studio albums |
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Live albums |
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Holiday albums |
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Compilation albums |
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Extended plays |
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Singles |
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Other songs |
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Related articles |
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