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9 Songs That Prove James Taylor Is Amazing

The original JT is responsible for so much dad-rock. But his deep cuts are worth giving a listen.

I know, right? Now tell your friends!
9 Songs That Prove James Taylor Is Amazing
Shani O. Hilton

He’s America’s dad-rock hero, but listen a little closer and you’ll find James Taylor is so much more awesome.

Image by Carolyn Kaster / AP

Today is James Taylor’s birthday (thanks to the Awl for the reminder). If you know anything about JT, you probably associate him with saccharine dad rock.

The reason for that, of course, is because Taylor’s legacy is tied to big hits that are harmless and pleasant on the surface — “Fire And Rain,” “You’ve Got A Friend,” and “Mexico” — but his best stuff is about battling back sadness.

Today, as I understand it, James Taylor is deeply uncool. But get over yourself for 20 minutes and on this, the occasion of his 65th birthday, try giving some of his deep cuts a spin.

1. “Country Road”

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Imagine you’re a kid, heading across country with your parents and your dad sticks this in the cassette player. You’re sitting in the back seat, looking out of the window with your forehead pressed against the cold glass as you watch dark fields roll by.

2. “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight”

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Chances are you’ve heard this song — just not by James Taylor. The Isley Brothers, Isaac Hayes, Nancy Wilson and Eric Clapton have all covered it. Taylor’s particular talent in penning songs that were ripe for more soulful interpretations can’t be overstated. As one Rolling Stone writer put it in a remarkable 1971 review of Taylor’s Mud Slide Slim And The Blue Horizon, “James is one of that rare species which perfectly synthesizes the white and black strains of American music.”

3. “Machine Gun Kelly”

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“This is not a time for levity—do you understand what happened to Machine Gun Kelly?” A woman. A wicked woman happened to Machine Gun Kelly and ruined his life. At least that’s the story in this take on the gangster’s tale.

4. “Traffic Jam”

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This is so unlike JT that it’s kind of a weird delight.

5. “Shower The People”

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Okay this one is pretty cheesy. But even underneath all the cheery sunshine and smooth guitar there’s a lot of darkness spun by a man who was fighting addiction and the trappings of success.

6. “Secret O’ Life”

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Oh sure, this songs sounds like it’s a song about how nice life is, but it’s actually about how we’re all going to die one day so we might as well cool it.

7. “Mud Slide Slim”

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A great cut from Mud Slide Slim And The Blue Horizon. Ben Gerson wrote in a 1971 review of the album: “James, Yankee that he is, takes the classic American way out: ‘I’m gonna cash in my hand and pick up on a piece of land/I’m gonna build myself a cabin in the woods/ And it’s there I’m gonna stay until there comes a day/When this old world starts changing for the good.’”

8. “Your Smiling Face”

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Think about the swagger you get from being in love.

9. “Something In The Way She Moves”

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This song allegedly inspired George Harrison to write The Beatles’ “Something,” which is plausible since they were label-mates and the first lyrics are the same.

And in case you wanted a full playlist, here you go.

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Check out more articles on BuzzFeed.com!

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    • barbarah15   9 Songs That Prove James Taylor Is...  about 3 months ago
    • savannahb3 3 months ago

      I also love “Junkie’s Lament” and “Looking for Love on Broadway.” He has plenty of pretty dark songs on his early albums.

    • criso321   9 Songs That Prove James Taylor Is... and thinks it’s Win & Cool Beans  about 3 months ago
    • JenCJen17   9 Songs That Prove James Taylor Is...  about 3 months ago
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    • kevinr26 3 months ago

      shocking….James Taylor an American icon? When did this happen? Thanks BuzzFeed…..

    • violet7lite   9 Songs That Prove James Taylor Is...  about 3 months ago
    • chuyb thinks 9 Songs That Prove James Taylor Is... is Win  about 3 months ago
    • Strategia thinks 9 Songs That Prove James Taylor Is... is Win  about 3 months ago
    • shawali thinks 9 Songs That Prove James Taylor Is... is Win  about 3 months ago
    • Behaviorizm101 3 months ago

      “Dad-rock”? Screw off. These are not deep cuts, they were hits, and to categorize JT’s music as belonging to one generation is just so wrong. Thanks, Buzzfeed, for nothing.

    • newsjunkie   9 Songs That Prove James Taylor Is... and thinks it’s Win  about 3 months ago
    • calli441 3 months ago

      He is amazing. Period.

    • calli441   9 Songs That Prove James Taylor Is... and thinks it’s Win  about 3 months ago
    • witchywomin   9 Songs That Prove James Taylor Is...  about 3 months ago
    • kellyml   9 Songs That Prove James Taylor Is...  about 3 months ago
    • your mom 3 months ago

      James Taylor is utterly amazing. That is all.

    • Rob 3 months ago

      You missed the best ‘actual’ deep cut: I Was Only Telling A Lie from the album JT.

    • stephaniesezz 3 months ago

      “you’ve got a friend” always makes me teary.

    • tonii   9 Songs That Prove James Taylor Is...  about 3 months ago
    • erinnr2 thinks 9 Songs That Prove James Taylor Is... is Win  about 3 months ago
    • JacksonDS   9 Songs That Prove James Taylor Is...  about 3 months ago
    • MsSkeet 3 months ago

      Loved him then, love him now. James Taylor is amazing! (#6 - Secret O’ Life - chokes me up everytime.)

    • MsSkeet   9 Songs That Prove James Taylor Is... and thinks it’s Win  about 3 months ago
    • rhdtmp0705 3 months ago

      Y’all forgot one.

    • danerkebab   9 Songs That Prove James Taylor Is...  about 3 months ago
    • Lisa R.   9 Songs That Prove James Taylor Is... and thinks it’s Win  about 3 months ago
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