The discography of James Taylor, an American singer-songwriter, consists of 20 studio albums, six compilation albums, at least five live albums, one tribute album, nine video albums, one extended play, and 42 singles.
| James Taylor discography | |
|---|---|
 James Taylor in concert in 2008. | |
| Studio albums | 20 |
| Live albums | 4 |
| Compilation albums | 7 |
| Video albums | 7 |
| Music videos | 15 |
| EPs | 1 |
| Singles | 42 |
| Tribute albums | 1 |
| No. 1 singles | 6 |
| Other charted songs | 4 |
Taylor signed his first recording contract with Apple Records, where he released his self-titled debut album in 1968. Prior to signing with Apple, Taylor released the single "Night Owl" with the group The Flying Machine. An album of their recordings, James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine was released in 1971 and reached No. 74 on the US pop charts. Taylor released his second studio album Sweet Baby James on Warner Bros. Records in 1970. Its lead single "Fire and Rain" became a significant international hit and gained Taylor his first major exposure as an artist.[1] In April 1971, Taylor released his third studio album Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon, which became his second album to certify multi-platinum in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America and featured his first number one single "You've Got a Friend".[1][2] In 1972 and 1973, he released his fourth studio album, One Man Dog and his fifth, Walking Man; both peaked within the Top 20 on the Billboard 200 albums list.[3]
After releasing more albums between 1974 and 1976, Taylor signed with Columbia Records and issued JT in 1977, which peaked in the Top 5 and sold over two million copies in the United States, certifying two times multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.[1][2] In 1979 and 1981, Taylor released Flag and Dad Loves His Work, respectively, which both certified platinum in the United States and produced Top 40 singles. Nearly four years later, Taylor's next studio album That's Why I'm Here was released and spawned a cover of Buddy Holly's "Everyday", which became a minor hit in the United States. This was followed by Never Die Young three years later and then by New Moon Shine in 1991, both of which sold over one million copies. After recording a two-disc live album in 1993, Taylor returned in 1997 with a fourteenth studio album titled Hourglass. The album not only peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard 200, but also received a Grammy Award for Best Pop Album the following year.[1][3] His fifteenth studio release October Road was issued on August 13, 2002, on Sony BMG[4] and certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.[2] After recording a limited release holiday album in 2004, Taylor released his first major-release holiday album, James Taylor at Christmas on October 10, 2006.[5]
One Man Band was released in 2007 and certified gold in the United States.[2] This was followed by Taylor's first cover album in 2008 on the Hear Music label. There was also an extended play sequel, Other Covers in 2009.[1] In 2015, Taylor released another live album, Georgia on My Mind: Live in Atlanta, 1981, and another studio album, Before This World, which became the first Taylor's album to peak at No.1 in the United States.
Studio albums edit
1960s edit
| Title | Album details | Peak positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US [6] |
AUS [7] | ||
| James Taylor | 62 | 12 | |
1970s edit
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales threshold) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [6] |
AUS [7] |
CAN [8] |
NOR [9] |
NLD [10] |
NZ [11] |
UK [12] | ||||
| Sweet Baby James |
|
3 | 7 | 3 | — | — | — | 6 | ||
| Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon |
|
2 | 12 | 4 | 17 | — | — | 4 |
| |
| One Man Dog |
|
4 | 13 | 7 | — | — | — | 27 |
| |
| Walking Man |
|
13 | 50 | 11 | — | — | — | — | ||
| Gorilla |
|
6 | 60 | — | — | — | — | — |
| |
| In the Pocket |
|
16 | 65 | 17 | 14 | — | — | — |
| |
| JT |
|
4 | 10 | 2 | — | — | 31 | — | ||
| Flag |
|
10 | 18 | 9 | 17 | 17 | 50 | — |
| |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||||||||
1980s edit
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales threshold) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [6] |
AUS [7] |
CAN [8] |
NOR [9] |
NLD [10] |
NZ [11] |
UK [12] | ||||||||
| Dad Loves His Work |
|
10 | 23 | 40 | 20 | 20 | 29 | — |
| |||||
| That's Why I'm Here |
|
34 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — |
| |||||
| Never Die Young |
|
25 | 26 | 37 | — | — | — | — |
| |||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||||||||||||
1990s edit
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales threshold) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [6] |
AUS [16] |
CAN [8] |
NOR [9] |
NLD [10] |
UK [12] | ||||
| New Moon Shine |
|
37 | — | — | — | — | — |
| |
| Hourglass |
|
9 | 68 | 52 | 38 | 38 | 52 | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||||||
2000s–2020s edit
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales threshold) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [6] |
AUS [17] |
CAN [18] |
NOR [9] |
NLD [10] |
UK [12] | |||
| October Road |
|
4 | 48 | — | 33 | 40 | 39 |
|
| A Christmas Album |
|
122 | — | — | — | — | — |
|
|
16 | — | — | — | — | — |
| |
| Covers |
|
4 | — | 21 | — | 85 | 23 |
|
| Before This World |
|
1 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 13 | 4 | |
| American Standard |
|
4 | 23 | 1 | — | 55 | 11 | |
Live albums edit
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
Certifications (sales threshold) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [6] |
CAN [8] | ||||||||
| Live |
|
20 | 71 |
| |||||
| Best Live |
|
— | — | ||||||
| One Man Band |
|
17 | — |
| |||||
| Amchitka (with Joni Mitchell and Phil Ochs) |
|
— | — | ||||||
| Live at the Troubadour (with Carole King) |
|
4 | 21 |
| |||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||||||
Compilation albums edit
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales threshold) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [6] |
AUS [16][7] |
CAN [8] |
UK [12] | ||||||
| Greatest Hits |
|
15 | 67 | 27 | — | ||||
| Classic Songs |
|
— | 48 | — | 53 |
| |||
| Greatest Hits Volume 2 |
|
97 | — | — | — |
| |||
| The Best of James Taylor |
|
11 | 54 | — | 4 | ||||
| The Essential James Taylor |
|
— | — | — | 50 | ||||
| The Warner Bros Albums 1970–1976 |
|
— | — | — | — | ||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||||||
Extended plays edit
| Title | Album details | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| US [6] | ||
| Other Covers |
|
122 |
| Over the Rainbow: The American Standard EP[20] |
|
— |
Singles edit
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Certification | Album | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [21] |
US AC [22] |
US Country [23] |
AUS [24] |
CAN [25] |
CAN AC [25] |
NLD [26] |
NZ [27] |
UK [28] | ||||
| 1969 | "Carolina in My Mind" | 118 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | James Taylor | |
| "Knocking 'Round the Zoo" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1970 | "Sweet Baby James" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sweet Baby James | |
| "Fire and Rain" | 3 | 7 | — | 6 | 2 | — | 18 | — | 42 |
| ||
| "Carolina in My Mind" (re-release) | 67 | — | — | — | 64 | — | — | — | — | James Taylor | ||
| 1971 | "Country Road" | 37 | 9 | — | 95 | 19 | 3 | — | — | — | Sweet Baby James | |
| "You've Got a Friend" | 1 | 1 | — | 25 | 2 | 12 | 14 | — | 4 | Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon | ||
| "Long Ago and Far Away" | 31 | 4 | — | — | 12 | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1972 | "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" | 14 | 3 | — | — | 18 | 7 | — | — | — | One Man Dog | |
| 1973 | "One Man Parade" | 67 | — | — | — | — | 55 | — | — | — | ||
| "Hymn" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1974 | "Let It All Fall Down" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Walking Man | |
| "Walking Man" | — | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1975 | "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" | 5 | 1 | — | 35 | 1 | 1 | — | 30 | — | Gorilla | |
| "Mexico" | 49 | 5 | — | — | 83 | 8 | — | — | — | |||
| 1976 | "Shower the People" | 22 | 1 | — | — | 54 | 1 | — | — | — | In the Pocket | |
| "Everybody Has the Blues" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1977 | "Woman's Gotta Have It" | — | 20 | — | — | — | 11 | — | — | — | ||
| "Handy Man" / "Bartender's Blues" |
4 — |
1 — |
— 88 |
13 — |
1 — |
4 — |
— — |
24 — |
— — |
JT | ||
| "Your Smiling Face" | 20 | 6 | — | — | 11 | 4 | — | — | — | |||
| 1978 | "Honey Don't Leave L.A." | 61 | — | — | — | 63 | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1979 | "Up on the Roof" | 28 | 7 | — | 70 | 36 | — | — | — | — | Flag | |
| 1981 | "Her Town Too" (with J.D. Souther) | 11 | 5 | — | 54 | 19 | 5 | — | 29 | — | Dad Loves His Work | |
| "Hard Times" | 72 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Summer's Here" | — | 25 | — | — | — | 12 | — | — | — | |||
| 1985 | "Everyday"[A] | 61 | 3 | 26 | — | 93 | 1 | — | — | — | That's Why I'm Here | |
| 1986 | "Only One" | — | 6 | 80 | 62 | — | 3 | — | — | — | ||
| "That's Why I'm Here" | — | 8 | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | |||
| 1988 | "Never Die Young" | 80 | 3 | — | 79 | 80 | — | — | — | — | Never Die Young | |
| "Baby Boom Baby" | — | 16 | — | — | 24 | 16 | — | — | — | |||
| 1991 | "Copperline" | — | 13 | — | — | 43 | 10 | — | — | — | New Moon Shine | |
| 1992 | "(I've Got To) Stop Thinkin' 'Bout That" | — | 28 | — | — | 71 | 19 | — | — | — | ||
| "Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha" | — | 19 | — | — | 70 | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Like Everyone She Knows" | — | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1997 | "Little More Time with You" | — | 3 | — | — | 68 | 13 | — | — | — | Hourglass | |
| 2002 | "On the 4th of July" | — | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | October Road | |
| "Whenever You're Ready" | — | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 2003 | "September Grass" | — | 25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008 | "It's Growing" | — | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Covers | |
| 2015 | "Today Today Today" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Before This World | |
| "Angels of Fenway" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Montana" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||||||||||
Guest singles edit
| Year | Single | Artist | Chart positions | Certification | Album | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [21] |
US AC [22] |
US Country [23] |
US Christian [29] |
AUS [24] |
CAN [25] |
CAN AC [25] |
CAN Country [25] |
UK [28] | |||||
| 1974 | "Mockingbird" | Carly Simon | 5 | 10 | — | — | 8 | 3 | — | — | 34 |
|
Hotcakes |
| 1978 | "(What a) Wonderful World" | Art Garfunkel (with Paul Simon) |
17 | 1 | — | — | — | 13 | 1 | — | — | Watermark | |
| "Bartender's Blues" (re-recording) | George Jones | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | Bartender's Blues | ||
| "Devoted to You" | Carly Simon | 36 | 2 | 33 | — | — | 50 | 2 | 39 | — | Boys in the Trees | ||
| 1986 | "Back in the High Life Again" | Steve Winwood | 13 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 53 | Back in the High Life | |
| 1994 | "Crying in the Rain" | Art Garfunkel | — | — | — | — | — | 61 | 25 | — | — | Up 'til Now | |
| 2001 | "Sailing to Philadelphia" | Mark Knopfler | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sailing to Philadelphia | |
| 2012 | "Soul Companion" | Mary Chapin Carpenter | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Ashes and Roses | |
| 2013 | "Don't Try So Hard" | Amy Grant | — | — | — | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | How Mercy Looks from Here | |
| 2018 | "Change" | Charlie Puth | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Voicenotes | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||||||||||
Other charted songs edit
| Year | Single | Peak positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US AC [22] | |||
| 2001 | "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" | 4 | October Road |
| 2004 | "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" | 12 | James Taylor: A Christmas Album |
| "Deck the Halls" | 5 | ||
| "Winter Wonderland" | 8 | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||
Other appearances edit
| Year | Song | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | "Jelly Man Kelly" | In Harmony |
| 1988 | "Second Star to the Right" | Stay Awake |
| 1991 | "Getting to Know You" | For Our Children[30] |
| 1992 | "It's Only a Paper Moon" and "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" | A League of Their Own[31] |
| 2003 | "How's the World Treating You" (with Alison Krauss) | Livin', Lovin', Losin': Songs of the Louvin Brothers |
| 2006 | "Our Town" | Cars |
| 2012 | "Payday" | Quiet About It: A Tribute to Jesse Winchester[32] |
| 2022 | "Coming Back to You" | Here It Is: A Tribute to Leonard Cohen[33] |
Guest and session appearances edit
| Year | Album | Artist | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Writer | Carole King | Acoustic guitar; backing vocals on "Goin' Back" |
| 1971 | Tapestry | Carole King | Acoustic guitar, backing vocals |
| 1971 | Music | Carole King | Acoustic guitar on "Some Kind of Wonderful", "Song of Long Ago" and "Too Much Rain", backing vocals refrain on "Some Kind of Wonderful" |
| 1971 | Blue | Joni Mitchell | Guitar on various tracks |
| 1972 | Harvest | Neil Young | Banjo and backing vocals on various tracks |
| 1978 | Kate Taylor | Kate Taylor | Guitar, horn, backing vocals, and arrangements on various tracks |
| Bartender's Blues | George Jones | Backing vocals on "Bartender 's Blues" | |
| 1979 | Restless Nights | Karla Bonoff | Backing vocals (with JD Souther) on "The Water is Wide" |
| 1986 | Back in the High Life | Steve Winwood | Backing vocals on "Back in the High Life Again" |
| 1988 | Life Is Good[34] | Livingston Taylor | Duet partner on "City Lights" |
| 1991 | Marc Cohn | Marc Cohn | Vocals on "Perfect Love" |
| 1992 | Harvest Moon | Neil Young | Background vocals on various tracks |
| 1994 | Angelus | Milton Nascimento | Vocals on "Only a Dream in Rio" |
| 1995 | Faust | Randy Newman | Role of "Lord" |
| 1996 | Eat the Phikis | Elio e le Storie Tese | Vocals on "First Me, Second Me" |
| 1999 | The Prayer Cycle | Jonathan Elias | Vocals on "Grace" |
| 1999 | Brand New Day | Sting | Featured artist on "Fill Her Up" |
| 2000 | Sailing to Philadelphia | Mark Knopfler | Featured artist on "Sailing to Philadelphia" |
| 2001 | Nearness of You: The Ballad Book | Michael Brecker | Vocals on "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" and "The Nearness of you" |
| 2006 | Duets: An American Classic | Tony Bennett | Duet partner on "Put on a Happy Face" |
| 2007 | Shine | Joni Mitchell | Guitar on "Shine" |
| 2008 | Songs of Joy & Peace | Yo-Yo Ma | Featured artist on "Here Comes the Sun" |
| 2010 | The 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Concerts[35] | Crosby, Stills & Nash | Featured artist on "Love the One You're With" |
| 2018 | Voicenotes[36] | Charlie Puth | Featured artist on "Change" |
| Honey Don't Leave L.A.[37] | Danny Kortchmar and Immediate Family | Guitar and backing vocals on "Machine Gun Kelly" |
Video albums edit
| Year | Video details | Certifications (sales threshold) |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | James Taylor: In Concert
|
|
| 1986 | James Taylor Live in Rio
|
|
| 1988 | James Taylor in Concert in Boston
|
|
| 1993 | Squibnocket
|
|
| 1998 | Live at the Beacon Theatre
|
|
| 2002 | Pull Over
|
|
| 2006 | A Musicares Person of the Year Tribute
|
|
| 2010 | Live at the Troubadour
|
Music videos edit
| Year | Song | Director(s)[39] |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | "Her Town Too" | |
| 1985 | "Everyday" | Stuart Orme |
| 1986 | "Only a Dream in Rio" | |
| "Only One" | ||
| 1988 | "Baby Boom Baby" | |
| "Never Die Young" | ||
| 1991 | "(I've Got To) Stop Thinkin' 'Bout That" | |
| "Shed a Little Light" | ||
| 1992 | "Copperline" | |
| 1994 | "Secret of Life" | |
| 1997 | "A Little More Time" | |
| "Enough to Be on Your Way" | David Mirkin | |
| "Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier" (with Mark O'Connor) | ||
| 2003 | "How's the World Treating You" (with Alison Krauss) | Lawrence Draper |
| 2015 | "Angels of Fenway" |
References edit
- ^ a b c d e Ruhlmann, William. "James Ta> Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ a b c d "RIAA Gold & Platinum searchable database – James Taylor albums". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ a b "James Taylor > album charts". Allmusic. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ Ruhlmann, William. "October Road > Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ Ruhlmann, William. "James Taylor at Christmas > Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "James Taylor Chart History – Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
- ^ a b c d Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 305. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ a b c d e "Results – RPM – Library and Archives Canada – Top Albums/CDs". RPM. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
- ^ a b c d "norwegiancharts.com – Norwegian charts portal". Hung Medien. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
- ^ a b c d "dutchcharts.nl – Dutch charts portal". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
- ^ a b "charts.nz – New Zealand charts portal". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e "The Official Charts Company – James Taylor". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "American certifications – James Taylor". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "British certifications – James Taylor". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 11, 2022. Type James Taylor in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- ^ "Gold & Platinum Search – Music Canada – James Taylor". Music Canada. Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
- ^ a b c d Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 275.
- ^ "Discography James Taylor". australian-charts.com. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
- ^ "James Taylor Chart History – Canadian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1996 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
- ^ "Over the Rainbow – the American Standard EP".
- ^ a b "James Taylor Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
- ^ a b c "James Taylor Chart History: Adult Contemporary". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
- ^ a b "James Taylor Chart History: Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
- ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ a b c d e "Basic search for "James Taylor"". RPM. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ "Dutch charts portal – James Taylor". Dutch Charts.NL. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ "New Zealand charts portal – James Taylor". charts.nz. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ a b "UK Singles charts run – James Taylor". Polyhex. Archived from the original on December 7, 2008. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ "Amy Grant: Song & Chart History – Hot Christian Songs". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
- ^ "Various – For Our Children". Discogs. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
- ^ "Various – A League Of Their Own (Music From The Motion Picture)". Discogs. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
- ^ Blake, Corey (August 17, 2012). "James Taylor covers Jesse Winchester's "Payday" for tribute album". The Troubadour Tribune. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
- ^ Leonard Cohen - Here It Is: A Tribute to Leonard Cohen Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved December 23, 2022
- ^ "Life Is Good – Livingston Taylor | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
- ^ "The 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Concerts (4CD)". Retrieved November 25, 2011.
- ^ "Voicenotes – Charlie Puth | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
- ^ "Danny Kortchmar – Honey Don't Leave LA 2018". www.waddywachtelinfo.com. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2010 DVDs" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
- ^ "James Taylor Music Videos". MVD Base. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved April 25, 2010.