New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Legendary singer-songwriter
James Taylor has released a new song from his forthcoming album American Standard due out on February 28th, 2020 via Fantasy Records//Universal Music. "As Easy As Rolling Off A Log", (written by M.K. Jerome-Jack Scholl) is the first-ever cover of a song featured in Katnip Kollege, a 1938 Merrie Melodies cartoon that Taylor first discovered as a kid. Previously, Taylor released the first track from American Standard, "Teach Me Tonight". Tickets are on sale today for Taylors previously announced 26 city US tour with Jackson Browne.
On American Standard, Taylor reimagines some of the most beloved songs of the 20th century and makes them completely his own. "These are songs I have always known," JT writes in the liner notes to this album. "Most of them were part of my family's record collection, the first music I heard as a kid growing up in North Carolina."
The 14 carefully chosen selections on American Standard naturally feature Taylor's one-of-a-kind vocal ability and incomparable musicianship, but what makes the album so unique is the inventive way he and fellow co-producers, longtime collaborator Dave O'Donnell and guitarist John Pizzarelli, approached the project: beautifully simple, stripped-down guitar arrangements based on Taylor's and Pizzarelli's skillful guitar work rather than the more traditional piano. The effect is mesmerizing.
A small sampling of the album's inspired repertoire includes James' swinging take on Walter Donaldson and
George A. Whiting's "My Blue Heaven", Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner's enduring "Almost Like Being In Love", from the score of Brigadoon; Hoagy Carmichael and Ned Washington's enchanting "The Nearness of You", Frank Loesser's jaunty "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat", from the Broadway smash Guys and Dolls; Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II's piercing social commentary from South Pacific, "You've Got To Be Carefully Taught", and a superb reading of the Billie Holiday-Arthur Herzog Jr. classic, "
God Bless The Child".
Last weekend, Taylor was featured on CBS Sunday Morning talking about the new album as well as Break Shot, his deeply personal audio-only memoir. This first-ever Audible Original performance by
James Taylor was produced by MTV/VH1 veteran Bill Flanagan. Taylor takes listeners through the triumphs and traumas of his childhood and difficult family life. Break Shot illuminates the deep connection he has with the songs on his new album. Taylor appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Monday, February 3rd to discuss Break Shot and will make a second appearance tonight to chat about his new album.
Taylor will embark on a major US tour with special guest
Jackson Browne that kicks off on May 15th at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans and will reach 26 cities, nationwide. The US tour follows his already announced coast to coast Canadian Tour with Bonnie Raitt. Taylor will also be returning to Fenway Park in
Boston with his All-Star Band on June 21st for a special show featuring
Brandi Carlile and Shawn Colvin.
AMERICAN STANDARD - Track List:
My Blue
Heaven (Walter Donaldson-George A. Whiting)
Moon River (Henry Mancini-Johnny Mercer)
Teach Me
Tonight (Gene De Paul-Sammy Cahn)
As Easy As Rolling Off A Log (M.K. Jerome-Jack Scholl)
Almost Like Being In Love (Frederick Loewe-Alan Jay Lerner)
Sit Down, You're Rockin' The Boat (Frank Loesser)
The Nearness Of You (Hoagy Carmichael-Ned Washington)
You've Got To Be Carefully Taught (Richard Rodgers-Oscar Hammerstein II)
God Bless The Child (Billie Holiday-Arthur Herzog Jr.)
Pennies From
Heaven (Arthur Johnston-Johnny Burke)
My
Heart Stood Still (Richard Rodgers-Lorenz Hart)
Ol' Man River (Jerome Kern-Oscar Hammerstein II)
It's Only A Paper Moon (Harold Arlen-Yip Hardburg-Billy Rose)
The Surrey With The Fringe On Top (Richard Rodgers-Oscar Hammerstein II)
Canadian Tour Dates with Bonnie Raitt:
4/14
Victoria BC @ Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
4/15 Vancouver BC @ Rogers Arena
4/17 Edmonton AB @ Rogers Place
4/19 Calgary AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome
4/21 Winnipeg MB @ Bell MTS Place
4/24 Ottawa ON @ Richcraft Live at the Canadian Tire Centre
4/25 London ON @ Budweiser Gardens
4/27 Toronto ON @ Scotiabank Arena
4/29 Montreal QC @ Centre Bell
5/1 Halifax NS @ Scotiabank Centre
5/2 Moncton NB @ Avenir Centre
5/5 St. John's NL @ Mile One Centre
