New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Shore Fire Media) -In November of 1970
James Taylor and
Carole King first performed together at the Troubadour on
Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, California. Taylor had just released his debut album for the Beatles' newly formed Apple Records and King was finding her way as a first time solo performer even though by then she was a famous songwriter with a string of hits for other artists. When they returned to the club for a two-week co-headlining run in 1971 their lives were somewhat different.
That summer Taylor's 'Fire and Rain' was topping the charts and King's landmark Tapestry was on its way to making her a music superstar. Thirty-six years later, in November 2007, James Taylor, Carole King and members of their renowned original band 'The Section' (featuring guitarist Danny Kortchmar, bassist Leland Sklar and drummer Russell Kunkel) returned to the Troubadour for a three night, six show run to celebrate the venue's 50th anniversary. Those historic shows are documented in Live at the Troubadour, a special 2-disc CD/DVD available May 4th from Hear Music/Concord Music Group. This remarkable recording, culled from these unforgettable string of shows, features 15 songs and 75 minutes of pristine video and audio including stunning performances of the pair's most beloved hits such as Carole King's 'So Far Away,' 'It's Too Late,' and 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow?' as well as James Taylor's 'Carolina in My Mind,' 'Sweet Baby James,' and 'Fire and Rain' to name just a few.
The return to the intimate Troubadour-the fertile ground that served as the unofficial home to a some of the era's defining musicians such as the Eagles, Elton John, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt and Joni Mitchell-rekindled King's and Taylor's love for making music together. Variety enthused at the time, 'Taylor and King reminded us about the intensity of the song, that the artistically-rich and commercially-viable are not mutually exclusive and how one tiny club continues to be a birthing room for some of this city's most memorable music.' The experience was deeply felt by everyone: the musicians on stage, the fans in attendance as well as the project's technical crew: audio producer Peter Asher (an instrumental figure throughout Taylor's career) and Emmy winning video director, Martyn Atkins. Live at the Troubadour is captured in sterling 5.1 stereo and state-of-the-art high definition video.
In the album's liner notes, Taylor states: 'The Troubadour in 1971 wasn't the beginning, but it was a big step into the light for both of us. When we reunited for the Troubadour's 50th Anniversary celebration in 2007, it felt like yesterday. It was, and still is, all about the music and the celebration of performing together.' King adds, 'What's even more remarkable is that James's and my musical connection and friendship continue to transcend time and place. Whenever we're together, there we are. I feel a tremendous gratitude to be able to share this experience with James, with this fine band, and most of all, with the fans.'
This memorable event was also the inspiration for the recently announced 60-concert 'Troubadour Reunion' world tour that will kick off in Melbourne, Australia on March 26th and will travel to New Zealand and Japan before coming to North America starting in May. For the Troubadour Reunion tour, King and Taylor will once again be joined on stage by Kortchmar, Sklar and Kunkel. The tour has so far generated an overwhelming response exemplified by numerous sold-out shows including multiple nights at The Hollywood Bowl May 13th, 14th and 15th, New York's Madison Square Garden June 15th, 16th and 30th and Tanglewood July 3rd, 4th and 5th.
Additionally, for all arena shows within the U.S., the unique stage design of the Troubadour Reunion tour will incorporate one-of-a-kind VIP Stage Seats whose sale will benefit local and national charities throughout the U.S tour including the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Alliance for the Wild Rockies. These charities have been chosen specifically by Carole King and James Taylor and are available at www.ticketsforcharity.com . These unique Stage Seats, arranged in tables of two surrounding the stage, create an extraordinary 'venue within a venue,' an intimate, club-like setting replicating the intimacy of the duo's legendary night at the Troubadour four decades ago, amidst the excitement of an arena performance.
Live at the Troubadour track listing:
1. Blossom (James Taylor)
2. So Far Away (Carole King)
3. Machine Gun Kelly (Danny Kortchmar)
4. Carolina in My Mind (James Taylor)
5. It's Too Late (Carole King - Toni Stern)
6. Smackwater Jack (Gerry Goffin - Carole King)
7. Something in the Way She Moves (James Taylor)
8. Will You Love Me Tomorrow? (Gerry Goffin - Carole King)
9. Country Road (James Taylor)
10. Fire and Rain (James Taylor)
11. Sweet Baby James (James Taylor)
12. I Feel the Earth Move (Carole King)
13. You've Got a Friend (Carole King)
14. Up on the Roof (Gerry Goffin - Carole King)
15. You Can Close Your Eyes (James Taylor)
ABOUT CAROLE KING:
In 1971, King gave us the landmark Tapestry. The album received a Diamond Award from the RIAA for sales of more than 10 million units in the U.S., with more than 25 million units sold worldwide. King was the first woman to win four GRAMMYAwards in one year (Best Album, Best Song, Best Record, and Best Vocal Performance in 1972); a feat unsurpassed for more than 25 years, and was featured on the cover of Time Magazinein 1973. In 1987, King and Gerry Goffin were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and honored with their Lifetime Achievement Award in 1988. Goffin and King were also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and were honored by The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences in 2004 with the GRAMMYTrustees' Award. To date, more than 400 Carole King compositions have been recorded by more than 1000 artists, resulting in more than 100 hit singles - many reaching No 1. She is arguably the most successful and revered female songwriter in pop music history. Carole King has released 25 solo albums, the most recent being The Living Room Tourdouble-live CD and companion DVD, entitled Welcome to My Living Roomon her own Rockingale Records label.
ABOUT JAMES TAYLOR:
Over the course of his career, James Taylor has sold more than 40 million albums, and won more than 40 gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards as well as five GRAMMY Awards. Taylor's first Greatest Hitsalbum earned him the RIAA's elite Diamond Award, given for sales in excess of 10 million units in the United States. In 2000, Taylor was inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In February 2006, The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences named Taylor its MUSICARES Person of the Year. Taylor's CD/DVD One Man Band (2007) was nominated for an Emmy and his most recent album, Covers, was nominated for two GRAMMYAwards in 2008. He most recently released Other Covers in April 2009.
For complete tour routing and information about the Troubadour Reunion tour, please visit www.jamestaylor.com, www.caroleking.com and www.concordmusicgroup.com
