Channel: James Taylor

Category: Music

Tags: one man bandone man band liveone man band (musical album)james taylor (musical artist)colonial theatreacoustic guitar songsmean old manjtcolonial theatre pittsfieldsinger songwriters 60s 70ssinger songwriter 70smean old man lyricslive musicmean old man james taylor lyricssinger songwriterjames taylormean old man songlarry goldingsacoustic guitarsinger songwriter musicsinger songwriter acousticlive music performance

Description: CD/DVD liner note from James - One Man Band (2007): “It’s a strange reality of the modern popular song that the first time it’s played is when it’s recorded. Sometimes a song will be finished for deadline in the studio the day the thing is cast in stone forever. I know that songs and arrangements evolve and develop over time; that somewhere around the twentieth time it’s played for a live audience, a song finally completes itself. That, among other things, is what makes a good live recording unique. I’ve often thought that live performance means being well prepared and then waiting for the inevitable, unexpected thing to happen. We come onstage, well rehearsed and in good shape, and repeat what we have done before as best we can. But the real goal is to be in the present moment and on the surface of ourselves; open and trusting. Nobody wants to be perfect: that’s frozen, dead…It’s “be here now”, I guess… Of course, @larry goldings does more than just accompany me. His growing presence in the world of jazz is well acknowledged, both for his own recordings and live performances and as a member of a good number of team efforts. I tend to form musical (and personal) relationships with other players and then stick with them for years. @Arnold McCuller and David Lasley have worked with me since the mid-‘70s and others nearly as long (Jimmy Johnson, Steve Gadd, Mike Landau, Kate Markowitz, Valerie Carter…) After my great friend, producer and pianist Don Grolnick died in ’96, I performed with a number of excellent keyboard players. It was during the recording of my October Road album in ’02 that I worked with Larry. Russ Titelman had booked him to play on “Mean Old Man” along with Steve Gadd on drums, Jimmy Johnson on bass, Clifford Carter on synth, and the fine seven-string jazz guitarist, John Pizzarelli. This was an incredible band, and after hearing Larry Goldings’ solo on that song, first time through, he pinned it. That was our introduction and he’s been my first call ever since. Then there’s the bus factor. You see, someone’s playing may be great, but what’s it going to be like spending 10 hours a day riding to the next gig with them for a couple of months? Larry’s Bus Factor is not a factor for he is a bus riding fool, for a fact. Part of his talent is his ability to “split his hands.” Though not as painful as it sounds, it does require great focus and skill to play a melody/accompaniment with his right hand and, with his left hand, (often on another keyboard) play a distinct bass pattern. This Larry can do with effortless grace, and he has made this One Man Band show possible. He is a committed father, brother, and son, and I am in his debt. Larry Goldings is my One Man Band.” – James Taylor Subscribe here to stay up to date with all new releases on the channel: bit.ly/3jApW2o. LYRICS Mean Old Man by James Taylor On my own how could I have known Imagine my surprise Just a fool from a tree full of fools Who can’t believe his eyes Imagine my surprise ‘Cause I was a mean old man I was an ornery cuss I was a Dismal Dan I made an awful fuss Ever since my life began Man, it was ever thus I was a nasty tyke Who was hard to like I had to misbehave I did things in reverse Refused to wash or shave I was horrid to my nurse I got back what I gave Which only made me worse I had to have my way Which was bleak and gray Oh, dear, living in here One hundred years of rain Such a drag, this riches to rags And just myself to blame The dirty low-down shame of it The dirty low-down shame Silly me, silly old me Somewhere outside my mind Clever you, walking me through Happy to lead the blind All in the nick of time Who gets a second chance Who gets to have some fun Who gets to learn to dance Before his race is run Who gets to shed his skin Who comes up born again Who was a mean old man Till you turned him Into a Golden Retriever puppy dog #JamesTaylor #JT #MeanOldMan #OneManBand #ConcordRecords NEW ALBUM 🎵 found.ee/JTAmericanStandard NEW EP 🎵 Over The Rainbow: The American Standard EP: found.ee/JTAmericanStandardEP 🌟 FOLLOW JAMES ON SOCIAL 🌟 facebook.com/JamesTaylor instagram.com/jamestaylor_com twitter.com/jamestaylor_com 🌐 VISIT THE WEBSITE 🌐 jamestaylor.com ✉️ JOIN THE MAILING LIST ✉️ jamestaylor.com/mailinglist 🎸 FREE GUITAR LESSONS BY JAMES 🎸 youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4C7B31793C012820