Sweet Baby James

Sweet Baby James is the second album by American singer-songwriter James Taylor, and his first release on Warner Bros. Records. Released in February 1970, the album includes one of Taylor's earliest successful singles: "Fire and Rain", which reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album itself reached #3 on the Billboard Album Charts. Sweet Baby James made Taylor one of the main forces of the ascendant singer-songwriter movement. The album was nominated to a Grammy Award for Album of the Year, in 1971. The album was listed at #103 on Rolling Stone Magazine's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Background
The album, produced by Peter Asher, was recorded at Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, between 8 and 17 December 1969 at a cost of only $7,600 (US$0 in dollars) out of a budget of $20,000. Taylor was "essentially homeless" at the time the album was recorded, either staying in Asher's home or crashing on a couch at the house of guitarist Danny Kortchmar or anyone else who would have him.

The song "Suite for 20 G" was so named because Taylor was promised $20,000 (US$0 in dollars) once the album was delivered. With one more song needed, he strung together three unfinished songs into a "suite", and completed the album.

The album produced two charting singles: "Fire and Rain," backed by "Anywhere Like Heaven," which peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 31 October 1970, and "Country Road," backed by "Sunny Skies," which peaked at #37 on 20 March 1971. An additional single, "Sweet Baby James," backed by "Suite for 20 G," did not chart.

Accolades

 * In 2003 the TV network VH1 named Sweet Baby James the 77th greatest album of all time.
 * In 2003, the album was ranked number 103 on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

Track listing
All songs by James Taylor unless otherwise noted.

Side One
 * 1) "Sweet Baby James" – 2:54
 * 2) "Lo and Behold" – 2:37
 * 3) "Sunny Skies" – 2:21
 * 4) "Steamroller Blues" – 2:57
 * 5) "Country Road" – 3:22
 * 6) "Oh, Susanna" (Stephen Foster) – 1:58

Side Two
 * 1) "Fire and Rain" – 3:20
 * 2) "Blossom" – 2:14
 * 3) "Anywhere Like Heaven" – 3:23
 * 4) "Oh Baby, Don't You Loose Your Lip on Me" – 1:46
 * 5) "Suite for 20 G" – 4:41

Musicians
The horn players are uncredited.
 * James Taylor – guitar, vocals
 * Chris Darrow – fiddle, violin.
 * Carole King – piano, vocals
 * Danny Kortchmar – guitar
 * Russ Kunkel – drums
 * John London – bass
 * Randy Meisner – bass on "Country Road" and "Blossom"
 * Red Rhodes – steel guitar
 * Bobby West – double bass

Technical

 * Jack Bielan – brass arrangements
 * Peter Asher – producer
 * Bill Lazerus – engineer
 * Darrell Johnson – mastering
 * Ed Thrasher – art direction
 * Henry Diltz – photography