Flag (James Taylor album)

Last updated
Flag
James Taylor - Flag.svg
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 1, 1979 (1979-05-01)
RecordedJanuary 4 – March 25, 1979 (1979-01-04 1979-03-25)
Studio Sound Factory (Hollywood)
Genre Rock
Length42:52
Label Columbia/Legacy
Producer Peter Asher
James Taylor chronology
JT
(1977)
Flag
(1979)
Dad Loves His Work
(1981)
Singles from Flag
  1. "Up on the Roof"
    Released: 1979

Flag is the ninth studio album by American singer-songwriter James Taylor released on May 1, 1979. The album included songs ("Millworker", "Brother Trucker") from Taylor's music score to Stephen Schwartz's Broadway musical, Working , based on the book by Studs Terkel.

Contents

The album was not well received, but it did provide a hit in Taylor's cover version of the Gerry GoffinCarole King composition "Up on the Roof" (Taylor's most recent top 40 hit as a solo artist).

"Rainy Day Man", which first appeared on Taylor's self-titled debut album, was re-recorded.

The signal flag that makes up the cover of the album is "O (Oscar)", standing for man overboard.

On the May 12, 1979, episode of Saturday Night Live , Taylor was the musical guest, and performed three songs from the album, "Up on the Roof", "Millworker", and "Johnnie Comes Back".

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Christgau's Record Guide C+ [2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
MusicHound Rock Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Rolling Stone (favorable) [5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]

The New York Times wrote that Taylor's "vulnerable tenor and the glossy production Peter Asher gives his record conspire to court blandness." [7]

Track listing

All songs by James Taylor unless otherwise noted.

Side one

  1. "Company Man" – 3:47
  2. "Johnnie Comes Back" – 3:55
  3. "Day Tripper" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 4:25
  4. "I Will Not Lie for You" – 3:16
  5. "Brother Trucker" – 4:01
  6. "Is That the Way You Look?" – 1:59

Side two

  1. "B.S.U.R. (S.U.C.S.I.M.I.M.)" – 3:23
  2. "Rainy Day Man" (Taylor, Zach Wiesner) – 3:02
  3. "Millworker" – 3:52
  4. "Up on the Roof" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King) – 4:21
  5. "Chanson Française" – 2:05
  6. "Sleep Come Free Me" – 4:43

Personnel

Production

Charts

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