Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon

Last updated

Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon
James Taylor - Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon.jpg
Studio album by
James Taylor
ReleasedApril 1971 (1971-04)
RecordedJanuary 3 – February 28, 1971 (1971-01-03 – 1971-02-28)
StudioCrystal Sound Studios, Los Angeles
Genre Folk rock [1]
Length37:07
Label Warner Bros.
Producer Peter Asher
James Taylor chronology
James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine
(1971)		Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon
(1971)		 One Man Dog
(1972)
Singles from Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon
  1. "You've Got a Friend"
    Released: May 1971
  2. "Long Ago and Far Away"
    Released: 1971
  3. "You Can Close Your Eyes"
    Released: 1971
  4. "Highway Song"
    Released: 1971

Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter James Taylor, released in April 1971 by Warner Bros. Records. The album was recorded between early January and late February of the same year.

Contents

Release and promotion

Released in April 1971, the album contains Taylor's biggest hit single in the US, a cover version of the Carole King standard "You've Got a Friend", which hit #1 on the Billboard charts on July 31, 1971, his only song to do so. The week before, the album itself reached its peak position of #2 in the Billboard album charts. It was held off the top spot by King, then ruling the charts with the blockbuster Tapestry album, which contained her version of "You've Got a Friend". The song earned Grammy Awards both for Taylor (Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male) and King (Song of the Year). Mud Slide Slim managed to generate another Top 40 hit, "Long Ago and Far Away", which reached #31 on the Billboard Hot 100. Other songs became standards in concert, particularly "You Can Close Your Eyes".

Critical reception

Retrospective professional reviews
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Christgau's Record Guide C+ [3]
MusicHound Rock 3/5 [4]
Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]

Reviewing for Rolling Stone in 1971, Ben Gerson found the album to be a "dull listening" the first few times: "Once the melodies begin to sink in, and the LP's raison d'etre is discovered, the album's subtle tensions begin to appear. And while the album at this point makes for pleasant, absorbing listening, there is a terrible weariness to it which is part of its artistic statement." [7]

Village Voice critic Robert Christgau was more critical of Taylor's songwriting. "Having squandered most of the songs on his big success, he's concentrating on the intricate music", Christgau wrote, finding the lyrics "more onanistic than ever, escapist as a matter of conscious thematic decision. From what? you well may wonder. From success, poor fella. Blues singers lived on the road out of economic necessity, although they often got into it; Taylor is an addict, pure and simple. A born-rich nouveau star who veers between a 'homestead on the farm' (what does he raise there, hopes?) and the Holiday Inn his mean old existential dilemma compels him to call home deserves the conniving, self-pitying voice that is his curse. Interesting, intricate, unlistenable." [3]

In 2000 it was voted number 858 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums . [8]

Track listing

Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
"You've Got A Friend"
James Taylor's "You've Got A Friend" from Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon
Problems playing this file? See media help.

All songs by James Taylor unless otherwise noted.

Side one
  1. "Love Has Brought Me Around" – 2:41
  2. "You've Got a Friend" (Carole King) – 4:28
  3. "Places in My Past" – 2:01
  4. "Riding on a Railroad" – 2:41
  5. "Soldiers" – 1:13
  6. "Mud Slide Slim" – 5:20
Side two
  1. "Hey Mister, That's Me up on the Jukebox" – 3:46
  2. "You Can Close Your Eyes" – 2:31
  3. "Machine Gun Kelly" (Danny Kortchmar) – 2:37
  4. "Long Ago and Far Away" – 2:20
  5. "Let Me Ride" – 2:42
  6. "Highway Song" – 3:51
  7. "Isn't It Nice to Be Home Again" – 0:55

Personnel

Production

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1971)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [9] 12
Canadian RPM Albums Chart [10] 4
Norwegian Albums Chart [11] 17
UK Albums Chart [12] 4
U.S. Billboard Top LPs & Tapes [13] 2

Year-end charts

Chart (1971)Position
U.S. Billboard Pop Albums [14] 27

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [15] 2× Platinum2,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Taylor</span> American singer-songwriter and guitarist

James Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A six-time Grammy Award winner, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. Taylor is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 100 million records worldwide.

<i>Sweet Baby James</i> 1970 studio album by James Taylor

Sweet Baby James is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter James Taylor, released on February 1, 1970 by Warner Bros. Records.

<i>Tapestry</i> (Carole King album) 1971 studio album by Carole King

Tapestry is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Carole King, released in 1971 on Ode Records and produced by Lou Adler. The lead singles from the album—"It's Too Late" and "I Feel the Earth Move"—spent five weeks at number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Easy Listening charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You've Got a Friend</span> 1971 single by Carole King

"You've Got a Friend" is a 1971 song written by American singer-songwriter Carole King. It was first recorded by King and included on her second studio album, Tapestry (1971). Another well-known version is by James Taylor from his album Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon. His was released as a single in 1971, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and number four on the UK Singles Chart. The two versions were recorded simultaneously in 1971 with shared musicians.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (James Taylor album) 1976 greatest hits album by James Taylor

Greatest Hits is the first greatest hits album by American singer-songwriter James Taylor, released in November 1976 by Warner Bros. Records. As of February 2023, it remains Taylor's best selling album, with over 12 million units being sold in the United States. Greatest Hits is also the 31st best-selling album of fhe 1970's.

<i>One Man Dog</i> 1972 studio album by James Taylor

One Man Dog is the fourth studio album by singer-songwriter James Taylor. Released on November 1, 1972, it features the hit "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight", which peaked at number 14 on the Billboard charts on January 13, 1973. The follow-up single, "One Man Parade", also charted but less successfully, peaking at number 67 in the US and reaching number 55 on the Canadian Adult Contemporary chart. The basic tracks were primarily recorded in Taylor's home studio.

<i>JT</i> (album) 1977 studio album by James Taylor

JT is the eighth studio album by American singer-songwriter James Taylor. It was released on June 22, 1977, via Columbia Records, making it his first album released for the label. Recording session took place from March 15 to April 24, 1977, at The Sound Factory in Los Angeles with Val Garay. Production was handled by Peter Asher.

<i>Flag</i> (James Taylor album) 1979 studio album by James Taylor

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

<i>New Moon Shine</i> 1991 studio album by James Taylor

New Moon Shine is the thirteenth studio album by singer-songwriter James Taylor released in 1991. The album peaked at number 37 on the Billboard 200 chart and certified platinum. The album was producer-pianist Don Grolnick's sixth and final studio album with Taylor prior to his death in 1996 at age 48 from Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

<i>The Best of James Taylor</i> 2003 greatest hits album by James Taylor

The Best of James Taylor is the fourth compilation album by American singer-songwriter James Taylor released by Warner Bros. Records in 2003. The same album was released in Europe as You've Got a Friend: The Best of James Taylor.

<i>James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine</i> 1971 compilation album by James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine

James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine is an archival release of 1966 recordings of American singer-songwriter James Taylor's band The Flying Machine, first released in February 1971.

<i>Writer</i> (album) 1970 studio album by Carole King

Writer is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Carole King, released in May 1970. King already had a successful career as a songwriter, and been a part of The City, a short-lived group she formed after moving to Los Angeles in 1968. Tracks on the album include "Up on the Roof" which was a number 4 hit for the Drifters in 1962, and "Child of Mine", which has been recorded by Billy Joe Royal, among others. The album did not receive much attention upon its release, though it entered the chart following the success of King's next album, Tapestry, in 1971. It was produced by John Fischbach, the co-founder of Crystal Sound studio where the album was recorded.

<i>The Carnegie Hall Concert: June 18, 1971</i> 1996 live album by Carole King

The Carnegie Hall Concert: June 18, 1971 was Carole King's first concert performance in front of an audience.

<i>Music</i> (Carole King album) 1971 studio album by Carole King

Music is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Carole King. The album was released in December 1971.

<i>Sister Kate</i> (album) 1971 studio album by Kate Taylor

Sister Kate is singer Kate Taylor's first album, released in 1971.

The Section were a US instrumental rock/jazz fusion band formed in the early 1970s by guitarist Danny Kortchmar, keyboardist Craig Doerge, bassist Leland Sklar, and drummer Russ Kunkel. Other musicians associated with the group include multi-instrumentalist David Lindley and guitarist Waddy Wachtel. They are best known for both studio and stage work in support of some of the best selling singer-songwriters and solo singers of that decade. Their frequent appearances on the records of artists signed to Asylum Records made them the label's de facto house band. Their close association with the singer-songwriter and soft rock genres of the 1970s also led to their alternate moniker of "The Mellow Mafia".

<i>Thoroughbred</i> (album) 1976 studio album by Carole King

Thoroughbred is the seventh album by American singer-songwriter Carole King, released in 1976. Her final release on Ode Records, it was produced by Lou Adler, who had been her collaborator since Tapestry (1971). After Carole King self produced for a number of years on Capitol and Atlantic Records, Lou Adler later rejoined King to produce her 1984 album Speeding Time.

<i>Live at the Troubadour</i> (Carole King and James Taylor album) 2010 live album by Carole King and James Taylor

Live at the Troubadour is a live album by Carole King and James Taylor released in 2010. The album was recorded at The Troubadour in West Hollywood in November 2007 to celebrate the venue's 50th anniversary. It was also the first venue that King and Taylor played together in November 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Can Close Your Eyes</span> 1971 single by James Taylor

"You Can Close Your Eyes" is a song written by James Taylor which was released on his 1971 album Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon. It was also released as the B-side to his #1 single "You've Got a Friend". It has often been described as a lullaby. It was initially recorded by his sister Kate Taylor for her 1971 album Sister Kate. The song has been covered by many artists, including Carly Simon, Linda Ronstadt, Maureen McGovern, Richie Havens, Sheryl Crow, Sting, Eddie Vedder with Natalie Maines, and the King's Singers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long Ago and Far Away (James Taylor song)</span> 1971 single by James Taylor

"Long Ago and Far Away" is a song written by James Taylor and first released on his 1971 album Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon. It was the follow up single to You've Got a Friend and became a Top 40 hit in the U.S. and a Top 20 hit in Canada, and made the Top 10 on the Adult Contemporary chart in the U.S. It has also been covered by New York Voices and Johnny Mathis.

References

  1. ↑ Wurlitzer, Rudolph; Corry, Will (1971). Two-lane Blacktop. Award Books. p. 36. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  2. ↑ Ruhlmann, William. Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon at AllMusic. Retrieved 2 October 2004.
  3. 1 2 Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: T". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies . Ticknor & Fields. ISBN   089919026X . Retrieved March 15, 2019– via robertchristgau.com.
  4. ↑ Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel, eds. (1999). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Farmington Hills, MI: Visible Ink Press. p.  1125. ISBN   1-57859-061-2.
  5. ↑ Coleman, Mark; Edmonds, Ben (2004). "James Taylor". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide . London: Fireside. pp.  804–805. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8. Portions posted at "James Taylor > Album Guide". rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on January 5, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
  6. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2007). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0195313734.
  7. ↑ Gerson, Ben (June 24, 1971). "James Taylor Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon > Album Review". Rolling Stone . No. 85. Archived from the original on October 2, 2007. Retrieved 15 June 2006.
  8. ↑ Colin Larkin (2000). All Time Top 1000 Albums (3rd ed.). Virgin Books. p. 265. ISBN   0-7535-0493-6.
  9. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 305. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  10. ↑ "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 15, No. 18". RPM. June 19, 1971. Archived from the original (PHP) on April 29, 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  11. ↑ "norwegiancharts.com James Taylor – Mud Slide Slim". Archived from the original (ASP) on May 7, 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-09.
  12. ↑ "James Taylor > Artists > Official Charts". UK Albums Chart . Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  13. ↑ "AllMusic: Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon: Charts & Awards: Billboard Albums". allmusic.com. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Billboard.BIZ Top Pop Albums of 1971". billboard.biz. Archived from the original on December 31, 2012. Retrieved 2014-04-17.
  15. ↑ "American album certifications – James Taylor – Mud Slide Slim". Recording Industry Association of America.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.