Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Unplugged sound-and-vision package, 20 Nov 2007
This CD-and-DVD set gives you an "unplugged" set filmed live in concert at Massachusetts' Colonial Theatre earlier this year. Accompanied by his own guitar, pianist Larry Goldings and occasionally (as on Shower The People) by the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, Taylor runs through a 19-song set representing the whole of his long career from classics like cowboy lullaby Sweet Baby James and the gorgeous Carolina On My Mind to newer songs like Mean Old Man.
The DVD section of One Man Band accompanies the songs with interviews and rare footage, including home movies and photographs from Taylor's own archives. The resulting portrait-of-the-artist acts as a primer for those unfamiliar with the repertoire as well as a celebration of a career for those who are.
Maybe there should have been more variation - the DVD features essentially the same setlist as the concert CD - but Universal probably realise that most people will keep the video for the living room and the audio for the car. The musical content is pristine in terms of both recording clarity and performance, and the overall impression is of a private show from an old and comfortable family friend.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
DVD with bonus CD rather than CD with bonus DVD, 1 Jan 2008
As a big James Taylor fan I was really looking forward to finding "One Man Band" in my stocking this Xmas. After the first few listenings the album leaves me with mixed feelings.
The tracks I enjoy the most are the James and guitar tracks, the attempts to use taped harmonies and drum leave me a little cold. I would have thought that this was an opportunity to give an airing to songs that could have been re-arranged for solo guitar and voice rather than run through tracks that need filling out with keyboards however well done. The live performance isn't a one man band show, more stripped back. Golding's keyboard accompaniment is good but the set list is too much like James' other live CDs/DVDs. I don't think this adds as much to the Taylor collection as the title would suggest.
After being disappointed with the CD I settled down to watch the DVD. The DVD made much more sense. OK it's not one man band but the live set comes across more as a satisfying whole. The between track banter and chat James has with the audience adds to the set, this is highly edited on the CD. I think other James Taylor concert DVDs are better. As an exercise in "down home feel good" this is ok. James' warmth and charm are fully evident as ever.
CD poor, DVD much better. This more a DVD with a bonus CD rather than a CD with a bonus DVD
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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Unmistakable Warm Baritone ... James Taylor ... Hear Music (2007)", 5 Dec 2007
Hear Music presents "ONE MAN BAND" --- A new CD/DVD of live recordings and the stories behind the songs --- New performances from some of his most beloved recordings are interspersed with insightful and humorous anecdotes on the inspiration for the songs --- In Taylor's own words -- "Performing these songs in their original, stripped down form in small halls is like going to the well for water -- It reconnects me to the music and puts me back in touch with the audience --- I feel like we could take this evening around the world," --- Taylor says of his latest work. As his unmistakable warm baritone moves into a few bars of "Something in the Way She Moves," once again the world is drawn to him.
James Vernon Taylor (born March 12, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist, born in Belmont, Massachusetts --- Taylor's career began in the mid-1960s, but he found his audience in the early 1970s, singing sensitive and gentle acoustic songs --- He was part of a wave of singer-songwriters of the time that also included Joni Mitchell, Tom Rush, Cat Stevens, Carole King, John Denver, Jim Croce, Don McLean, Jackson Browne as well as Carly Simon, whom Taylor later married --- His 1976 album Greatest Hits was certified diamond and has sold more than 11 million copies --- He has retained a large audience well into the 1990s and early 2000s, when some of his best-selling and most-awarded albums were released.
One Man Band (Track Listings)
Disc One
1 Something in the Way She Moves [3:47]
2 Never Die Young [4:24]
3 The Frozen Man [5:07]
4 Mean Old Man [3:42]
5 School Song [1:27]
6 Country Road [4:08]
7 Slap Leather [3:07]
8 My Traveling Star [4:11]
9 You've Got a Friend [5:01]
10 Steamroller Blues [5:59]
11 Secret O' Life [3:42]
12 Line 'Em Up [4:39]
13 Chili Dog [1:57]
14 Shower the People [4:56]
15 Sweet Baby James [3:41]
16 Carolina in My Mind [5:04]
17 Fire and Rain [4:52]
18 Copperline [4:52]
19 You Can Close Your Eyes [3:08]
Disc Two
1 One Man Band: The Concert DVD
Hats off to Hear Music --- strongly recommend this CD to all music lovers and others who need to hear some great music --- James Taylor (singer, songwriter & producer), Larry Goldings (Organ, Synthesizer, Piano, Harmonium, Keyboards), John Oliver (Conductor), Michael Prichard (Choir, Chorus), Kurt Walker (Choir, Chorus), Kieran Murray (Choir, Chorus) and Caroline Taylor Choir, Chorus), please stand up and take a bow for this well deserved rare gem you've given us --- this is a keeper!
Total Time: CD & DVD ~ Hear Music ~ (11/13/2007)
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