James Taylor discography

James Taylor discography
James Taylor in concert in 2008.
Studio albums	20
EPs	1
Live albums	4
Compilation albums	7
Tribute albums	1
Singles	42
Video albums	7
Music videos	15
No. 1 singles	6
Other charted songs	4

The discography of James Taylor, an American singer-songwriter, consists of 20 studio albums, six compilation albums, at least five live albums, one tribute album, nine video albums, one extended play, and 42 singles.

Taylor signed his first recording contract with Apple Records, where he released his self-titled debut album in 1968. Prior to signing with Apple, Taylor released the single "Night Owl" with the group The Flying Machine. An album of their recordings, James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine was released in 1971 and reached No. 74 on the US pop charts. Taylor released his second studio album Sweet Baby James on Warner Bros. Records in 1970. Its lead single "Fire and Rain" became a significant international hit and gained Taylor his first major exposure as an artist.[1] In April 1971, Taylor released his third studio album Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon, which became his second album to certify multi-platinum in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America and featured his first number one single "You've Got a Friend".[1][2] In 1972 and 1973, he released his fourth studio album, One Man Dog and his fifth, Walking Man; both peaked within the Top 20 on the Billboard 200 albums list.[3]

After releasing more albums between 1974 and 1976, Taylor signed with Columbia Records and issued JT in 1977, which peaked in the Top 5 and sold over two million copies in the United States, certifying two times multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.[1][2] In 1979 and 1981, Taylor released Flag and Dad Loves His Work, respectively, which both certified platinum in the United States and produced Top 40 singles. Nearly four years later, Taylor's next studio album That's Why I'm Here was released and spawned a cover of Buddy Holly's "Everyday", which became a minor hit in the United States. This was followed by Never Die Young three years later and then by New Moon Shine in 1991, both of which sold over one million copies. After recording a two-disc live album in 1993, Taylor returned in 1997 with a fourteenth studio album titled Hourglass. The album not only peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard 200, but also received a Grammy Award for Best Pop Album the following year.[1][3] His fifteenth studio release October Road was issued on August 13, 2002, on Sony BMG[4] and certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.[2] After recording a limited release holiday album in 2004, Taylor released his first major-release holiday album, James Taylor at Christmas on October 10, 2006.[5]

One Man Band was released in 2007 and certified gold in the United States.[2] This was followed by Taylor's first cover album in 2008 on the Hear Music label. There was also an extended play sequel, Other Covers in 2009.[1] In 2015, Taylor released another live album, Georgia on My Mind: Live in Atlanta, 1981, and another studio album, Before This World, which became the first Taylor's album to peak at No.1 in the United States.

Studio albums

1960s

Title	Album details	Peak positions
		US [6]	AUS [7]
James Taylor	Release date: December 6, 1968 Label: Apple Formats: LP, 8-track	62	12

1970s

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions							Certifications (sales threshold)
		US [6]	AUS [7]	CAN [8]	NOR [9]	NLD [10]	NZ [11]	UK [12]
Sweet Baby James	Release date: February 1970 Label: Warner Bros. Formats: LP, 8-track	3	7	3	—	—	—	6	RIAA: 3× Platinum[13] BPI: Silver[14]
Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon	Release date: March 16, 1971 Label: Warner Bros. Formats: LP, 8-track	2	12	4	17	—	—	4	RIAA: 2× Platinum[13]
One Man Dog	Release date: November 1, 1972 Label: Warner Bros. Formats: LP, 8-track	4	13	7	—	—	—	27	RIAA: Gold[13]
Walking Man	Release date: June 1, 1974 Label: Warner Bros. Formats: LP, 8-track	13	50	11	—	—	—	—
Gorilla	Release date: May 1, 1975 Label: Warner Bros. Formats: LP, 8-track	6	60	—	—	—	—	—	RIAA: Gold[13]
In the Pocket	Release date: June 1976 Label: Warner Bros. Formats: LP, 8-track	16	65	17	14	—	—	—	RIAA: Gold[13]
JT	Release date: June 1977 Label: Columbia Formats: LP, 8-track	4	10	2	—	—	31	—	RIAA: 3× Platinum[13] MC: Platinum[15]
Flag	Release date: May 1979 Label: Columbia Formats: LP, 8-track	10	18	9	17	17	50	—	RIAA: Platinum[13]
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

1980s

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions							Certifications (sales threshold)
		US [6]	AUS [7]	CAN [8]	NOR [9]	NLD [10]	NZ [11]	UK [12]
Dad Loves His Work	Release date: March 1981 Label: Columbia Formats: CD, LP, 8-track	10	23	40	20	20	29	—	RIAA: Platinum[13]
That's Why I'm Here	Release date: October 1985 Label: Columbia Formats: CD, LP, cassette	34	24	—	—	—	—	—	RIAA: Platinum[13]
Never Die Young	Release date: January 1988 Label: Columbia Formats: CD, LP, cassette	25	26	37	—	—	—	—	RIAA: Platinum[13]
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

1990s

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions						Certifications (sales threshold)
		US [6]	AUS [16]	CAN [8]	NOR [9]	NLD [10]	UK [12]
New Moon Shine	Release date: September 24, 1991 Label: Columbia Formats: CD, LP, cassette	37	—	—	—	—	—	RIAA: Platinum[13]
Hourglass	Release date: May 20, 1997 Label: Columbia Formats: CD, LP, cassette, SACD	9	68	52	38	38	52	RIAA: Platinum[13] BPI: Silver[14]
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

2000s–2020s

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions						Certifications (sales threshold)
		US [6]	AUS [17]	CAN [18]	NOR [9]	NLD [10]	UK [12]
October Road	Release date: August 13, 2002 Label: Sony BMG Formats: CD, LP	4	48	—	33	40	39	RIAA: Platinum[13]
A Christmas Album	Release date: November 1, 2004 Label: Hallmark Formats: CD, music download	122	—	—	—	—	—	RIAA: Platinum[13]
	Reissued as James Taylor at Christmas: October 10, 2006 Label: Columbia Formats: CD, LP, music download	16	—	—	—	—	—	RIAA: Gold[13]
Covers	Release date: September 30, 2008 Label: Hear Music Formats: CD, LP, music download	4	—	21	—	85	23	BPI: Silver[14]
Before This World	Release date: June 16, 2015 Label: Concord Music Formats: CD, LP, music download	1	12	10	16	13	4
American Standard	Release date: February 28, 2020 Label: Fantasy Formats: CD, LP, music download	4	23	1	—	55	11

Live albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions		Certifications (sales threshold)
		US [6]	CAN [8]
Live	Release date: August 10, 1993 Label: Columbia Records Formats: CD, LP, cassette	20	71	RIAA: 2× Platinum[13]
Best Live	Release date: June 21, 1994 Label: Sony Music Entertainment Formats: CD, cassette	—	—
One Man Band	Release date: November 13, 2007 Label: Hear Music Formats: CD, LP, music download	17	—	RIAA: Gold[13]
Amchitka (with Joni Mitchell and Phil Ochs)	Release date: November 2009 Label: Greenpeace Formats: CD, music download	—	—
Live at the Troubadour (with Carole King)	Release date: May 4, 2010 Label: Concord Records Formats: CD, music download	4	21	RIAA: Gold[13]
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Compilation albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions				Certifications (sales threshold)
		US [6]	AUS [16][7]	CAN [8]	UK [12]
Greatest Hits	Release date: November 1, 1976 Label: Warner Bros. Formats: LP, 8-track	15	67	27	—	RIAA: 11× Platinum[13] ARIA: 3× Platinum[19] BPI: Platinum[14]
Classic Songs	Release date: April 1987 Label: Warner Bros. Formats: LP, cassette	—	48	—	53	BPI: Silver[14]
Greatest Hits Volume 2	Release date: November 7, 2000 Label: Columbia Formats: CD, cassette	97	—	—	—	RIAA: Gold[13]
The Best of James Taylor	Release date: April 8, 2003 Label: Warner Bros. Formats: CD	11	54	—	4	RIAA: Platinum[13] ARIA: Platinum[16] BPI: Gold[14]
The Essential James Taylor	Release date: October 29, 2013 Label: Columbia/Sony Music Legacy Formats: CD, digital download	—	—	—	50
The Warner Bros Albums 1970–1976	Release date: July 19, 2019 Label: Warner Bros./Rhino Formats: CD, digital download	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Extended plays

Title	Album details	Peak positions
		US [6]
Other Covers	Release date: April 7, 2009 Label: Hear Music Formats: CD, music download	122
Over the Rainbow: The American Standard EP[20]	Release date: November 20, 2020 Label: Fantasy Formats: CD, music download	—

Singles

Year	Single	Peak chart positions									Certification	Album
		US [21]	US AC [22]	US Country [23]	AUS [24]	CAN [25]	CAN AC [25]	NLD [26]	NZ [27]	UK [28]
1969	"Carolina in My Mind"	118	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		James Taylor
	"Knocking 'Round the Zoo"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1970	"Sweet Baby James"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Sweet Baby James
	"Fire and Rain"	3	7	—	6	2	—	18	—	42	BPI: Gold[14]
	"Carolina in My Mind" (re-release)	67	—	—	—	64	—	—	—	—		James Taylor
1971	"Country Road"	37	9	—	95	19	3	—	—	—		Sweet Baby James
	"You've Got a Friend"	1	1	—	25	2	12	14	—	4	RIAA: Gold[13] BPI: Silver[14]	Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon
	"Long Ago and Far Away"	31	4	—	—	12	—	—	—	—
1972	"Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight"	14	3	—	—	18	7	—	—	—		One Man Dog
1973	"One Man Parade"	67	—	—	—	—	55	—	—	—
	"Hymn"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1974	"Let It All Fall Down"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Walking Man
	"Walking Man"	—	26	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1975	"How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)"	5	1	—	35	1	1	—	30	—		Gorilla
	"Mexico"	49	5	—	—	83	8	—	—	—
1976	"Shower the People"	22	1	—	—	54	1	—	—	—		In the Pocket
	"Everybody Has the Blues"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1977	"Woman's Gotta Have It"	—	20	—	—	—	11	—	—	—
	"Handy Man" / "Bartender's Blues"	4 —	1 —	— 88	13 —	1 —	4 —	— —	24 —	— —		JT
	"Your Smiling Face"	20	6	—	—	11	4	—	—	—
1978	"Honey Don't Leave L.A."	61	—	—	—	63	—	—	—	—
1979	"Up on the Roof"	28	7	—	70	36	—	—	—	—		Flag
1981	"Her Town Too" (with JD Souther)	11	5	—	54	19	5	—	29	—		Dad Loves His Work
	"Hard Times"	72	23	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Summer's Here"	—	25	—	—	—	12	—	—	—
1985	"Everyday"^[A]	61	3	26	—	93	1	—	—	—		That's Why I'm Here
1986	"Only One"	—	6	80	62	—	3	—	—	—
	"That's Why I'm Here"	—	8	—	—	—	3	—	—	—
1988	"Never Die Young"	80	3	—	79	80	—	—	—	—		Never Die Young
	"Baby Boom Baby"	—	16	—	—	24	16	—	—	—
1991	"Copperline"	—	13	—	—	43	10	—	—	—		New Moon Shine
1992	"(I've Got To) Stop Thinkin' 'Bout That"	—	28	—	—	71	19	—	—	—
	"Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha"	—	19	—	—	70	—	—	—	—
	"Like Everyone She Knows"	—	31	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1997	"Little More Time with You"	—	3	—	—	68	13	—	—	—		Hourglass
2002	"On the 4th of July"	—	16	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		October Road
	"Whenever You're Ready"	—	21	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2003	"September Grass"	—	25	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2008	"It's Growing"	—	11	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Covers
2015	"Today Today Today"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Before This World
	"Angels of Fenway"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Montana"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

• A^ "Everyday" also peaked at No. 21 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart.

Guest singles

Year	Single	Artist	Chart positions									Certification	Album
			US [21]	US AC [22]	US Country [23]	US Christian [29]	AUS [24]	CAN [25]	CAN AC [25]	CAN Country [25]	UK [28]
1974	"Mockingbird"	Carly Simon	5	10	—	—	8	3	—	—	34	RIAA: Gold[13]	Hotcakes
1978	"(What a) Wonderful World"	Art Garfunkel (with Paul Simon)	17	1	—	—	—	13	1	—	—		Watermark
	"Bartender's Blues" (re-recording)	George Jones	—	—	6	—	—	—	—	8	—		Bartender's Blues
	"Devoted to You"	Carly Simon	36	2	33	—	—	50	2	39	—		Boys in the Trees
1986	"Back in the High Life Again"	Steve Winwood	13	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	53		Back in the High Life
1994	"Crying in the Rain"	Art Garfunkel	—	—	—	—	—	61	25	—	—		Up 'til Now
2001	"Sailing to Philadelphia"	Mark Knopfler	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Sailing to Philadelphia
2012	"Soul Companion"	Mary Chapin Carpenter	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Ashes and Roses
2013	"Don't Try So Hard"	Amy Grant	—	—	—	24	—	—	—	—	—		How Mercy Looks from Here
2018	"Change"	Charlie Puth	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Voicenotes
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Other charted songs

Year	Single	Peak positions	Album
		US AC [22]
2001	"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"	4	October Road
2004	"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"	12	James Taylor: A Christmas Album
	"Deck the Halls"	5
	"Winter Wonderland"	8
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Other appearances

Year	Song	Album
1980	"Jelly Man Kelly"	In Harmony
1988	"Second Star to the Right"	Stay Awake: Various Interpretations of Music from Vintage Disney Films
1991	"Getting to Know You"	For Our Children[30]
1992	"It's Only a Paper Moon" and "I Didn't Know What Time It Was"	A League of Their Own: Music from the Motion Picture[31]
2003	"How's the World Treating You" (with Alison Krauss)	Livin', Lovin', Losin': Songs of the Louvin Brothers
2006	"Our Town"	Cars: Original Soundtrack
2012	"Payday"	Quiet About It: A Tribute to Jesse Winchester[32]
2022	"Coming Back to You"	Here It Is: A Tribute to Leonard Cohen[33]

Guest and session appearances

Year	Album	Artist	Role
1970	Writer	Carole King	Acoustic guitar; backing vocals on "Goin' Back"
1971	Tapestry	Carole King	Acoustic guitar, backing vocals
1971	Music	Carole King	Acoustic guitar on "Some Kind of Wonderful", "Song of Long Ago" and "Too Much Rain", backing vocals refrain on "Some Kind of Wonderful"
1971	Blue	Joni Mitchell	Guitar on various tracks
1972	Harvest	Neil Young	Banjo and backing vocals on various tracks
1978	Kate Taylor	Kate Taylor	Guitar, horn, backing vocals, and arrangements on various tracks
	Bartender's Blues	George Jones	Backing vocals on "Bartender 's Blues"
1979	Restless Nights	Karla Bonoff	Backing vocals (with JD Souther) on "The Water is Wide"
1986	Back in the High Life	Steve Winwood	Backing vocals on "Back in the High Life Again"
1988	Life Is Good[34]	Livingston Taylor	Duet partner on "City Lights"
1991	Marc Cohn	Marc Cohn	Vocals on "Perfect Love"
1992	Harvest Moon	Neil Young	Background vocals on various tracks
1994	Angelus	Milton Nascimento	Vocals on "Only a Dream in Rio"
1995	Faust	Randy Newman	Role of "Lord"
1996	Eat the Phikis	Elio e le Storie Tese	Vocals on "First Me, Second Me"
1999	The Prayer Cycle	Jonathan Elias	Vocals on "Grace"
1999	Brand New Day	Sting	Featured artist on "Fill Her Up"
2000	Sailing to Philadelphia	Mark Knopfler	Featured artist on "Sailing to Philadelphia"
2001	Nearness of You: The Ballad Book	Michael Brecker	Vocals on "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" and "The Nearness of you"
2006	Duets: An American Classic	Tony Bennett	Duet partner on "Put on a Happy Face"
2007	Shine	Joni Mitchell	Guitar on "Shine"
2008	Songs of Joy & Peace	Yo-Yo Ma	Featured artist on "Here Comes the Sun"
2010	The 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Concerts[35]	Crosby, Stills & Nash	Featured artist on "Love the One You're With"
2018	Voicenotes[36]	Charlie Puth	Featured artist on "Change"
	Honey Don't Leave L.A.[37]	Danny Kortchmar and Immediate Family	Guitar and backing vocals on "Machine Gun Kelly"

Video albums

Year	Video details	Certifications (sales threshold)
1979	James Taylor: In Concert Released: 1979 Label: Sony Music Distribution
1986	James Taylor Live in Rio Released: 1986 Label: Columbia
1988	James Taylor in Concert in Boston Released: 1988 Label: Sony
1993	Squibnocket Released: 1993 Label: Sony
1998	Live at the Beacon Theatre Released: October 7, 1998 Label: Columbia	RIAA: Platinum[13]
2002	Pull Over Released: November 19, 2002 Label: Sony	RIAA: Gold[13] ARIA: 2× Platinum[16]
2006	A Musicares Person of the Year Tribute Released: September 12, 2006 Label: Rhino
2010	Live at the Troubadour Released: May 4, 2010 Label: Hear Music	RIAA: 6× Platinum[13] ARIA: Gold[38]

Music videos

Year	Song	Director(s)[39]
1981	"Her Town Too"
1985	"Everyday"	Stuart Orme
1986	"Only a Dream in Rio"
	"Only One"
1988	"Baby Boom Baby"
	"Never Die Young"
1991	"(I've Got To) Stop Thinkin' 'Bout That"
	"Shed a Little Light"
1992	"Copperline"
1994	"Secret of Life"
1997	"A Little More Time"
	"Enough to Be on Your Way"	David Mirkin
	"Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier" (with Mark O'Connor)
2003	"How's the World Treating You" (with Alison Krauss)	Lawrence Draper
2015	"Angels of Fenway"

References

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