Memory lane was packed at the Troubadour Wednesday as every audience member journeyed to a time and a place where a  tune or six from Carole King and James Taylor had touched their lives. Personally, it was a journey back to the sixth and seventh grade, when King's "Tapestry" was a smash hit in everybody's house and Taylor's two Warner Bros. albums - not to mention his Apple debut - were undiscovered treasures that, little did I know, were the seedlings of a desire to be surrounded by intelligent, touching songs.
Taylor was the singer-songwriter who arrived fully formed and unburdened by any '60s baggage. He was a true '70s figure, disillusioned and questioning, wondering if a simpler life isn't a better life. His songs continue to limn the human condition; the evening was a perfect give-and-take beween Taylor and King until they finished with his oh-so-bubbly arrangement of "Up On The Roof." Then I remembered why I lost  interest.
The full review is here.
Backed by the band they used on those early albums - Russ Kunkel, Danny Kortchmar and Lee Sklar - James Taylor and Carole ventured back to a handful of shows they performed together nearly 40 years ago in the club.
For their first set Wednesday at the West Hollywood club they performed:
Blossom  / So Far Away / Machine Gun Kelly / Carolina in My Mind / It's Too Late / Smackwater Jack / Something in the Way She Moves / Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow / Country Road / (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman / Fire and Rain / Sweet Baby James / Steamroller Blues / I Feel the Earth Move / You've Got a Friend / Up On the Roof   

After a month of speculation, Starbucks has confirmed that it will released a James Taylor CD/DVD on its Hear Music label. A live disc titled "One Man Band" will be released during the holiday season.
"One Man Band" was recorded during recent solo concerts at the Colonial Theatre in the Berkshires. The DVD of "One Man" was created by Don Mischer and Sydney Pollack, who combine concert footage with interviews, home movies and photographs from Taylor's personal collection.

Patrick Goldstein's Tuesday column was killed by the Los Angeles Times, though LAObserved.com snagged a copy, and in it Goldstein suggested that the Times follow the lead of the U.K. Mail on Sunday, which recently included copies of the new Prince CD in its Sunday edition. Circulation hit 2.9 million.
His argument is rock solid: Newspapers need to attract readers; so called "heritage" artists are looking for new ways to get music into the hands of consumers; partnerships would help save the paper from compromises such as front-page ads.
But what he proposes is getting music from "heritage" artists, or presumably ones he likes: Elvis Costello, Beck, Ryan Adams, Ry Cooder, Lucinda Williams and Steve Earle. His mistake? Prince was a superstar and remains a person of interest to millions. On top of that, he is an intelligent free agent willing to turn his back on the old-fashioned machine.
What Goldstein doesn't appear to realize is that all but one of the artists he lists, Earle, have comfortable deals with major labels. Recording costs are picked up, they get artistic freedom and they have a marketing partner in the label. Unlike Prince, none of them were ever superstars.
In Los Angeles, an empire built on hype, the albums that the L.A. Times should be including
in Sunday editions need to have mainstream appeal and a marketing tie-in. The hip factor is not necessarily who is on the disc, just the existence of free entertainment.
Disney should be on the horn with the Times suggesting a "High School Musical 2" sampler or a single from Hillary Duff; producers and performers from a small film like "Once," which has built an audience slowly, should be looking into what it can do to drive more soundtrack sales and box office.
Newspapers have to supply something that a good percentage of its readers might want; that means "American Idol" finalists,superstars of the past and the kid that your kids watch on TV.Katharine McPhee, Mick Jagger and Raven - Sunday could be made for you.
Prince got his CD in the paper to coincide with him playing 21 days in a newly christened venue. It's about keeping his name out there. Finding another artist of his stature willing and capable of going that route will be tough.
If Elton John moved his Red Piano show from Las Vegas to another city, a giveaway would be smart. Cheap Trick is playing the Hollywood Bowl and pretending to be the Beatles so why not reacquaint people with their catalog? And wouldn't it be marvelous if Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic created a send-off disc when he departs the podium next year? Talk about an item that would have people talking across the country and Europe.
The guy that would be the best fit, considering the demographic of current newspaper readers, is reportedly checking out his recording options. James Taylor - who has not signed with Starbucks' Hear Music. A new album from JT. Free. That would be a coup.

Hits magazine is reporting that James Taylor will be the next artist signed to Starbucks’ Hear Music label.
Starbucks will be announcing its second signing on Wednesday.
The company, which had partnered with other labels to release albums by Ray Charles, Herbie Hancock and others, became a standalone unit with Paul McCartney's "Memory Almost Full."That album has sold 450,000 copies since it was released on June 5.
Taylor most recently recorded for Columbia. A number of pundits have suggested that free agent Joni Mitchell might also  join the label.