One Man Dog

Performer: James Taylor (Soft Rock)
Artist: Carole King; Carly Simon; Michael Brecker; Linda Ronstadt; John McLaughlin
Engineer: Peter Asher; Phil Ramone; Robert Appere
Producer: Peter Asher
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Personnel: James Taylor (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, autoharp); Carole King, Carly Simon, Linda Ronstadt (vocals); John McLaughlin (guitar); Daniel Kortchmar (guitar, timbales); Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone); George Bohanon (trombone); Craig Doerge (keyboards); Leland Sklar (bass, guitarone); Russ Kunkel (drums, percussion); Ms. Bobbye Hall (percussion); Peter Asher (guiro); Alex Taylor, Hugh Taylor, Kate Taylor, Abigale Haness (background vocals). Personnel: James Taylor (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, autoharp, harmonica, background vocals); Carole King (vocals, piano, background vocals); Peter Asher (vocals, guiro); Abigale Haness, Hugh Taylor, Kate Taylor, Alex Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Carly Simon (vocals, background vocals); Danny Kortchmar (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, timbales); John McLaughlin (guitar, acoustic guitar); Leland Sklar (guitar, guitarron); Red Rhodes (steel guitar); John Hartford (banjo, violin, fiddle); Dash Crofts (mandolin); Michael Brecker (flute, saxophone, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Randy Brecker (tenor saxophone, trumpet, piccolo trumpet, flugelhorn); George Bohannon, Art Baron, Barry Rogers (trombone); Art Baran (bass trombone); Craig Doerge (piano, electric piano, keyboards); Russ Kunkel (drums, congas, tambourine); Bobbye Hall (congas, bongos, shaker, tambourine, percussion, bells); Ms. Bobbye Hall (congas, tambourine); Mark Paletier (sound effects, musical saw). Audio Mixer: Robert Appere. Recording information: A&R Studios, New York, NY; Clover Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA; James Taylor's House. Photographer: Peter Simon. Unknown Contributor Role: Russ Kunkel. Mostly recorded at Taylor's home studio, ONE MAN DOG is an atypical release for a man known for putting out straightforward sets of his distinctive brand of folk-rock. This release from 1972 came after Taylor had achieved a good measure of stardom, and was free to explore some untraditional approaches. After this record, he returned to a more straight-forward format, but ONE MAN DOG has a relaxed, pastoral vibe that makes for enjoyable listening. The record consists of 18 shortish pieces strung together: traditional pop/folk songs, like the graceful single "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight," as well as humorous, off-the-cuff gems like the ode to a favorite food "Chili Dog," a jig, a drug song ("Mescalito"), and several gentle instrumentals. The production is more low-key than usual, and even though the atmosphere is relaxed, the playing is top-notch thanks to Taylor stalwarts Danny Kortchmar, Russ Kunkel and Leland Sklar. Taylor covers John McLaughlin's "Someone, " with McLaughlin providing a scintillating lead, and elsewhere, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King and Taylor's future wife Carly Simon supply backup vocals.

Rolling Stone (1/18/73, p.49) - "...it will hit you from behind because on the surface it all sounds so simple, and yet underneath the horns--so dazzlingly arranged--and the beautiful rhythm, the voice and the thoughts resonate long after the record is over..."

James Taylor was the archetype for the gentle, inward-looking singer/songwriter movement of the early '70s. The easy lilt and timbre of Taylor's voice belies the complex emotional content of his songs, which aren't merely carefree folk-based odes, but instead look unflinchingly at a flawed man's journey through life. It's a tribute to his knack for making great pop records that he managed a long, decade-plus string of big hits. Taylor remained relevant long after his impressive run of top 40 hits, recording numerous million-selling records in the '90s & '00s and winning multiple Grammys.

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