James Taylor- Gorilla 50th Anniversary

By the time James Taylor released his sixth studio album Gorilla in May 1975, the popularity of the post-Dylan acoustic singer/songwriter balladeer style which he had led was receding rapidly in the rearview mirror. For Gorilla, the approach was to augment Taylor’s strong collection of songs with an “uptown” LA session band and support James’ vocals with the heavenly harmonies of the all-star vocal section of David Crosby, Graham Nash, and paramour Carly Simon. The results were Top Six Billboard album sales for Gorilla.

The album sales were driven by two big hits, JT’s own “Mexico” and a finger poppin’ cover of Marvin Gaye’s Motown hit “How Sweet It is to Be Loved By You”, the latter spotlighting saxophonist the late David Sanborn who, having been featured a year earlier on David Bowie’s Young Americans album and tour, was about to launch his own solo career in the Fall 1975. Also, Little Feat slide guitarist Lowell George‘s distinctive whine provides just the right atmosphere like some electric mosquito on “Angry Blues”. James Taylor is my guest here In the Studio as we mark the golden anniversary of Gorilla. – Redbeard