NEWS 08 Oct 2008

James Taylor Debuts At #4 On Billboard's Top 200 Album Chart With 'Covers'

"One of America's Greatest Singer-Songwriters" - Wall Street Journal

Legendary singer/songwriter James Taylor debuted at #4 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums Chart with his latest album, Covers (Hear Music). The album sold 94,500 units in its first week of release and is currently available in traditional retail outlets as well as Starbucks company-operated locations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

The stellar debut capped off a month of highlights for James Taylor as he launched Good Morning America's "Whistle Stop ‘08" tour in his home state of Massachusetts; performed on The Colbert Report as well as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Taylor's interviews and performances include upcoming appearances on Tavis Smiley, Charlie Rose and The Late Show with David Letterman.

The Boston Globe praised the new album by noting that, "to open James Taylor's new Covers album and settle back to listen to his voice is like uncorking a fine wine that has been deepened and enriched by age."

Covers was recorded last January when James Taylor gathered his 'Band of Legends' for a rare 10-day recording session in a converted barn on his property in western Massachusetts. The album covers Taylor's own musical interpretations of tunes from the 50s, 60s and 70s by artists including Buddy Holly, The Dixie Chicks, The Temptations, Leonard Cohen, George Jones and Eddie Cochran. Tracks include: "It's Growing," (I'm a) Road Runner," "Wichita Lineman," "Why Baby Why," "Some Days You Gotta Dance," "Seminole Wind," "Suzanne," "Hound Dog," "Sadie," "On Broadway," "Summertime Blues" and "Not Fade Away."

About James Taylor:

Over the course of his long career, James Taylor has earned 40 gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards and 5 Grammy Awards for a catalog running from 1970's Sweet Baby James to his Grammy Award-winning efforts Hourglass (1997) and October Road (2002). Taylor's first Greatest Hits album earned him the RIAA's elite Diamond Award, given for sales in excess of 10 million units in the United States. For his accomplishments, James was honored with the 1998 Century Award, Billboard magazine's highest accolade, bestowed for distinguished creative achievement. The year 2000 saw his induction into both the Rock ‘n' Roll Hall of Fame and the prestigious Songwriter's Hall of Fame. The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences selected James its MUSICARES Person of the Year in 2006 and most recently, James Taylor's One Man Band (2007) was nominated for an Emmy® Award for "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special," in September 2008