JT (album)

JT is the eighth studio album by American singer-songwriter James Taylor. It was released on June 22, 1977, via Columbia Records, making it his first album released for the label. Recording session took place from March 15 to April 24, 1977, at The Sound Factory in Los Angeles with Val Garay. Production was handled by Peter Asher.

For Steve Earle's 2021 studio album, see J.T. (album).
JT
Studio album by
James Taylor
ReleasedJune 22, 1977 (1977-06-22)
RecordedMarch 15 – April 24, 1977 (1977-03-15 – 1977-04-24)
StudioSound Factory (Hollywood)
GenreSoft rock
Length37:57
LabelColumbia
ProducerPeter Asher
James Taylor chronology
Greatest Hits
(1976)		 JT
(1977)		 Flag
(1979)
Singles from JT
  1. "Bartender's Blues"
    Released: 1977
  2. "Your Smiling Face"
    Released: September 1977
  3. "Honey Don't Leave L.A."
    Released: February 1978
  4. "Handy Man"
    Released: June 1978
  5. "Secret O' Life"
    Released: June 1977
  6. "Traffic Jam"
    Released: July 1977
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[2]
Christgau's Record GuideB[3]
MusicHound3.5/5[4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[5]

The album peaked at number 4 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in the United States and was Taylor's highest-charting album since Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon. By January 31, 1997, it was certified 3 times Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. At the 20th Annual Grammy Awards, it was also nominated for Grammy Award for Album of the Year, but lost to Rumours by Fleetwood Mac.

The album spawned four singles: "Bartender's Blues", "Handy Man" (Taylor's final top 10 hit), "Your Smiling Face" and "Honey Don't Leave L.A.". "Handy Man", a Jimmy Jones cover, peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Adult Contemporary and won the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. "Your Smiling Face", the other big hit, peaked at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #6 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The record also contains other Taylor classics such as "Secret O' Life" and "Terra Nova", with the participation of Taylor's then-wife Carly Simon.

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Your Smiling Face"James Taylor2:50
2."There We Are"Taylor3:02
3."Honey Don't Leave L.A."Danny Kortchmar3:05
4."Another Grey Morning"Taylor2:44
5."Bartender's Blues"Taylor4:12
6."Secret O' Life"Taylor3:34
7."Handy Man"
3:17
8."I Was Only Telling a Lie"Taylor3:24
9."Looking for Love on Broadway"Taylor2:23
10."Terra Nova"
4:32
11."Traffic Jam"Taylor1:58
12."If I Keep My Heart Out of Sight"Taylor3:01
Total length:37:57

Personnel
Technical
  • Val Garay – recording, mixing
  • Doug Sax – mastering
  • John Kosh – art direction, design
  • David Alexander – front cover, sleeve photos
  • Jim Shea – back cover, inside photos

Charts
Chart (1977) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] 10
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[7] 31
US Billboard 200[8] 4

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[9] 3× Platinum 3,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Ruhlmann, William. "JT - James Taylor | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  2. Larkin, Colin (2007). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195313734.
  3. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: T". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 15, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  4. Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel, eds. (1999). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Farmington Hills, MI: Visible Ink Press. p. 1125. ISBN 1-57859-061-2.
  5. "James Taylor: Album Guide". rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on January 5, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 305. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. "Charts.nz – James Taylor – JT". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  8. "James Taylor Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  9. "American album certifications – James Taylor – J.T." Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
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