Covers is the cd that James Taylor fans have been anticipating for years. Recorded live with his full band in a barn in Massachusetts that was transformed into a studio, the album is a treasury of songs he has performed live over the years, but never recorded. It is an American songbook of tunes made famous by artists as varied Buddy Holly, The Dixie Chicks, The Temptations, Leonard Cohen, George Jones and Eddie Cochran, but embraced and interpreted by James Taylor in a way that makes each one his own. It is a significant work by one of the greatest artists of his generation, which pays tribute to classic American songs from Broadway to Nashville, Detroit to Memphis and across all boundaries. Covers is in itself a classic James Taylor recording.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Just heard samples
Comment: Not a big James Taylor fan anymore, but had to check it out because of the Jennie Stearns song, Seminole Wind. I was not impressed with James' version. If you want to hear a good version of it check out Donna the Buffalo, Rockin in the Weary Land, their version is the best. Jennie Stearns was in DTB in the early years, but I believe Joe Thrift sings it on the DTB album.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Truly A Man to Get Under the Covers With
Comment: More than 30-year crush aside, I can objectively state that this cd is obviously the most fun Taylor has had in a long time. And you WILL feel it. When Obama's grandmother died I thought of the soulful version of "Sadie" on here (and wrote to the president-elect to listen to it for comfort); when my husband made me cry again I disappeared and cranked up "Some Days You Gotta Dance" in my room, and there is never a time I wouldn't want to listen to his cover of Glen Campbell's touching "Wichita Lineman." The mix is eclectic, and you'll meet some new songs here, ones you probably never heard before, but which Taylor has played in concert or with friends for years. I understand the attraction of a covers album for a musician, wanting to leaveyour own musical imprimatur on a great song. There's just some great damn music out there you want to sing, and he has always done others' work justice. A terrific cd, and even the old songs remain as powerfully attractive as James Taylor himself. Look for my man Yo Yo Ma on the cd. He's there and never better!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Boring
Comment: sounds like he made this up the day before the cd was to be released. Very boring stuff, aside from wichita lineman which is decent. Just wasnt appealing to me. no real hits at all. Just an opinion of course.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Comment: I AM one of those people who look forward to Taylor's new releases. But this one just didn't do it for me. He's done a great job with covers over the years, but with the exception on one track on this release, I thought he just didn't bring anything new to these.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Pure Dreck
Comment: So tell me, do you like the song "Summertime Blues" played by either Eddie Cochran, The Who, or Blue Cheer? How about Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne"? Or Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away"? If you want to hear them butchered to the point where all the passion of the original recordings is replaced by campfire sweetness, then you should get this album. Otherwise stay far far away. I'll admit that I do like some of James Taylor's songs from early in his career, but the man should not be within ten miles of "Summertime Blues".

That being said Taylor does have good taste in music. The songs are all great songs and for that I will give one extra star, but still while you can tell he's enjoying singing the songs, he misses out on a lot of the fire of the earlier recordings.

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