James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine
Encyclopedia
James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine is the third album
by American
singer/songwriter James Taylor
's early band, first released in 1971.
, who had been involved in some recent pop hits, and Al Gorgoni
, who also added harpsichord to the band's sound. The group felt the resulting tracks were of only demo quality. After "Brighten Your Night with My Day"/"Night Owl" was released as an unsuccessful single by Jay Gee Records, a subsidiary of Jubilee Records
, no work towards an album release went forward.
Taylor subsequently signed with Apple Records
, failed commercially again, but then became a huge success with Warner Bros. Records
on Sweet Baby James
in 1970 and Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon
in 1971. Euphoria Records then released the sessions using the name "The Original Flying Machine", to distinguish the group from the UK outfit The Flying Machine who had emerged in 1969 with the hit song "Smile a Little Smile for Me". The released album had modest success capitalizing on Taylor's fame, reaching #74 on the U.S. pop albums chart
. Flying Machine member Danny Kortchmar
was not pleased, saying "The people involved wouldn't spring for the money for a whole album of James' songs [in 1967]. So it seemed terrible years later when the same people put out the Flying Machine album of those few sessions."
The sessions album was re-released by Gadfly Records, with some additional songs, in 1996.
Singles
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer/songwriter James Taylor
James Taylor
James Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000....
's early band, first released in 1971.
History
The songs on the album was recorded with Taylor's band The Flying Machine in a late 1966 three-hour session in New York City's Select Sound Studios. They were produced by Chip TaylorChip Taylor
James Wesley Voight , better known by his stage name as Chip Taylor, is an American songwriter, who is noted for writing the songs "Angel of the Morning" and "Wild Thing." He is the brother of actor Jon Voight and geologist Barry Voight...
, who had been involved in some recent pop hits, and Al Gorgoni
Al Gorgoni
Al Gorgoni is an American guitarist, born October 11, 1939, known for his work as a session musician during the 1960s and 1970s. Growing up in Philadelphia, his family moved to The Bronx where he took up the guitar at age 14....
, who also added harpsichord to the band's sound. The group felt the resulting tracks were of only demo quality. After "Brighten Your Night with My Day"/"Night Owl" was released as an unsuccessful single by Jay Gee Records, a subsidiary of Jubilee Records
Jubilee Records
Jubilee Records was a record label specializing in rhythm and blues along with novelty records. It was founded in New York City in 1946 by Herb Abramson. Jerry Blaine became Abramson's partner. Blaine bought out Abramson's half of the company in 1947. The company name was Jay-Gee Recording...
, no work towards an album release went forward.
Taylor subsequently signed with Apple Records
Apple Records
Apple Records is a record label founded by The Beatles in 1968, as a division of Apple Corps Ltd. It was initially intended as a creative outlet for the Beatles, both as a group and individually, plus a selection of other artists including Mary Hopkin, James Taylor, Badfinger, and Billy Preston...
, failed commercially again, but then became a huge success with Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
on Sweet Baby James
Sweet Baby James
Sweet Baby James is singer-songwriter James Taylor's second album, and his first release on Warner Bros. Records. Released in February 1970, it showcased Taylor's talents and showed the direction he would take in the early 1970s with the expansion of his career. The album featured one of Taylor's...
in 1970 and Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon
Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon
-Track listing:All songs by James Taylor unless otherwise noted.#"Love Has Brought Me Around" – 2:41#"You've Got a Friend" – 4:28#"Places in My Past" – 2:01#"Riding on a Railroad" – 2:41#"Soldiers" – 1:13#"Mud Slide Slim" – 5:20...
in 1971. Euphoria Records then released the sessions using the name "The Original Flying Machine", to distinguish the group from the UK outfit The Flying Machine who had emerged in 1969 with the hit song "Smile a Little Smile for Me". The released album had modest success capitalizing on Taylor's fame, reaching #74 on the U.S. pop albums chart
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. Flying Machine member Danny Kortchmar
Danny Kortchmar
Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar is a guitarist, session musician, and songwriter. Kortchmar's work with singer-songwriters such as David Crosby, Carole King, Graham Nash, Carly Simon and James Taylor helped define the signature sound of the singer-songwriter era of the 1970s...
was not pleased, saying "The people involved wouldn't spring for the money for a whole album of James' songs [in 1967]. So it seemed terrible years later when the same people put out the Flying Machine album of those few sessions."
The sessions album was re-released by Gadfly Records, with some additional songs, in 1996.
Track listing
All Songs by James Taylor except where noted- "Night Owl" 2:29
- "Brighten Your Night With My Day" 2:45
- "Kootch's Song" (Danny KortchmarDanny KortchmarDanny "Kootch" Kortchmar is a guitarist, session musician, and songwriter. Kortchmar's work with singer-songwriters such as David Crosby, Carole King, Graham Nash, Carly Simon and James Taylor helped define the signature sound of the singer-songwriter era of the 1970s...
) 3:13 - "Knocking 'Round the Zoo" (Danny Kortchmar Lead Vocal) 2:59
- "Rainy Day Man" (James Taylor, Zach Wiesner) 3:16
- "Knocking 'Round the Zoo" (James Taylor Lead Vocal) 3:10
- "Something's Wrong" (Instrumental Version) 3:07
- 1996 Re-issue
- "Rainy Day Man" (James Taylor, Zach Wiesner) 3:16
- "Knocking 'Round the Zoo" (Intro) 0:53
- "Knocking 'Round the Zoo" (James Taylor Lead Vocal) 3:10
- "Something's Wrong" (Backing Track) 3:07
- "Night Owl" 2:29
- "Brighten Your Night With My Day" (Intro) 1:01
- "Brighten Your Night With My Day" 2:45
- "Kootch's Song" (Danny Kortchmar) 3:13
- "Knocking 'Round the Zoo" (Danny Kortchmar Lead Vocal) 2:59
- "Night Owl" (Remixed version)
- "Knocking 'Round the Zoo" (Remixed version)
Personnel
- James Taylor — guitar, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
- Jerry Burnham — bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Al Gorgoni — harpsichord, piano, organ, synthesizer, keyboards
- Danny "Kootch" KortchmarDanny KortchmarDanny "Kootch" Kortchmar is a guitarist, session musician, and songwriter. Kortchmar's work with singer-songwriters such as David Crosby, Carole King, Graham Nash, Carly Simon and James Taylor helped define the signature sound of the singer-songwriter era of the 1970s...
— guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Joel O'Brien — drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Zachary Wiesner — bass
Charts
Album| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Pop Albums | 74 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | "Brighten Your Night with My Day" / "Night Owl" | ??? | 102 |