Maps of Music
American Standard (2020)
Where the lyrics of American Standard take you, and where it was really made.
James Taylor's twentieth studio album was mostly recorded at his home in Massachusetts, yet its sessions also reached studios in Hollywood, Nashville and New York City.
View on the mapKey places
The Barn in Washington, Massachusetts (2020)
Recording site House Studios — The Barn is listed as a studio for American Standard. The album was mainly recorded at Taylor's home in Massachusetts, and this studio is in the Washington area of the state. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: See the map for directions.
Capitol Studios in Hollywood (2020)
Recording site Capitol Studios — Capitol Studios in Hollywood is listed as a recording studio for American Standard, alongside United Recording Studios. The sessions were not all held at Taylor's home. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: See the map for directions.
Treasure Isle Studios in Nashville (2020)
Recording site Nashville — Treasure Isle Studios in Nashville is listed as a recording studio for American Standard, together with Blackbird Studios. The album's mastering was done at Sterling Sound in Nashville. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: See the map for directions.
Studio D in New York City (2020)
Recording site Record Plant Studios — Studio D in New York City is listed as a recording studio for American Standard. The city's location is shown at city-center level. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: See the map for directions.
Album story
Overview
- American Standard: twentieth studio album by American singer-songwriter James Taylor
- Released February 28, 2020, by Fantasy Records
- Interpretations of standard songs from the American canon
- Track listing of fourteen songs, including Moon River and God Bless the Child
- Produced, recorded and mixed by Dave O'Donnell
- Co-produced by John Pizzarelli and James Taylor
- Mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound in Nashville
Background
- Songs drawn from the American songbook, including titles by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II
- Session players include Larry Goldings on keyboards, Jerry Douglas on dobro and Steve Gadd on drums
- Backing vocals by Dorian Holley, Kate Markowitz, Arnold McCuller and Caroline Taylor
Recording
- Primarily recorded at his home in Massachusetts, starting in late 2017 until 2019
- Studios listed for the album include The Barn in Washington, Massachusetts
- Also listed: United Recording Studios and Capitol Studios in Hollywood, Treasure Isle Studios and Blackbird Studios in Nashville, and Studio D in New York City
Cover
- Front cover photography by Norman Seeff
- Back cover and booklet photography by Ellyn Kusmin
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org
Tracklist
| 1 | My Blue Heaven | 2:43 |
| 2 | Moon River | 3:13 |
| 3 | Teach Me Tonight | 2:59 |
| 4 | As Easy as Rolling Off a Log | 2:50 |
| 5 | Almost Like Being in Love | 3:43 |
| 6 | Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat | 4:11 |
| 7 | The Nearness of You | 3:52 |
| 8 | You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught | 2:26 |
| 9 | God Bless the Child | 3:22 |
| 10 | Pennies From Heaven | 2:52 |
| 11 | My Heart Stood Still | 3:27 |
| 12 | Ol’ Man River | 2:54 |
| 13 | It’s Only a Paper Moon | 3:12 |
| 14 | The Surrey With the Fringe on Top | 3:20 |
Sources: musicbrainz.org
Artist
Early years
- Born March 12, 1948 in Boston, Massachusetts; raised in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
- Learned guitar in 1960, influenced by hymns, carols and Woody Guthrie.
- Spent time in a psychiatric hospital and struggled with heroin addiction in his youth.
Career
- Formed the Flying Machine in New York in 1966; the group broke up after a single.
- Signed to Apple Records in 1968 as the first non-British act on the label.
- Breakthrough with Sweet Baby James (1970) and the hit "Fire and Rain", both reaching No. 3.
- First No. 1 hit with "You've Got a Friend" (1971), written by Carole King.
- Greatest Hits (1976) is one of the best-selling albums in US history, certified Diamond.
- Won six Grammy Awards; inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.
- Reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with Before This World (2015) after a 45-year wait.
- Continues to tour actively as of 2026.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Reception
At release
- Critics gave the album generally positive reviews
- Metacritic assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to critic reviews
- Metacritic average score for the album: 60, based on 8 reviews
- Metacritic labels this score as 'generally favorable reviews'
- The review count is small, so the score rests on a limited group of critics
Records
- Won Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards
- The Italian Wikipedia entry lists the award under the 2021 Grammy Awards
- Released by Fantasy Records on February 28, 2020
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org
Trivia
- The track listing includes Moon River, credited to Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer.
- God Bless the Child is credited to Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog Jr.
- Pennies from Heaven is credited to Arthur Johnston and Johnny Burke.
- Vinyl mastering was handled separately by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org
View on the map