Maps of Music

Before This World (2015)

Where the lyrics of Before This World take you, and where it was really made.

Before This World gave James Taylor his first Billboard 200 number one, from an album recorded in a barn on his property in western Massachusetts.

Key places

Backup vocal overdubs in Los Angeles (2015)

Recording site Ocean Way (Los Angeles) — Backup vocals were dubbed at Ocean Way in Los Angeles in March 2014, after the basic tracks were cut in Massachusetts. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Studio listed for March work (2015)

Recording site Ocean Way Recording — The studio list names United Recording in Hollywood, Los Angeles, as the studio used in March alongside The Barn sessions. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Avatar Studios in New York City (2015)

Recording site Record Plant Studios — The studio list also names Avatar Recording Studios in New York City, but only the city-level position is known. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Before This World: nineteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter James Taylor
• Released June 15, 2015
• First new studio album of original material since October Road (2002)
• First studio album of any kind since Covers in 2008
• Recorded in a barn on Taylor's property in western Massachusetts
• Steve Gadd on drums, Jimmy Johnson on bass
• Promoted by a short U.S. tour announced in April 2015, running July 2 to August 6, later continued into 2016 and 2017

Background

• Previous original album October Road was released in 2002
• Taylor did not prioritize writing new material for many years afterward
• Worried he might never make another original album
• Cut off all communication with family, friends and manager while composing
• Lived alone in a waterfront apartment in Newport, Rhode Island, to write the album

Recording

• Basic tracks recorded at The Barn in Massachusetts over ten days in January 2014
• Backup vocal dubbing followed at Ocean Way in Los Angeles in March 2014
• Dave O'Donnell credited as producer, recording and mixing
• Mastering by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound in New York

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

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

• Debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, Taylor's first number one album there
• Launched atop the chart with 97,000 equivalent album units in the week ending June 21, 2015
• Pure album sales in the debut week were 96,000 copies, Taylor's best debut week for an album since October Road
• Chart-topping on the list of July 4, 2015, more than 45 years after Sweet Baby James arrived on the list on March 14, 1970
• Taylor surpassed Black Sabbath to become the second-longest waiting artist for a number one album, 47 years after James Taylor (1968)
• Only Tony Bennett had waited longer, at 54 years
• Had scored 11 Top 10 albums before the first number one, just behind Neil Diamond
• Second week: number five on the Billboard 200, selling 50,000 copies
• UK Albums Chart debut at number four with 13,801 copies sold
• Became Taylor's fourth Top 10 album in the UK

Records

• Tied with The Best of James Taylor (2003) for his highest-ranking album on the UK Albums Chart, both peaking at number four
• Billboard 200 first number one for Taylor, after Sweet Baby James had only charted earlier

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The Barn in Massachusetts hosted the basic tracks, recorded over ten days in January 2014.
• Taylor performed several tracks from the album on his 2014 All Star Band tour before release.
• Before the album, Taylor announced a short U.S. tour in April 2015 that later extended into 2016 and 2017.
• Taylor surpassed Black Sabbath on the list of artists waiting longest for a number one album.
• The week after debut, the album dropped to number five while selling 50,000 copies.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Maps of Ages ↗ (mapsofages.com)

Privacy · Contact