Maps of Music

Gorilla (1975)

Where the lyrics of Gorilla take you, and where it was really made.

Two singles from Gorilla, 'Mexico' and 'How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)', both rose to the top five on the Billboard charts, and the album outsold its predecessor Walking Man.

Key places

Where the album was recorded (1975)

Recording site The Burbank Studios — The album was recorded at The Burbank Studios in Burbank, California, in February and March 1975. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Where the album was mixed and mastered (1975)

Recording site Amigo Studios — The album was mixed and mastered at Warner Bros. Recording Studios in Hollywood, California. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Gorilla: sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter James Taylor
• Released in April 1975, more successful than his previous album Walking Man
• Second-to-last album of new material for Warner Bros. Records; the last was In the Pocket
• Shows the electric, lighter side that first became evident on Walking Man
• Eleven tracks: six on side one, five on side two

Background

• The song 'Sarah Maria' is about his daughter Sally, born Sarah Maria Taylor on January 7, 1974
• Then-wife Carly Simon is featured on 'How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)', originally recorded by Marvin Gaye
• David Crosby and Graham Nash provide signature harmony background vocals on 'Mexico' and 'Lighthouse'
• Jimmy Buffett recorded 'Mexico' on his 1995 album Barometer Soup
• Buffett performed 'Lighthouse' during his Salty Piece of Land tour of 2005

Recording

• Recorded at The Burbank Studios in Burbank, California
• Mixed and mastered at Warner Bros. Recording Studios in Hollywood, California
• Recording took place in February and March 1975
• Produced by Russ Titelman and Lenny Waronker
• Engineered, mixed and mastered by Lee Herschberg, with Donn Landee as additional engineer

Cover

• Cover and design by Mike Salisbury
• Photography by Norman Seeff
• Art direction by Ed Thrasher

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · it.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

• Two album tracks released as singles, 'Mexico' and 'How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)', rose to the top five on the Billboard charts
• The album was more successful than Walking Man, the previous release
• Gorilla was seen as a continuation of the electric, lighter side first heard on Walking Man

Records

• Released in April 1975 on Warner Bros. Records
• Taylor's second-to-last album of new material for the label
• The label's last album from Taylor of new material was In the Pocket

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The song 'Sarah Maria' is about Taylor's daughter Sally, who was born on January 7, 1974.
• Carly Simon, then Taylor's wife, sings on 'How Sweet It Is', a song originally recorded by Marvin Gaye.
• Jimmy Buffett recorded 'Mexico' in 1995 and performed 'Lighthouse' on his 2005 Salty Piece of Land tour.
• David Crosby and Graham Nash provide the harmony vocals on 'Mexico' and 'Lighthouse'.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ko.wikipedia.org

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