Maps of Music

New Moon Shine (1991)

Where the lyrics of New Moon Shine take you, and where it was really made.

Producer Don Grolnick, who worked on this record, died of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 1996 at age 48; New Moon Shine was his sixth and final studio album with James Taylor.

Key places

Recorded at The Power Station (1991)

Recording site Power Station Studio — New Moon Shine was recorded at The Power Station in New York, NY, alongside Skyline Studios. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded and mixed at Skyline Studios (1991)

Recording site Chung King Studios — Skyline Studios in New York was used for recording, and the album was mixed there. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at A&M Studios in Hollywood (1991)

Recording site A&M Recording Studios — Part of New Moon Shine was recorded at A&M Studios in Hollywood, California. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Studio F in Los Angeles (1991)

Recording site Motown Recording Studios — Studio F in Los Angeles is listed as a recording location; the pin is set at the city center, not at the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• New Moon Shine: thirteenth studio album by singer-songwriter James Taylor
• Released in 1991 (release date 24 September 1991 per record information)
• Copyright notice: © 1991 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
• Twelve tracks with a total running time of 47:49
• Songs written by James Taylor unless noted; co-writers include Reynolds Price, Danny Kortchmar, and Sam Cooke (Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha)
• The Water Is Wide is a traditional song

Background

• Producer-pianist Don Grolnick's sixth and final studio album with Taylor
• Grolnick died in 1996 at age 48 from non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• Grolnick is credited as producer on all tracks
• Danny Kortchmar co-produced tracks 3 and 5 (Stop Thinkin' 'Bout That, The Frozen Man)

Recording

• Recorded at The Power Station and Skyline Studios in New York, NY
• Recorded at A&M Studios in Hollywood, CA and at Studio F in Los Angeles, CA
• Mixed at Skyline Studios
• Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound in New York, NY
• Recorded and mixed by James Farber
• Lead vocals and acoustic guitar by James Taylor; Don Grolnick on acoustic piano, organ and synthesizers
• Michael Landau on electric guitars; Jimmy Johnson on bass guitar on most tracks; Carlos Vega on drums on most tracks
• Michael Brecker on tenor saxophone on tracks 8 and 9
• Branford Marsalis on soprano saxophone on track 7
• Tony Levin on bass guitar and Steve Gadd on drums on track 9
• Mark O'Connor on violin; Jerry Douglas on Dobro
• Backing vocals by Valerie Carter, David Lasley, Kate Markowitz and Arnold McCuller

Cover

• Photography by Lee Crum
• Art direction by Arnold Levine

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com · 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

• The New York Times critic Stephen Holden wrote that the album finds Taylor near the top of his form, with songs like 'Slap Leather' and 'Copperline' as examples
• Holden described 'Slap Leather' as a playfully pungent rock-and-roll critique of social and environmental ills
• Holden described 'Copperline' as a nostalgic ballad remembering Taylor's North Carolina roots
• Reviews of the album were generally positive
• Taylor's songs on the album include the ballad 'Copperline' and the rock number 'Slap Leather' (2:00)

Reappraisal

• No further critical reappraisal is recorded in the source

Records

• Peaked at number 37 on the Billboard 200 chart
• Certified platinum
• Producer Don Grolnick's sixth and final album with Taylor before his death in 1996 at age 48
• Released in 1991 as Taylor's thirteenth studio album

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Fairport Convention covered The Frozen Man on their album Old New Borrowed Blue.
• Italian singer-songwriter Giorgia recorded a cover of One More Go Round, which was included on her 1993 cover album of the same title.
• Danny Kortchmar played acoustic guitar on The Frozen Man and on Stop Thinkin' 'Bout That, and co-produced both tracks.
• Sam Cooke wrote Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha, which Taylor recorded as track 9.
• Tony Levin played bass and Steve Gadd played drums on track 9.
• Branford Marsalis played soprano saxophone on Like Everyone She Knows.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org

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