Maps of Music

October Road (2002)

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

October Road was James Taylor's last album of original songs for thirteen years; his next, Before This World, came out in 2015.

Key places

Recording at Linden Oaks Studios, Rochester (2002)

Recording site Linden Oaks Studios — Linden Oaks Studios in Rochester, New York is credited as one of the album's recording locations. The point sits at the city centre, not on the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recording and mixing at Right Track Recording, New York (2002)

Recording site MSR Studios — Right Track Recording in New York is listed among the album's recording studios. Dave O'Donnell and Russ Titelman also mixed the album there. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recording at Signal Path Studios, Nashville (2002)

Recording site Nashville — Signal Path Studios in Nashville, Tennessee is credited as a recording location. The point marks the city centre, not the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recording at Q Division Studios, Somerville (2002)

Recording site Q Division Studios — Q Division Studios in Somerville, Massachusetts is credited as a recording location for the album. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recording at The Village Recorder, Los Angeles (2002)

Recording site Village Recorders — The Village Recorder in Los Angeles, California is credited as a recording location for the album. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recording at Capitol Studios, Hollywood (2002)

Recording site Capitol Studios — Capitol Studios in Hollywood, California is credited as one of the album's recording locations. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• October Road: 15th studio album by singer-songwriter James Taylor, released 2002
• Two versions: a single-disc version and a 'limited edition' two-disc version
• The limited edition adds three extra songs and a video presentation
• Discogs credits the release to Sony Music Entertainment, © 2002

Background

• The last album of original songs by Taylor until Before This World in 2015
• Disc 2 of the limited edition includes Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight, Benjamin and Sailing to Philadelphia
• Benjamin was composed in 1976 or 1977 as a tribute and lullaby to Taylor's newborn son
• Discogs lists the UK release as 12 August 2002

Recording

• Producer Russ Titelman
• Engineer Dave O'Donnell; additional engineers Mark Howard and M. Hans Liebert
• Recorded at Linden Oaks Studios in Rochester, New York
• Other sessions took place in New York City, Nashville, Somerville, Los Angeles and Hollywood
• Mixed by Dave O'Donnell and Russ Titelman at Right Track Recording
• Mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound in New York

Cover

• Photography by Sante D'Orazio, Craig Nelson and Russ Titelman
• Art direction by Gail Marowitz; design by Giulio Turturro

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

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

Records

• Debuted at number four on the Billboard 200
• Opening-week sales of 154,000 copies
• Taylor's best-performing album in the SoundScan era
• Certified Platinum by the RIAA on 21 November 2002, only months after release
• US sales of 1,076,000 copies as of May 2015
• Nominated for Best Male Pop Performance at the 45th Grammy Awards in 2003
• 'Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight', a track on the limited edition's second disc, won Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 44th Grammy Awards in 2002
• Taylor's last album of original songs before Before This World in 2015
• The opening-week figure is the total for the first week of sales
• The 1,076,000 figure covers the United States only

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Benjamin was first released by David Sanborn on Promise Me the Moon in December 1977, before Taylor's version appeared here.
• Italian Wikipedia notes that then-unknown Chiara Civello took part in the album.
• Disc 2 of the limited edition carries the CD Extra logo and includes a five-minute behind-the-scenes video of James in the recording studio.
• Ralph Morrison is credited as concertmaster on several tracks.
• Mark Howard is credited with additional engineering on track 7.

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

Maps of Ages ↗ (mapsofages.com)

Privacy · Contact