Maps of Music

That's Why I'm Here (1985)

Where the lyrics of That's Why I'm Here take you, and where it was really made.

Taylor's recording for this album began in Montserrat a couple of years before release, and he later called the first material a "half-hearted attempt" at the project.

Key places

Recording at Right Track in New York City (1985)

Recording site MSR Studios — The album's recording place list includes Right Track Recording in New York City. The point marks the studio building itself. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Early sessions in Montserrat (1985)

Recording site AIR Studios Montserrat — Taylor recorded songs in Montserrat early in the sessions, and the recording place list includes AIR Montserrat in Salem. The point is set at the island-level coordinates given for this entry. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• That's Why I'm Here: eleventh studio album by singer-songwriter James Taylor
• Released in 1985, four years after his previous album, Dad Loves His Work
• Contains a version of Buddy Holly's "Everyday"
• Several singers take part, including Don Henley, Joni Mitchell, Graham Nash and Deniece Williams
• "My Romance" is not on the LP or cassette version
• Taylor is credited as producer; Frank Filipetti served as producer, recording engineer and mixer

Background

• Recording sessions began a couple of years before release, when Taylor recorded songs in Montserrat
• Taylor judged the material from these sessions unsatisfactory
• "Everyday" and "Turn Away" came from these sessions and ended up on the album
• Taylor finished the album later, after deciding it was "long overdue"
• The album came after his separation from his wife Carly Simon

Recording

• Frank Filipetti handled recording and mixing
• Ted Jensen mastered the album at Sterling Sound in New York
• Right Track Recording in New York City and AIR Montserrat in Salem are listed as recording places

Cover

• Front cover photography by Andrew Brucker
• Back cover photography by Patricia Caulfield

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · de.wikipedia.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

• Billboard called the album "another set of fine originals spiced with cover versions of a pair of carefully chosen oldies"
• Cashbox said Taylor had refined his music into artful songwriting, with the title track and "Everyday" carrying a pleasing familiarity
• Billboard said the title track's calm manner and breezy, light rock melody hide fairly complex conclusions in an autobiographical statement
• Cashbox said the single "Only One" breaks no new ground but praised his pure voice and sense of melody and harmony
• Cashbox called the title track a happy celebration of the artist's years as public property

Records

• "Only One" peaked at number 6 on the US Adult Contemporary chart and at number 3 in Canada
• German Wikipedia: the album sold less well than all of Taylor's earlier albums
• German Wikipedia: old fan base lifted the album to 34th place on the US album charts

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · de.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Taylor called the Montserrat sessions a "half-hearted attempt at starting this thing"
• The album includes a version of Buddy Holly's "Everyday", which was also released as a single
• "My Romance" was left off the LP and cassette versions
• Guest singers include Don Henley, Joni Mitchell, Graham Nash and Deniece Williams

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · de.wikipedia.org

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