James Taylor - Mean Old Man (One Man Band, July 2007)

CD/DVD liner note from James - One Man Band (2007):

“It’s a strange reality of the modern popular song that the first time it’s played is when it’s recorded. Sometimes a song will be finished for deadline in the studio the day the thing is cast in stone forever. I know that songs and arrangements evolve and develop over time; that somewhere around the twentieth time it’s played for a live audience, a song finally completes itself. That, among other things, is what makes a good live recording unique. I’ve often thought that live performance means being well prepared and then waiting for the inevitable, unexpected thing to happen. We come onstage, well rehearsed and in good shape, and repeat what we have done before as best we can. But the real goal is to be in the present moment and on the surface of ourselves; open and trusting. Nobody wants to be perfect: that’s frozen, dead…It’s “be here now”, I guess…

Of course, @larrygoldings does more than just accompany me. His growing presence in the world of jazz is well acknowledged, both for his own recordings and live performances and as a member of a good number of team efforts. I tend to form musical (and personal) relationships with other players and then stick with them for years. @Arnomac and David Lasley have worked with me since the mid-‘70s and others nearly as long (Jimmy Johnson, Steve Gadd, Mike Landau, Kate Markowitz, Valerie Carter…)

After my great friend, producer and pianist Don Grolnick died in ’96, I performed with a number of excellent keyboard players. It was during the recording of my October Road album in ’02 that I worked with Larry. Russ Titelman had booked him to play on “Mean Old Man” along with Steve Gadd on drums, Jimmy Johnson on bass, Clifford Carter on synth, and the fine seven-string jazz guitarist, John Pizzarelli. This was an incredible band, and after hearing Larry Goldings’ solo on that song, first time through, he pinned it. That was our introduction and he’s been my first call ever since.

Then there’s the bus factor. You see, someone’s playing may be great, but what’s it going to be like spending 10 hours a day riding to the next gig with them for a couple of months? Larry’s Bus Factor is not a factor for he is a bus riding fool, for a fact.

Part of his talent is his ability to “split his hands.” Though not as painful as it sounds, it does require great focus and skill to play a melody/accompaniment with his right hand and, with his left hand, (often on another keyboard) play a distinct bass pattern. This Larry can do with effortless grace, and he has made this One Man Band show possible. He is a committed father, brother, and son, and I am in his debt. Larry Goldings is my One Man Band.” – James Taylor

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LYRICS
Mean Old Man by James Taylor

On my own how could I have known
Imagine my surprise
Just a fool from a tree full of fools
Who can’t believe his eyes
Imagine my surprise

‘Cause I was a mean old man
I was an ornery cuss
I was a Dismal Dan
I made an awful fuss
Ever since my life began
Man, it was ever thus
I was a nasty tyke
Who was hard to like

I had to misbehave
I did things in reverse
Refused to wash or shave
I was horrid to my nurse
I got back what I gave
Which only made me worse
I had to have my way
Which was bleak and gray

Oh, dear, living in here
One hundred years of rain
Such a drag, this riches to rags
And just myself to blame
The dirty low-down shame of it
The dirty low-down shame

Silly me, silly old me
Somewhere outside my mind
Clever you, walking me through
Happy to lead the blind
All in the nick of time

Who gets a second chance
Who gets to have some fun
Who gets to learn to dance
Before his race is run
Who gets to shed his skin
Who comes up born again
Who was a mean old man
Till you turned him
Into a Golden Retriever puppy dog

#JamesTaylor #JT #MeanOldMan #OneManBand #ConcordRecords

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Видео James Taylor - Mean Old Man (One Man Band, July 2007) канала James Taylor