The Best of James Taylor

The compilation album The Best of James Taylor is the singer-songwriter James Taylor's twentieth album, released in 2003.

The record is a Warner Bros. release, and as such emphasizes Taylor's recordings for that label; fifteen of the twenty tracks on the album are from his time with Warner Bros. The version of "Something In The Way She Moves" is the Apple Records version from 1969. "Carolina In My Mind" is the 1976 remake. "Steamroller" is the live version from 1975, and "Country Road" is the alternative single version.

The album entered the Billboard 200 album chart on April 26, 2003, at number 11, with sales of approximately 73,500 copies. It remained on the chart for 42 weeks. It was awarded a certified gold record on December 17, 2003, and a platinum record on April 15, 2005, by the RIAA.

Track listing

1. "Something in the Way She Moves" - 2:27
2. "Sweet Baby James" - 2:53
3. "Fire and Rain" - 3:25
4. "Country Road" – 3:30
   • Single version, previously unreleased on any James Taylor album.
5. "You've Got a Friend" - 4:30
6. "You Can Close Your Eyes" - 2:32
7. "Long Ago and Far Away" - 2:22
8. "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" - 2:37
9. "Walking Man" - 3:35
10. "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" - 3:37
11. "Mexico" - 3:00
12. "Shower the People" - 4:33
13. "Golden Moments" - 3:32
14. "Steamroller" - 5:06
    • 1975 live version.
15. "Carolina in My Mind" - 4:00
    • 1976 version.
16. "Handy Man" - 3:20
17. "Your Smiling Face" - 2:48
18. "Up on the Roof" - 4:22
19. "Only a Dream in Rio" - 5:03
20. "Bittersweet" - 3:44
    • A previously unreleased song, recorded specifically for this album in early 2003.

References

1. ^ The Best of James Taylor at Allmusic