October Road (James Taylor album)

October Road
Studio album by James Taylor
Released	August 13, 2002
Recorded	2001 – 2002
Genre	Rock, folk rock, country rock
Length	52:00
Label	Columbia
Producer	Russ Titelman
James Taylor chronology
Greatest Hits Volume 2 (2000) October Road (2002) The Best of James Taylor (2003)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
The Guardian	[2]
Rolling Stone	[3]

October Road is singer-songwriter James Taylor's fifteenth album. It was released in 2002, in two versions: a single-disc version and a "limited edition" two-disc version, which contains three extra songs, as well as a video presentation. It has been certified Platinum.

The album reached number four in Billboard 200.

Track listing

All songs written by James Taylor except where noted.

1. "September Grass" (John I. Sheldon) – 4:51
2. "October Road" – 3:57
3. "On the 4th of July" – 3:25
4. "Whenever You're Ready" – 4:14
5. "Belfast to Boston" – 4:16
6. "Mean Old Man" – 3:44
7. "My Traveling Star" – 3:55
8. "Raised Up Family" – 4:40
9. "Carry Me on My Way" – 4:30
10. "Caroline I See You" – 4:58
11. "Baby Buffalo" – 4:50
12. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (H. Martin, R. Blane) – 3:50

Included on the second disc of the "limited edition" two-disc version:

1. "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" – 4:43
2. "Benjamin" (J. Taylor, composed in 1976 or 1977 as a tribute/lullaby to his new-coming or -born son. First release by David Sanborn dec. 1977) – 3:30
3. "Sailing to Philadelphia" (M. Knopfler) – 5:28

Personnel

• James Taylor – vocals, guitar
• Harry Allen – tenor saxophone (track 12)
• Karen Bakunin – viola (tracks 6, 7, 10)
• Michael Brecker – saxophone (track 2, track 1 CD, 2)
• Clifford Carter – organ (track 2), keyboards (track 3), piano (track 10), synth rhodes (track 10), synth organ (track 11), string pad (track 12)
• Valerie Carter – backing vocals (tracks 1, 3, 4, 8), chorus (track 5)
• Chiara Civello – backing vocals, piano (track 3)
• Luis Conte – percussion (tracks 2–4, 7–9, 11)
• Ry Cooder – guitar (track 2)
• Cenovia Cummins – violin (track 12)
• Brian Dembow – viola (tracks 6, 7, 10)
• Bruce Dukov – violin (tracks 6, 7, 10)
• Stuart Duncan – violin (tracks 2, 7)
• Michael Eisenstein – chorus (track 5)
• Stephen Erdody – cello (tracks 6, 7, 10)
• Walt Fowler – trumpet (tracks 4, 8)
• Steve Gadd – drums
• Julie Ann Gigante – violin (tracks 6, 7, 10)
• Larry Goldings – piano (tracks 6, 12)
• Nina Gordon – chorus (track 5)
• Alan Grunfeld – violin (tracks 6, 7, 10)
• Kay Hanley – chorus (track 5)
• Tamara Hatwan – violin (tracks 6, 7, 10)
• Paula Hochhalter – cello (tracks 6, 7, 10)
• Carrie Holzman-Little – viola (tracks 6, 7, 10)
• Jimmy Johnson – bass
• Karen Jones – violin (tracks 6, 7, 10)
• Robbie Kilgore – piano (track 10)
• Mark Knopfler – vocals, guitar (track 3, CD 2)
• Michael Landau – guitar (tracks 2–4, 8, 9)
• David Lasley – backing vocals (tracks 1, 3, 4, 8), chorus (track 5)
• Josh Lattanzi – chorus (track 5)
• Natalie Leggett – violin (tracks 6, 7, 10)
• M Hans Liebert – synth conga (tracks 1, 4), piano (track 5), synth percussion (track 8)
• Yo-Yo Ma – cello (track 2, CD 2)
• Bobby Mann – guitar (track 1, 3, 4, 8)
• Lou Marini – saxophone (tracks 4, 8)
• Kate Markowitz – backing vocals (tracks 1, 3, 4, 8), chorus (track 5)
• Liane Mautner – violin (tracks 6, 7, 10)
• Arnold McCuller – backing vocals (tracks 1, 3, 4, 8), chorus (track 5)
• Tommy Morgan – harmonica (track 10)
• Rob Mounsey – keyboards (tracks 1, 7), synthesizer (tracks 3, 6), synth bagpipes (track 5), penny whistle (track 5), percussion (track 5), string pad (track 10)
• Mark O'Connor – violin (track 2, CD 2)
• Robin Olson – violin (tracks 6, 7, 10)
• John Pizzarelli – guitar (tracks 6, 12)
• Greg Phillinganes – keyboards (tracks 4, 5, 8)
• Steve Scully – chorus (track 5)
• Richard Sebring – French horn (track 5)
• John Sheldon – guitar harmonics (track 1)
• Richard Sortomme – violin (track 12)
• Caroline Taylor – backing vocals (track 1)
• Sally Taylor – backing vocals (tracks 7, 11)
• Donna Tecco – violin (track 12)
• Belinda Whitney – violin (track 12)
• Margaret Wooten – violin (tracks 6, 7, 10)
• Kenneth Yerke – violin (tracks 6, 7, 10)

References