Rating: 
Summary: Very well done
Review: The family history was interesting, and comments from the surviving siblings were nice, but the late Mr. White could have had more quotes from The Man himself. Having met JT in the mid- seventies when I was playing the coffee house circuit, and repping A.B. Adams guitars and pickups, (which I got him to use on his M.E. Whitebook guitars during the "Flag" tour), what doesn't come across in this book is his ironic sense of humor. More quotes might have conveyed that better. But overall, very well done.
Rating:
Summary: Well Rounded Biography
Review: This biography is not one you can easily breeze through. The first several chapters on James Taylor's genealogy are interesting, but slow reading. JT's fans want to know about HIM!Once past that, the author delves into all aspects of James' life...good and bad. The author digresses much too much though. It seems whenever a new character is introduced, he writes pages and pages about that person. I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions of James' lyrics and writing processes. As a long time fan, I found it interesting to see how the stages of his life are reflected in his music. The lyrics, especially, took on new meaning for me. The fact that this biography was sanctioned by James and his family added so much credibility. The author did a wonderful job interviewing people who were really important in his life. James has had such an enduring career. I've personally waited years for such a good biography to be written.
Rating:
Summary: Well Rounded Biography
Review: This biography is not one you can easily breeze through. The first several chapters on James Taylor's genealogy are interesting, but slow reading. JT's fans want to know about HIM! Once past that, the author delves into all aspects of James' life...good and bad. The author digresses much too much though. It seems whenever a new character is introduced, he writes pages and pages about that person. I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions of James' lyrics and writing processes. As a long time fan, I found it interesting to see how the stages of his life are reflected in his music. The lyrics, especially, took on new meaning for me. The fact that this biography was sanctioned by James and his family added so much credibility. The author did a wonderful job interviewing people who were really important in his life. James has had such an enduring career. I've personally waited years for such a good biography to be written.
Rating: 
Summary: Tedious Detail
Review: This book has endless details rergarding geneologies and the habits of ancient sailors? . Too Much useless information...boring.Little or no information on the early days @ Apple Records.A fantastic artist relegated to the accounts of textile workers " Waulking"?
give me a break!!
Rating: 
Summary: Road To Hollywood
Review: This book was wonderful, and learning how many songs James Taylor wrote for films blew me away. I never knew "Song For You Far Away" was first done for E.T., or "Sleep Come Free Me" was for BRUBAKER. James describes in the book how he also did "Stand And Fight" for a film called TIMES SQUARE. But none got into the films! Who would turn down a James Taylor song? I can't imagine. He didn't sound too happy with Stephen Spielberg and John Williams over E.T., so it's logical he would appreciate a fabulous movie theme from another performer like Gene Pitney with "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance." My favorite comment on that is the one on Gene Pitney's website, where he says "The film was initially a box office disaster, but after the success of the record, the film was re-released and became a huge hit. That's the kind of power records had in those days!" In James Taylor's case, I would gladly see a film with nothing but his songs and music in it.
Rating:
Summary: It hasn't 'all' been sweet for baby james.
Review: though our empathetic minstrel,that empathy is very real. from asylum too detox- it's been a 'long' walk and that he can ease worries,pain and ,most likely' 'our own' created self-doubts. He had to see before he could talk of the terrain. Most folk,may not of survived the journey,or would have come out very cynical and jaded,to ever care about any issue in life,that may close our
own 'Self' from our own reflection,let alone the snide grin we would hide for that second,our narccisum being,'you haven't seen real pain'. James Taylor-the self proclaimed 'composer of 'hymms for agnostics'.a gentle billy joel. a non-cryptic bob dylan. a transcedentalist, as a fine Emerson essay.James Taylor; the Nature trail Brian Wilson.Even if by some tragedy you never heard some of Mr.Taylors music (!) this and fire and rain will keep you reading a true tale of 'Self'discovery,and of not ruining other people,but sharing with them,'you got a freind'.
Rating:
Summary: The Walking Man Talks
Review: Timothy White's "Long Ago And Far Away" is a spectacular, honest and complete portrait of perhaps the classic American singer/songwriter. Timothy's work is not merely the definitive study of this private man, based on White's intimate, twenty year access to James and his family, it is also a social history of America told through the riveting story of the Taylor family. From medieval Scotland to the Carolina civil rights movement, the Boston/Martha's Vineyard folkie scene through swinging London, nights with the Beatles, the Carly Simon era glare of Superstardom to his most recent growth and grammy success -- the James Taylor saga unfolds with insight and power. Timothy White as Senior editor at Rolling Stone profiled everyone from Fleetwood Mac to Johnny Carson but in James Taylor he has found his ultimate subject. This book not only has Taylor explain in his own words what inspired his classic songs, it shows the forces that shaped the man himself. Forces that even he was unaware of. Well done.
Rating:
Summary: Letters Hit Home
Review: Veteran biography buffs want the interior life of the main persons in a serious book to come alive. This story makes use of family letters in a way that is special. To read what the mother and father felt, and what the children were actually thinking during important times was very emotional to learn, and the author's understandng of these kind of documents was brilliant. You don't always see qualities like this in rock stories, and it hit hard. Great job. Also, I noticed a comment by a reviewer about Gene Pitney's "Liberty Valance" song. As a Pitney fan, I should point out the guy is incorrect. Because Pitney worked on the song in 1962 while John Ford was still filming "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance," and it was in fact the themesong too, but as Ford experts know, the film came out before the song was done. The song still was successful the same year, and helped the movie, too. The things about the Livingston Taylor song in the book are also right in the book. I think the author was saying Livingston included that same song in his last album of the century because it meant something to him to look back again. For me, to read the book and not praise the use of the letters is strange. It's a really cool book.
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