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James Taylor: Long Ago and Far Away
The first definitive biography of singer-songwriter James Taylor, written with the full co-operation of Taylor and his family, numerous friends and musical associates. Timothy White's biography explores Taylor's Scottish ancestry and family history and pulls no punches about his heroin addiction, his failed marriage to Carly Simon and numerous disputes with his record label. Features exclusive family photographs.
389 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 23, 2014
OK. Let me be honest.
I love James Taylor, his music and his anecdotes. I met him once at a concert when he came down into the audience during an interval.
Being a song nerd I adored the details regarding the origins of songs and the contemporary history.
However, I am not sure that I needed to know about the family history. I cannot see how it really adds anything to rest of the biography, as interesting as it was.
I believe that the title of the book should include a reference to his family history.
I must confess that my initial thoughts about the book were somewhat disappointing; I am so happy that I stuck with it though as it improved markedly as it progressed.
I love James Taylor, his music and his anecdotes. I met him once at a concert when he came down into the audience during an interval.
Being a song nerd I adored the details regarding the origins of songs and the contemporary history.
However, I am not sure that I needed to know about the family history. I cannot see how it really adds anything to rest of the biography, as interesting as it was.
I believe that the title of the book should include a reference to his family history.
I must confess that my initial thoughts about the book were somewhat disappointing; I am so happy that I stuck with it though as it improved markedly as it progressed.
July 10, 2018
I love James Taylor and love his music, but this book was hard to push through. It's got more detail than kept me interested and it's taken me 7 months to plow through it. Not light reading, and a pretty sad story about a messed up life growing up with a broken family, and two broken marriages, drugs, alcohol, suicide and many other heart-breaking scenarios. Kudos for James for coming clean from his addictions and recognizing that his absent father was actually there at the most crucial point in his life. If you get through the book, you will know every detail of every song he ever wrote and every album he produced. I often had to stop reading to go listen to the actual song to remind me what they were talking about. I still love his music!
April 11, 2014
White spent a bunch of time on the details.. It would be very interesting to anyone who likes to know the origin of each song, what stage of his life it was written in.It was way more than I could take in, but interesting to hear who he hung with over the years (the Beatles, Paul Simon, Belushi).
March 31, 2022
One of my favorite all time musicians and it was difficult to rate this book. The first few chapters were information regarding JT’s relatives from past history which didn’t interest me as much as the later chapters regarding his music, especially his songs and what they meant. So at times boring and at other times a wonderfully great read. So might as well give it slightly above average. Still worthy to read if your a JT fan.
November 15, 2019
In this history of the Taylor family and JT in particular, the author relies on personal interviews with many of the key players over about 30 years. It's well researched and fairly well told. Descriptions of recordings get a bit too detailed -- who played each instrument on each song, and the musical history of each of those players, for example. But it was easy to skip over those details and continue with the narrative. With that much detail, the book could have gone into the various instruments JT has played, but perhaps that's to be found in another book.
July 18, 2012
A great read for JT fans. It gets a little....ok, a lot...gradiose at times. But it's fun to put good music in the context of what was happening in the artist's life at the time.
June 10, 2024
What a weird biography! The first hundred pages or so are about Taylor's ancestors. If you're reading the book because you're a fan of Taylor's songs, I suggest something else.
October 22, 2025
That's why he's there
James Taylor is probably best-known for his song "Fire And Rain", which appeared on his breakthrough album "Sweet Baby James" in 1970, when he was 21. Casual fans may be surprised that that isn't mentioned until half-way through this biography. Before we get to that, we're given the story of Taylor's early life, and before we get to *that*, we have the story of his ancestors, originating in seventeenth century Scotland. This is all interesting stuff, with a lot of colour that makes the story of these people a vivid one, and the author does his best to tease out any way in which their lives prefigure that of their famous descendant. There's a particularly strong account of Taylor's father, a distinguished professor of medicine who opted to spend two years on a US mission to Antarctica, and his relationship (or lack of it) with his family.
This attention to detail continues as we learn about Taylor's first forays into music, in New York and London, his early problems with depression and drugs, and his breakthrough, including his collaboration with Carole King (whose "You've Got A Friend" is probably his second best-known song). Once he's found success however, it feels like the book loses some focus, and the accounts of how his later records came to be made is more perfunctory, and the descriptions of the songs becomes more facile. This fuzziness extends to his personal life: although there's a lot about the life of Carly Simon, his first wife and a successful singer-songwriter, the author is - uncharacteristically - vague about how they came to meet.
On the whole, I enjoyed reading this book, which finishes with a moving account from writer & actor Mitch Glazer about his friendship with the author (who was editor of Billboard magazine), and his last meeting with him before White's death from a heart attack at the age of 50.
Originally reviewed 17 May 2019
James Taylor is probably best-known for his song "Fire And Rain", which appeared on his breakthrough album "Sweet Baby James" in 1970, when he was 21. Casual fans may be surprised that that isn't mentioned until half-way through this biography. Before we get to that, we're given the story of Taylor's early life, and before we get to *that*, we have the story of his ancestors, originating in seventeenth century Scotland. This is all interesting stuff, with a lot of colour that makes the story of these people a vivid one, and the author does his best to tease out any way in which their lives prefigure that of their famous descendant. There's a particularly strong account of Taylor's father, a distinguished professor of medicine who opted to spend two years on a US mission to Antarctica, and his relationship (or lack of it) with his family.
This attention to detail continues as we learn about Taylor's first forays into music, in New York and London, his early problems with depression and drugs, and his breakthrough, including his collaboration with Carole King (whose "You've Got A Friend" is probably his second best-known song). Once he's found success however, it feels like the book loses some focus, and the accounts of how his later records came to be made is more perfunctory, and the descriptions of the songs becomes more facile. This fuzziness extends to his personal life: although there's a lot about the life of Carly Simon, his first wife and a successful singer-songwriter, the author is - uncharacteristically - vague about how they came to meet.
On the whole, I enjoyed reading this book, which finishes with a moving account from writer & actor Mitch Glazer about his friendship with the author (who was editor of Billboard magazine), and his last meeting with him before White's death from a heart attack at the age of 50.
Originally reviewed 17 May 2019
October 25, 2022
An extensively researched biography of singer/songwriter James Taylor seems to leave no stone unturned regarding Taylor’s life beginning with tracing this ancestors from Scotland to the U.S. By so doing the thesis is established that the maritime merchant forefathers love of the sea was passed along to Taylor and would influence his song writing through the years.
The author relied upon myriad interviews he had with the singer and also enlisted comments from his family members, fellow musicians, etc. At times it feels like one is drawn into the weeds a bit when his detail oriented focus strays from JT into the lives of bandmates and their own recordings. All in all, it was a revealing look into one of my favorite artists. There are discographies at the end not only for James Taylor, but his siblings and children’s works.
The author relied upon myriad interviews he had with the singer and also enlisted comments from his family members, fellow musicians, etc. At times it feels like one is drawn into the weeds a bit when his detail oriented focus strays from JT into the lives of bandmates and their own recordings. All in all, it was a revealing look into one of my favorite artists. There are discographies at the end not only for James Taylor, but his siblings and children’s works.
September 25, 2020
I've never been a great follower of James Taylor but I was inspired to read this book as a consequence of reading David Browne's Fire And Rain which focused on 1970 via some artists eyes of whom Taylor was one.
Some of the other reviews questioned the significant focus on Taylor's family background - it goes back 400 years to Montrose, Scotland - but this seems absolutely critical to the overarching tale being told here.
Of course, the bittersweet conclusion with the author's death as the book was ready for publication adds a further twist.
The book just takes us to the early noughties. It does leave a certain desire to find out more about the ongoing Taylor family history.
Some of the other reviews questioned the significant focus on Taylor's family background - it goes back 400 years to Montrose, Scotland - but this seems absolutely critical to the overarching tale being told here.
Of course, the bittersweet conclusion with the author's death as the book was ready for publication adds a further twist.
The book just takes us to the early noughties. It does leave a certain desire to find out more about the ongoing Taylor family history.
January 16, 2023
I was so looking forward to reading this book; it's been on my list for years! However, its focus is so broad that I would lose track of James Taylor's life and music - which is why I picked it up in the first place. The late author is clearly an expert on ALL THINGS MUSIC, and his style of covering it all in this text takes away from the purpose purported in the title. It's more of an encyclopedic coverage of the music, people, history, and politics taking place over the course of James Taylor's life.
June 28, 2020
I was inspired to reread this after listening to James Taylor’s “Breakshot” on Audible. I read it years ago but hadn’t retained much. My only complaint about this terrific, well-researched, thorough book is that it was published almost 20 years ago, so there are more James Taylor albums and tours and years of life that are not covered here.
July 1, 2020
Our epic hero, now we know his background etc. He is the reason we played assemblies in H. school and continued piano accompanying. well researched and easy read!
July 7, 2025
Excellent, well-documented biography of this talented troubadour!
February 7, 2025
I thought I knew James Taylor pretty good, and had a good understanding in the meanings of his songs. This book blew that whole idea to pieces. This was a deep learning experience for me on one of my favorite singer/songwriter musicians. Upon learning in detail about his entire personal life, his demons, the backstories of each song and album, it has intensified my love for his music. I actually went and repurchased his music library, and enjoy them with so much more appreciation. I was fortunate to see him live for the first time last summer, and I get choked up realizing how blessed I was to see him late in his career. This book was so well written. I'm well aware that the average person "who kinda likes his songs" would get bored reading this book, but it kept me deeply intrigued once I got past the chapters dissecting his family history.
September 15, 2020
A long tedious read. First many chapters focuses on family ancestry centuries back. When history finally catches up James's life it gets more interesting. The book is certainly well researched but it is extremely detailed to a fault when it gets to breaking down so many of his songs. Things are better when it focuses on James and the many issues he has had throughout his life. He is an extremely interesting artist and I am glad I read the book but it seemed like I had just climbed a mountain when I finally finished it!
May 5, 2012
I am crazy about James Taylor and began this read eagerly. The first 70 or so pages are dedicated to family history......I mean history. Back 200 years and more. Interesting to a degree. But, I bought the book to read about James the musician. There was a lot of info that could probably be gleaned from album jackets. And the e-book did not include the photos and maps. The latter would have made the lengthy history more interesting. Still, even with those criticisms I loved this book. Though I purchased it as an e-book I plan to get a hardback.
February 28, 2016
A biography of great depth (sometimes a bit too much historical detail) regarding JT and the Taylor clan. Timothy White and JT were friends and that love and respect shines through. Each chapter title is the title of a JT album. The retrospective approach to the narrative really took me back as well. Like all humans, JT is a complicated, layered personality, but his talent is true and his intellect wide. Timothy White was an exceptional writer and music historian who we lost too soon.
July 13, 2013
Great book, thoroughly enjoyed! Heavy on the details about his music. Good amount of old family history, but could have used a bit more about him. Felt like his mental illness and relationships were just glossed over, although there was a lot about his strained relationship w his father. In any case, glad I read it.
September 17, 2015
The parts of this book that are actually about James or his life or music, are pretty good, and worth reading. But at least half of this book is spent wandering maddeningly into distant irrelevancies. So ultimately it was a disappointment. I love James' music, and he is a fascinating character; but after reading this book I still hunger to know more about him, and particularly his music.
May 14, 2010
This is James Taylor's biography! It was so very good. The author was the editor of Billboard etc. There was so much about music. I read this until 3:45 am one Saturday night. (not like me at all)
November 3, 2013
Sadly the author was more interested in Taylors ancestry rather than his life. By the time james was born I had lost some patience with the book, then parts of his life are skipped over in just a few paragraphs. His life post 1984 is hardly dealt with at all.
Currently reading
January 6, 2010I love him, so I would like to know more about him.
May 17, 2012
Great book about JT
Currently reading
March 5, 2013not impressed, tho like james taylor
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews