Flag (James Taylor album)

Template:Use mdy dates {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |{{#if: Template:Start date | Template:Short description}}}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template other Template:Category handler Template:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=JT1977Dad Loves His Work1981studioFlagJames Taylor - Flag.svgJames Taylor Template:Start date Template:Start and end dates Sound Factory (Hollywood)Rock42:52Columbia/Legacy Peter Asherx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}} Flag is the ninth studio album by American singer-songwriter James Taylor released on May 1, 1979. The album included songs ("Millworker", "Brother Trucker") from Taylor's music score to Stephen Schwartz's Broadway musical, Working, based on the book by Studs Terkel.

The album was not well received, but it did provide a hit in Taylor's cover version of the Gerry Goffin–Carole King composition "Up on the Roof" (Taylor's most recent top 40 hit as a solo artist).

"Rainy Day Man", which first appeared on Taylor's self-titled debut album, was re-recorded.

The signal flag that makes up the cover of the album is a modified form of "O (Oscar)", standing for man overboard.

On the May 12, 1979, episode of Saturday Night Live, Taylor was the musical guest, and performed three songs from the album, "Up on the Roof", "Millworker", and "Johnnie Comes Back".

Critical reception

Template:Music ratings The New York Times wrote that Taylor's "vulnerable tenor and the glossy production Peter Asher gives his record conspire to court blandness."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Track listing

All songs by James Taylor unless otherwise noted.

Side one

"Company Man" – 3:47
"Johnnie Comes Back" – 3:55
"Day Tripper" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 4:25
"I Will Not Lie for You" – 3:16
"Brother Trucker" – 4:01
"Is That the Way You Look?" – 1:59

Side two

"B.S.U.R. (S.U.C.S.I.M.I.M.)" – 3:23
"Rainy Day Man" (Taylor, Zach Wiesner) – 3:02
"Millworker" – 3:52
"Up on the Roof" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King) – 4:21
"Chanson Française" – 2:05
"Sleep Come Free Me" – 4:43

Personnel

James Taylor – lead vocals, acoustic guitars, backing vocals (1, 3–6)
Don Grolnick – clavinet (1–3, 5), electric piano (1, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12), organ (4, 7, 8, 12), ARP String Ensemble (5), acoustic piano (9), harmonium (9), shoe (9)
Ralph Schuckett – organ (2)
Danny Kortchmar – electric guitars (1–5, 7, 8, 10, 12)
Waddy Wachtel – electric guitars (2, 10), acoustic guitars (4)
Dan Dugmore – pedal steel guitar (5)
Leland Sklar – bass (1–8, 10–12)
Russ Kunkel – drums (1–8, 10–12), cowbell (3), timbales (3), congas (11)
Steve Forman – tambourine (2), timbales (2), Mazda phone (5), cowbell (7), congas (8), waterphone (8)
Peter Asher – timbales (4), shaker (5), backing vocals (7)
David Sanborn – saxophone (4)
Jesse Levy – cello (9)
Louise Schulmann – viola (9)
David Spinozza – string arrangements and conductor (3)
Arif Mardin – string arrangements and conductor (10)
Larry Touquet – cell door effects (12)
Graham Nash – backing vocals (1)
Alex Taylor – backing vocals (5)
Carly Simon – backing vocals (7)
David Lasley – backing vocals (8)
Arnold McCuller – backing vocals (8)