The credits on Taylor’s album reveal one heck of an all-star cast assembled to help him get his first set of songs recorded. Backing vocals are by Bonnie Bramlett and Joni Mitchell; guitarists include Ry Cooder, Jesse Ed Davis and Andrew Gold; bassists Lee Sklar and former Stone Poney Kenny Edwards; drums by Jim Keltner and Russ Kunkel; pedal steel by Red Rhodes; organ by Little Feat’s Bill Payne; and that’s probably only half the familiar names here.
Happily, Taylor’s songs measure up to his backing cast. It’s a set of mostly laid-back country rock, led by Taylor’s bluesy, lived-in sounding vocals, but also dressed up with the occasional horn chart or psyched-out fiddling by folks such as David LaFlamme. And on a label unafraid to release records by distinctive and/or non-“pop” singing voices (at this point Asylum had already issued albums by Tom Waits and David Blue, along with Joni Mitchell, Judee Sill and J.D. Souther), Taylor is right at home.
It’s well worth it for fans of early ’70s singer-songwriters folk or country rock.
by Bob Koch, May 17, 2016
Tracks
1. I Ought To Know - 3:11
2. Crossroads Of The World - 3:40
3. Railroad Blood - 2:46
4. Double Life - 2:14
5. Making A Way - 2:42
6. Sweet Inspiration - 3:45
7. Livin' Dangerous Blues - 2:43
8. Something Old - 4:03
9. Man Who Made It Fall - 2:23
10.Lost Iron Man - 4:25
11.For Me - 2:45
12.The Last Song - 3:26
All songs written by Rod Taylor
Personnel
*Rod Taylor - Vocals, Guitar
*Ry Cooder - Guitar, Mandolin
*Jesse Ed Davis - Guitar
*Andrew Gold - Guitar, Accordion
*Larry Knechtel - Piano
*Steve Ferguson - Piano
*Craig Safan - Piano
*Don Caverhill - Piano, Organ
*Bill Payne - Organ
*Charles Plotkin - Piano, Accordion
*Kenny Edwards - Bass
*Lee Sklar - Bass
*Buell Neidlinger - Bass
*Jim Keltner - Drums
*Russ Kunkel - Drums
*Gary Mallaber - Drums, Clavinet
*Red Rhodes - Pedal Steel Guitar
*Joel Tepp - Clarinet, Harmonica, Dobro, Slide Guitar
*Steve Van Gelder - Fiddle, Guitar
*David Laflamme - Electric Fiddle
*Charles Findley - Trumpet
*Jim Horn - Saxophone
*Ernie Watts - Saxophone
*Lew McCreary - Baritone Horn
*Joni Mitchell - Background Vocals
*Bonnie Bramlett - Background Vocals
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