Shower The People by James Taylor

Album: In The Pocket (1976)

Charted: 22

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Down in the dumps? James Taylor has some advice: Shower the people you love with love. It will make things much better.

It's one of Taylor's signature songs, filled with his message caring for others. His love songs came wrapped in breezy melodies and crystal clear vocals that made them easy to take in. "Your Smiling Face" is another example, as are two of his famous covers: "You've Got A Friend" (originally by Carole King) and "How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You" (originally by Marvin Gaye).
Pay attention to the background vocals on this one. Taylor created a wash of sound by recording himself and others singing extended notes, then putting them into the mix to create the rich textures. One of the singers is Carly Simon, his wife at the time.
This was the lead single and only hit from James Taylor's seventh album, In The Pocket. It was produced by Russ Titelman and Lenny Waronker, who started working with him on his previous album, Gorilla, released in 1975. Taylor had a string of big hits from 1970-1972, then took a few years off, returning in 1974 with his album Walking Man. His hits got more modest but many endured as classics that stood the test of time and remained in his setlist decades later. "Mexico" and "Handy Man" are other examples.
Taylor used a very talented set of session musicians this track including his stalwarts Danny Kortchmar (guitar), Leland Sklar (bass) and Russ Kunkel (drums). Victor Feldman, a key Steely Dan contributor, added bells and vibraphone.
"Shower The People" wasn't a huge pop hit, stalling at #22, but it went to #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart, where Taylor had more success.
Taylor played this song, along with "Road Runner" and "Sweet Baby James," when he was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live, September 18, 1976.

Comments: 1

Brooke Mccloud from Phoenix, AzHis hits got more modest but many endured as classics that stood the test of time and remained in his setlist decades later. "Mexico" and "Handy Man" are other examples.
That JT album was a monster. I know. I lived through hearing "Your Smiling Face" and "Handyman" every day for a year solid on the radio; James Taylor's hits got more modest after the JT album. I will agree with that.

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