CD/DVD liner note from James – One Man Band (2007):

“It’s a strange reality of the modern popular song that the first time it’s played is when it’s recorded. Sometimes a song will be finished for deadline in the studio the day the thing is cast in stone forever. I know that songs and arrangements evolve and develop over time; that somewhere around the twentieth time it’s played for a live audience, a song finally completes itself. That, among other things, is what makes a good live recording unique. I’ve often thought that live performance means being well prepared and then waiting for the inevitable, unexpected thing to happen. We come onstage, well rehearsed and in good shape, and repeat what we have done before as best we can. But the real goal is to be in the present moment and on the surface of ourselves; open and trusting. Nobody wants to be perfect: that’s frozen, dead…It’s “be here now”, I guess…

Of course, @larrygoldings does more than just accompany me. His growing presence in the world of jazz is well acknowledged, both for his own recordings and live performances and as a member of a good number of team efforts. I tend to form musical (and personal) relationships with other players and then stick with them for years. Arnold McCuller and David Lasley have worked with me since the mid-‘70s and others nearly as long (Jimmy Johnson, Steve Gadd, Mike Landau, Kate Markowitz, Valerie Carter…)

After my great friend, producer and pianist Don Grolnick died in ’96, I performed with a number of excellent keyboard players. It was during the recording of my October Road album in ’02 that I worked with Larry. Russ Titelman had booked him to play on “Mean Old Man” along with Steve Gadd on drums, Jimmy Johnson on bass, Clifford Carter on synth, and the fine seven-string jazz guitarist, @JohnPizzarelliOfficial. This was an incredible band, and after hearing Larry Goldings’ solo on that song, first time through, he pinned it. That was our introduction and he’s been my first call ever since.

Then there’s the bus factor. You see, someone’s playing may be great, but what’s it going to be like spending 10 hours a day riding to the next gig with them for a couple of months? Larry’s Bus Factor is not a factor for he is a bus riding fool, for a fact.

Part of his talent is his ability to “split his hands.” Though not as painful as it sounds, it does require great focus and skill to play a melody/accompaniment with his right hand and, with his left hand, (often on another keyboard) play a distinct bass pattern. This Larry can do with effortless grace, and he has made this One Man Band show possible. He is a committed father, brother, and son, and I am in his debt. Larry Goldings is my One Man Band.” – James Taylor

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LYRICS
Slap Leather by James Taylor

Want you to take all the money that we need for school
To keep the people in out of the cold
Spend it on a weapon you can never use
Make the world an offer that they can’t refuse
Open the door and let the shark men feed
Hoover the future in the land of greed
Sell the Ponderosa to the Japanese

Slap leather, head for that line of trees
Yeah, now
Slap leather
Go on, Ron
Just about to go myself

Turn the whole wide world into a TV show
So it’s the same game wherever you go
You never meet a soul that you don’t already know
One commercial for the status quo
As if these celebrities were your close friends
As if you knew how the story ends
As if you weren’t sitting in a room alone
And there was somebody real at the other end of the phone, yeah

Somebody read down there
Phone love
I’m just about to dial your number
Dial `em up

Get all worked up so we can go to war
We’ll find something worth you killing for
Tie that yellow ribbon around your eyes
Big McFalafel and a side of goddamn fries
Big McFalafel
Stormin’ Norman
I used to love a parade every day

Slap leather
Phone love
Yeah, Big McFalafel
Just about to go
Just about to go my
Just about to go myself
I’m about to go myself

Well, the thing now is I’m about to go myself
Oh, oh
It’s running like a Swiss watch
Yeah
About to go myself

#JamesTaylor #JT #SlapLeather #OneManBand #ConcordRecords

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