This Must Be The Place: “Carolina In My Mind” -James Taylor. One of my favorite songs by James Taylor- up there with “Fire and Rain.” Although born in Massachusetts- the Taylor’s moved to the Chapel Hill area of North Carolina when he was young- he would say of his experiences growing up in North Carolina- “Chapel Hill, the Piedmont, the outlying hills, were tranquil, rural, beautiful, but quiet. Thinking of the red soil, the seasons, the way things smelled down there, I feel as though my experience of coming of age there was more a matter of landscape and climate than people.” It has been a few years since I’ve been to North Carolina but there is some beautiful country down there. I have a friend who lived down there years ago and all she talks about is someday moving back.
James Taylor wrote this song while in England in the late 60’s- where he signed with The Beatles Apple label. The song appeared on his debut album. The song reflects the homesickness he was feeling at the time. The version below was a re-recorded version made for his Greatest Hits in the mid 70’s- it I believe is superior to the original version.
Agree, dig that tune. And James Taylor in general, as I think you know!😀
There’s something about his voice. I find it very soothing. Listening to him puts me at ease, though I realize some of his lyrics aren’t easy listening.
Love that song. Love Sweet Baby James the most.
But practically adore the videos of he and Carly singing “Close your eyes,” and “Mockingbird.”
She’s so in love with him and he hardly notices.
Thanks for this awesome reminder of this awesome song!
Once we were on a trip and out of nowhere I started singing Mockingbird….30 seconds later the song came on the radio….
Aren’t you prescient!!! That’s pretty cool!
I agree with you on the version…I usually don’t like the re-recorded ones better…with this one though…yea.
James Taylor is one of my favorite songwriter/musician/guitarists. His voice is peace-inducing as Christian said and I love how he sings harmonies with others, as Angel said.
New version is way better, right? Original one is fast and awkward. Along with Fire and Rain and this, my other favourite Taylor song is also a location song, Copperline from 1991.
Yes the one on the Greatest Hits- which was the new version- I thought far superior- he was also singing better then. How often does that happen- when the re-done version is the best. Copperline is a good one forgot about that.
Normally the redone version is more mellow – it was a good move in this case.
Fire and Rain was my high school anthem. Thanks for a trip down memory lane.