"Her Town Too" by James Taylor & J.D. Souther

Song#:  0532
Date:  03/14/1981
Debut:  38
Peak:  11
Weeks:  14
Genre:  Pop, Singer/Songwriter, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  Although his albums were still selling well, Taylor had not been near the Top 10 on the pop chart since 1977's #4 "Handy Man." This collaboration with J.D. Souther barely missed the Top 10 but did reach #5 on the AC chart. Taylor was still a hot draw at the time so no one could have predicted that this would be his last Top 40 chart entry. His albums would continue to be platinum sellers, but his singles failed to get any attention. J.D. Souther was mainly known as a songwriter, writing and co-writing many songs for artists like the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt and Dan Fogelberg. Souther did have a solo recording career and hit #7 in 1979 with "You're Only Lonely."

ReduxReview:  Once again for me, a terrific musician and songwriter, but I don't connect with Taylor very much. I like this song and it is one in his catalog that sticks in my mind, but it is nothing that I'd purposely choose to hear. A couple of Taylor fans I know rank this song fairly low as they prefer his earlier singer/songwriter stuff or his blues-rock tunes. This is kind of a lazy tune that falls a bit in between.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  At the time of this single, Taylor was in the process of getting a divorce from his wife, Carly Simon. The pair had kids and with Taylor's career running hot, he spent little time at home. Simon gave him an ultimatum to cut back on recording and touring and focus on the family, or split up. Taylor chose the latter and it seemed to inspire the title of the album from which this single is from - "Dad Loves His Work."

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