["Steamroller Blues"] ♪ Well, I'm a steamroller, baby ♪ ♪ Bound to roll right over you ♪ ♪ Said I'm a steamroller for you, baby ♪ ♪ Bound to roll right over you ♪ ♪ I'm gonna inject your soul with some sweet rock and roll ♪ ♪ Said I'm gonna inject your soul ♪ ♪ With some sweet rock and roll ♪ ♪ Seeing how, baby, baby, ♪ ♪ I got a bad case of steamroller blues ♪ [audience cheering] [ending flourish to "Steamroller Blues"] [audience cheering and applauding] ["Country Road"] ["Country Road" continues] ♪ Take to the highway, won't you lend me your name ♪ ♪ Your way and my way seem to be one and the same ♪ ♪ Mama don't understand it ♪ ♪ She wants to know where I've been ♪ ♪ I'd have to be some kind of natural born fool ♪ ♪ To wanna pass that way again ♪ ♪ But you know I could feel it ♪ ♪ On a country road ♪ ♪ Sail on home to Jesus, won't you, good girls and boys ♪ ♪ I'm all in pieces, you can have your own choice ♪ ♪ But I can see a heavenly band full of angels ♪ ♪ And they're coming to set me free ♪ ♪ I don't know nothing 'bout the why or when ♪ ♪ But I can tell that it's bound to be ♪ ♪ Because you know I could feel it, child, yeah ♪ ♪ On a country road ♪ ♪ I guess my feet know where they want me to go ♪ ♪ Walking down a country road, yeah ♪ ♪ Take to the highway, won't you lend me your name ♪ ♪ Your way and my way seem to be one and the same, child ♪ ♪ Mama don't understand it ♪ ♪ She wants to know where I've been ♪ ♪ I'd have to be some kind of natural born fool ♪ ♪ To wanna pass that way again ♪ ♪ But I could feel it, Lord ♪ ♪ On a country road ♪ ♪ Walk on down, walk on down, walk on down, walk on down ♪ ♪ Walk on down a country road.

♪ ♪ La la la la la la la la da la la la ♪ ♪ La la la la la la la la la la la ♪ ♪ Country road, whoa yeah ♪ ♪ Walk on down a country road ♪ ♪ Oh country road ♪ ♪ Yeah, walk on down a country road ♪ [audience cheering and applauding] Thank you so much.

Thank you.

[audience cheering and applauding] Wow, Warner Theater.

How about that?

Man oh man, yikes.

So years ago, my kids, who are here this evening, bought me a James Taylor songbook and started this whole thing off.

I thought they were just trying to help, and they were.

But, you know, I think what was actually going on was they were seeing what was happening to my hairline.

And they said, "Dad."

So yeah, Justin Timberlake, he's in a little trouble right now, isn't he?

So this next tune was the first tune we ever tried to learn from that book.

I hope you like it.

♪ Do me wrong, do me right ♪ ♪ Tell me lies but hold me tight ♪ ♪ Save your goodbyes for the morning light ♪ ♪ But don't let me be lonely tonight ♪ ♪ Say goodbye and say hello ♪ ♪ Sure enough good to see you but it's time to go ♪ ♪ Don't say yes but please don't say no ♪ ♪ I don't want to be lonely tonight ♪ ♪ Go away then, damn you ♪ ♪ Go on and do as you please, yeah ♪ ♪ You ain't gonna see me gettin' down on my knees ♪ ♪ I'm undecided and your heart's been divided ♪ ♪ You've been turning my world upside down, oh ♪ [guitar solo] [guitar solo continues] [guitar solo continues] ♪ Go away then, damn you ♪ ♪ Go on and do as you please, yeah ♪ ♪ You ain't gonna see me gettin' down on my knees ♪ ♪ I'm undecided, and your heart's been divided ♪ ♪ You've been turning my world upside down, oh ♪ ♪ Do me wrong, do me right [right now baby] ♪ ♪ Go on and tell me lies but hold me tight ♪ ♪ Save your goodbyes for the morning light [morning light] ♪ ♪ But don't let me be lonely tonight ♪ ♪ I don't want to be lonely tonight ♪ ♪ No, no, I don't want to be lonely tonight ♪ [guitar solo] [guitar solo continues] [guitar solo continues] ♪ I don't want to be lonely tonight ♪ [audience cheering and applauding] Tom O'Camb, Tom O'Camb.

[audience cheering and applauding] Well, the stage is about to become a lot better looking right now.

[audience continues to cheer and applaud] You know, you just kind of brighten up the stage when you walk out here, you two.

So around 1968, James Taylor was about 20 years old.

And he found himself signed to the Beatles new record label, a record label that was new at that time called Apple Records.

For some of you younger folks, the Beatles were like a super big band in the 60s.

So, you know, he's in England.

He's away from his family and away from his home in the Carolinas.

And, of course, this next tune just kind of started to spill out of him.

This is "Carolina in My Mind," and it's a singalong.

If you know the words, please help us out.

If you don't, just keep it to yourselves.

And there's an interesting line in this tune where in the bridge of the song where James says, "With a holy host of others standing around me, "still, I'm on the dark side of the moon."

And the dark side of the moon, of course, was kind of explaining that nobody knew who he was.

He was in obscurity.

And the holy host of others standing around him were John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

Just so you know that.

Paul actually did a very early recording of this tune.

And Paul played bass on it and George Harrison sang background vocals on it.

That song was not the one everybody knows, but you may know it.

The one that everybody knows was redone and released on a greatest hits record a couple years later.

This is "Carolina in My Mind."

["Carolina in My Mind"] ♪ In my mind, I'm gone to Carolina ♪ ♪ Can't you see the sunshine ♪ ♪ Can't you just feel the moon shine ♪ ♪ Ain't it just like a friend of mine to hit me from behind ♪ ♪ Yes, I'm gone to Carolina in my mind ♪ ♪ Karen, she's a silver sun ♪ ♪ You'd best walk her way and watch it shine ♪ ♪ Watch her watch the morning come ♪ ♪ A silver tear appearing now ♪ ♪ I'm crying, ain't I ♪ ♪ I'm gone to Carolina in my mind ♪ ♪ There ain't no doubt in no one's mind ♪ ♪ That love's the finest thing around ♪ ♪ Whisper something soft and kind ♪ ♪ And hey, babe, the sky's on fire ♪ ♪ I'm dying, ain't I ♪ ♪ I'm gone to Carolina in my mind ♪ ♪ In my mind, I'm gone to Carolina ♪ ♪ Can't you see the sunshine ♪ ♪ Can't you just feel the moon shine ♪ ♪ Ain't it just like a friend of mine to hit me from behind ♪ ♪ Yes, I'm gone to Carolina in my mind ♪ ♪ Dark and silent late last night ♪ ♪ I think I might have heard the highway calling ♪ ♪ Geese in flight and dogs that bite ♪ ♪ And signs that might be omens say, "I'm going, going" ♪ ♪ I'm gone to Carolina in my mind ♪ ♪ With a holy host of others standing around me ♪ ♪ Still, I'm on the dark side of the moon ♪ ♪ And it seems like it goes on like this forever ♪ ♪ You must forgive me ♪ ♪ If I'm up and gone to Carolina in my mind ♪ ♪ In my mind, I'm gone to Carolina ♪ ♪ Can't you see the sun shine ♪ ♪ Can't you just feel the moon shine ♪ ♪ Aint it just like a friend of mine to hit me from behind ♪ ♪ Yes, I'm gone to Carolina in my mind ♪ ♪ And I'm gone to Carolina in my mind ♪ ♪ Yes, I'm gone to Carolina in my mind ♪ ♪ Well, I'm gone to Carolina in my mind ♪ ♪ Yes, I'm gone, I'm gone, I'm gone ♪ ♪ Say nice things about me 'cause I'm gone, yes I'm gone ♪ ♪ Have to carry on without me ♪ ♪ I'm gone ♪ ♪ Gone to Carolina in my mind ♪ [audience cheering and applauding] Julie Moore on the fiddle there.

[audience cheering and applauding] You sure it's okay if I call it a fiddle or you want it violin tonight?

It's the same instrument; whatever.

You know, all the violin players in the audience are going, "Really."

And all the fiddle players are going, "Yay."

So you guys having a good time so far?

AUDIENCE: Yeah, woo-hoo.

We aren't, this has been such a drag.

No, we're having a blast tonight.

Thank y'all for coming out, by the way.

It's great to be in the Warner Theater.

[audience cheering] ♪ There is a young cowboy, he lives on the range ♪ ♪ His horse and his cattle are his only companions ♪ ♪ He works in the saddle and he sleeps in the canyons ♪ ♪ Waiting for summer, his pastures to change ♪ ♪ And as the moon rises, he sits by his fire ♪ ♪ Thinkin' about women and glasses of beer ♪ ♪ Reclosing his eyes as the doggies retire ♪ ♪ He sings out a song which is soft but it's clear ♪ ♪ As if maybe someone could hear ♪ ♪ Goodnight, you moonlight ladies ♪ You guys singing along with us, right?

♪ Rockabye, sweet baby James ♪ I hear ya.

♪ Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose ♪ ♪ Won't you let me go down in my dreams?

♪ ♪ And rockabye, sweet baby James ♪ ♪ Now, the first of December was covered with snow ♪ ♪ So was the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston ♪ ♪ Though the Berkshires seemed dreamlike ♪ ♪ on account of that frostin' ♪ ♪ With 10 miles behind me and 10,000 more to go ♪ ♪ There's a song that they sing ♪ ♪ when they take to the highway ♪ ♪ A song that they sing when they take to the sea ♪ ♪ A song that they sing of their home in the sky ♪ ♪ And maybe you can believe it if it helps you to sleep ♪ ♪ But singing works just fine for me ♪ ♪ So goodnight, you moonlight ladies ♪ ♪ Rockabye, sweet baby James ♪ ♪ The deep greens and blues are the colors I choose ♪ ♪ Won't you let me go down in my dreams ♪ ♪ And rockabye, sweet baby James ♪ [violin solo] [violin solo continues] [violin solo continues] ♪ There's a song that they sing ♪ ♪ when they take to the highway ♪ ♪ A song that they sing when they take to the sea ♪ ♪ A song that they sing of their home in the sky ♪ ♪ And maybe you can believe it if it helps you to sleep ♪ ♪ But singing works just fine for me ♪ ♪ So goodnight, you moonlight ladies ♪ ♪ Rockabye, sweet baby James ♪ ♪ Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose ♪ ♪ Won't you let me go down in my dreams ♪ ♪ And rockabye, sweet baby James ♪ [audience cheering and applauding] Thank you.

Thank you so much.

["Something in the Way She Moves"] ♪ There's something in the way she moves ♪ ♪ Or looks my way, or calls my name ♪ ♪ That seems to leave this troubled world behind ♪ ♪ And if I'm feeling down and blue ♪ ♪ Or troubled by some foolish game ♪ ♪ She always seems to make me change my mind ♪ ♪ And I feel fine anytime she's around me now ♪ ♪ She's around me now almost all the time ♪ ♪ And if I'm well you can tell she's been with me now ♪ ♪ She's been with me now quite a long long time ♪ ♪ And I feel fine ♪ ♪ Every now and then the things I lean on lose their meaning ♪ ♪ And I find myself careening ♪ ♪ In places where I should not let me go ♪ ♪ She has the power to go where no one else can find me ♪ ♪ Yes and to silently remind me ♪ ♪ Of the happiness and good times that I know ♪ ♪ Well I said I just got to know them ♪ ♪ It isn't what she's got to say ♪ ♪ Or how she thinks or where she's been ♪ ♪ To me, the words are nice the way they sound ♪ ♪ I like to hear them best that way ♪ ♪ It doesn't much matter what they mean ♪ ♪ And she says them mostly just to calm me down ♪ ♪ And I feel fine anytime she's around me now ♪ ♪ She's around me now almost all the time ♪ ♪ And if I'm well you can tell she's been with me now ♪ ♪ She's been with me now quite a long, long time ♪ ♪ Yes and I feel fine ♪ ["Something in the Way She Moves"] [audience cheering and applauding] Thank you.

Thank you.

So how about a week for the Warner?

Man, so many shows here this week.

Holy mackerel.

[audience applauding] And the crew here.

I don't know if you guys ever see this part of the Warner, but the crew here at the Warner is the best in the land.

[audience cheering and applauding] The best in the world, absolutely.

Yep, we've got the great Rob Kaiser doing monitors for us over here on the left.

You can't see Rob, but he's waving.

And the incomparable, impeccable, he is without pec, the great Paul Sondheimer mixing in the back.

[audience whistling and cheering] He's making us sound way better than we actually normally sound.

This next tune was originally released in 1970.

And in the 90s, it became sort of the theme song for a really hit TV show called "Blossom."

And this is, of course, "Blossom."

And the song inspired the names of so many daughters and granddaughters in the 70s and 80s and 90s.

And now, they're grandmothers and mothers.

[audience laughing] So if you know anybody named Blossom, they were probably named after this tune.

["Blossom"] ["Blossom" continues] ♪ Blossom, smile some sunshine down my way ♪ ♪ Lately, I've been lonesome ♪ ♪ Blossom, it's been much too long a day ♪ ♪ Seems my dreams have frozen ♪ ♪ Melt my cares away ♪ ♪ And send the sunshine down my way ♪ ♪ whenever you call my name ♪ ♪ I know what you mean to say to me ♪ ♪ Girl, it's all the same ♪ ♪ Blossom, there's an empty road behind ♪ ♪ Sit you down beside me ♪ ♪ Blossom, there's a sweet dream on my mind ♪ ♪ There's a song inside me ♪ ♪ Take these chains away ♪ ♪ And send some sunshine down my way ♪ ♪ whenever you call my name ♪ ♪ I know what you mean to say to me ♪ ♪ Girl, it's all the same ♪ [violin solo] [violin solo continues] ♪ And now, send some sunshine down my way ♪ ♪ whenever you call my name ♪ ♪ I know what you mean to say to me ♪ ♪ Girl, it's all the same ♪ ♪ Blossom, smile some sunshine down my way ♪ ♪ Lately, I've been lonesome ♪ ♪ Blossom, it's been much too long a day ♪ ♪ Seems my dreams have frozen ♪ ♪ Melt my cares away ♪ ♪ La la la la la la la la la la la ♪ ♪ La la la la la la ♪ [audience cheering and applauding] Julie Moore.

[audience cheering and applauding] AUDIENCE MEMBER: Hi, Molli.

SAM: Looks like you have some fans here, honey.

[audience members cheering] [audience member speaks indistinctly] [Sam chuckles] Yes I do, Donna Rose.

I'd know that voice anywhere, sweetheart.

Good to see you, I'm glad you're feeling better.

So I was playing a real famous club in Alexandria, Virginia a little while back.

And this place was called The Birchmere.

And the doorman at the Birchmere when I walked in, he said, "Do you do 'Walking Man?'"

"I'm a huge James Taylor fan."

And I said: No, I don't do "Walking Man."

And he gave me one of these; he went... [audience laughing] I said: I'll learn "Walking Man."

So we did, and we're gonna do that next.

The recording that James Taylor made did not have an ending.

It just kind of faded out.

And I thought, well, we could listen to some James Taylor live and see if we could figure out what he did or does live with the song when he does it.

But we thought, nah, let's just write a new ending.

So this is "Walking Man" by James Taylor, ending by the band.

["Walking Man"] ♪ Moving in silent desperation ♪ ♪ Keeping an eye on the Holy Land ♪ ♪ A hypothetical destination ♪ ♪ Say, who is this walking man ♪ ♪ Well, the leaves have come to turning ♪ ♪ And the goose has gone to fly ♪ ♪ And bridges are for burning ♪ ♪ So don't you let that yearning pass you by ♪ ♪ Walking man ♪ ♪ The walking man walks ♪ ♪ Well, any other man stops and talks ♪ ♪ But the walking man walks ♪ ♪ Well the frost is on the pumpkin ♪ ♪ And the hay is in the barn, yeah ♪ ♪ And pappy's gone to rambling on ♪ ♪ Stumbling around drunk down on the farm ♪ ♪ But the walking man walks ♪ ♪ He doesn't know nothing at all ♪ ♪ Well, any other man stops and talks ♪ ♪ But the walking man walks on by ♪ ♪ Walk on by ♪ ♪ Most everybody's got seeds to sow ♪ ♪ It ain't always easy for a weed to grow, no, no ♪ ♪ And he don't hoe the row for no one ♪ ♪ For sure one's always missing ♪ ♪ And something is never quite right ♪ ♪ Ah, but who would want to listen to you ♪ ♪ Kissing his existence good night ♪ ♪ Walking man, walk on by my door ♪ ♪ Well, any other man stops and talks ♪ ♪ But not the walking man ♪ ♪ He's the walking man ♪ ♪ Born to walk ♪ ♪ Walk on, walking man ♪ ♪ Well now, would he have wings to fly ♪ ♪ Oh, would he be free ♪ ♪ Golden wings against the sky, yeah ♪ ♪ Walking man, walk on by, yeah ♪ [guitar solo] [guitar solo continues] ♪ Would he have wings to fly ♪ ♪ Ooh ooh, walking man ♪ ♪ Would he have wings to fly ♪ ♪ Ooh ooh, walking man ♪ ♪ Would he have wings to fly ♪ ♪ Ooh ooh, walking man ♪ ♪ Golden wings against the sky ♪ ♪ Would he have wings to fly ♪ ♪ Ooh ooh, walking man ♪ ♪ Golden wings against the sky ♪ ♪ Would he have wings to fly ♪ ♪ Ooh ooh, walking man ♪ ♪ Golden wings against the sky ♪ ♪ Would he have wings to fly ♪ ♪ Ooh ooh, walking man ♪ ♪ Golden wings against the sky ♪ ♪ Would he have wings to fly ♪ ♪ Ooh ooh, walking man ♪ "Walking Man."

[audience cheering and applauding] Thank you so much.

Thank you.

[chuckles] In the early 70s, James Taylor was asked to go to Mexico to play a few shows.

[audience members screaming] Yeah, it was exciting.

[chuckles] Oh, man, I wanna be at the bar with you guys later if that's okay.

[Sam chuckles] So he was so excited to go to Mexico.

He'd never been to Mexico before and he really wanted to go.

So he just jumped at the chance to go and play some shows in Mexico.

Unfortunately, within a few moments of landing in Mexico, he contracted a really bad case of Montezuma's revenge.

And sometimes when I tell this story, sometimes I say dysentery.

And sometimes that gets a laugh.

And sometimes I say Montezuma's revenge, and that gets a laugh.

Sometimes, I never know which one to do, which is gonna be funnier.

But the thing that's really kind of true is there's really nothing funny about either one of those things.

But people laugh anyway, so.

So he has said in interviews, you know, that he ended up seeing Mexico for the first time from inside his hotel bathroom.

I'm sorry for that image.

So Jimmy Buffett had a big hit with this tune.

James Taylor, of course, had a big hit with it.

And in James Taylor's version, by the way, it was Steven Stills... No, no, it was David Crosby and Graham Nash that sang the background vocals on this one.

Yeah, yeah, thank you.

[Sam chuckles] Yes.

So anyway, there's kind of a funny line at the end of the song.

He says, "Hmm, Mexico.

"I've never really been, so I don't really know."

So when you hear this tune, other than having the image of James Taylor on the toilet, which I'm really sorry about, you know the rest of the story.

["Mexico"] ["Mexico" continues] ♪ Way down here, you need a reason to move ♪ ♪ Feel a fool, runnin' your stateside games ♪ ♪ Lose your load, leave your mind behind, baby James ♪ ♪ Oh, Mexico ♪ ♪ It sounds so simple, I just got to go ♪ ♪ The sun's so hot, I forgot to go home ♪ ♪ I guess I'll have to go now ♪ ♪ Americano got the sleepy eyes ♪ ♪ But his body's still shakin' like a live wire ♪ ♪ Sleepy señorita with the eyes on fire ♪ ♪ Oh, Mexico ♪ ♪ It sounds so sweet with the sun sinkin' low ♪ ♪ The moon's so bright, like to light up the night ♪ ♪ Make everything all right ♪ ["Mexico"] ♪ Baby's hungry and the money's all gone ♪ ♪ The folks back home don't wanna talk on the phone ♪ ♪ She gets a long letter, sends back a postcard ♪ ♪ Times are hard ♪ ♪ Oh, down in Mexico ♪ ♪ I've never really been so I don't really know ♪ ♪ Oh, Mexico ♪ ♪ I guess I'll have to go ♪ ♪ Oh, Mexico ♪ ♪ I've never really been but I'd sure like to go ♪ ♪ Sing, whoa, Mexico ♪ ♪ I guess I'll have to go now ♪ ♪ Talkin' 'bout Mexico [Mexico] ♪ ♪ In a honky-tonk down in Mexico, oh [oh, oh, Mexico] ♪ ♪ Mexico [oh, oh, Mexico] ♪ ♪ Mexico [oh, oh, Mexico] ♪ ♪ Well I guess I'll have to go now ♪ [audience cheering and applauding] Well, so this next tune was written by Carole King.

Ha ha ha, she's coming up later.

So, you know, Carole King and James Taylor had been friends for years and years and years and sang on each other's records and worked on each other's songs.

And Carole heard James Taylor's song, "Fire and Rain."

And there's a lyric where he says, "I've seen lonely times where I could not find a friend."

And Carole was a little upset by this.

She said, "Well James, that's not true.

"You've got a friend."

And so this next tune kind of came out of that conversation.

You know, James has said in interviews since then that, you know, he loved the tune and Carole was all set to release it.

She had recorded it herself, her own song.

And James did a version of it in the studio as well.

And he asked Carole, "Would you mind "if I release this song first before your releasing?"

And she said, "No, no, go right ahead; do it."

So you know, he has said that, you know, since then that if he'd known he was gonna be singing this song every day for the rest of his life, he might've let her do it first.

And it's a singalong.

If you know the words, just sing along with us.

["You've Got a Friend"] ♪ When you're down and troubled ♪ ♪ And you need a helpin' hand ♪ ♪ And nothin', oh nothin' is goin' right ♪ ♪ Close your eyes and think of me ♪ ♪ And soon I will be there ♪ ♪ To brighten up even your darkest night ♪ ♪ You just call out my name ♪ ♪ And you know wherever I am ♪ ♪ I'll come runnin' ♪ You guys sound so good.

♪ To see you again ♪ Come on, let me hear ya.

♪ Winter, spring, summer or fall ♪ ♪ All you got to do is call ♪ Nice.

♪ And I'll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ You've got a friend ♪ Come on out on the road with us, will you?

♪ If the sky above you ♪ ♪ Should turn dark and full of clouds ♪ ♪ And that old north wind should begin to blow ♪ ♪ Keep your head together ♪ ♪ And call my name out loud ♪ ♪ Soon you'll hear me knockin' upon your door ♪ ♪ You just call out my name ♪ ♪ And you know, wherever I am ♪ ♪ I'll come runnin' ♪ Oh, what a sound that is.

♪ To see you again ♪ ♪ Winter, spring, summer or fall, yeah ♪ ♪ All you have to do is call ♪ ♪ And I'll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Hey, ain't it good to know that you've got a friend ♪ ♪ When people can be so cold ♪ ♪ They'll hurt you, yes, and desert you ♪ ♪ They'll take your soul if you let them ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah, but don't you let them ♪ ♪ You just call out my name ♪ ♪ And you know wherever I am ♪ ♪ I'll come runnin', oh yes I will ♪ ♪ To see you again ♪ ♪ Oh baby, don't you know about ♪ ♪ Winter, spring, summer or fall ♪ ♪ All you got to do is call ♪ ♪ And I'll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ You've got a friend ♪ ♪ You've got a friend ♪ ♪ Ain't it good to know you've got a friend ♪ ♪ Ain't it good to know, you've got a friend ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah, yeah, you've got a friend ♪ [audience cheering and applauding] Give yourselves a hand; you sound great.

[audience continues to cheer and applaud] Yeah.

So you feel like doing some more singing?

Yeah, whoo.

All right.

So this one's definitely a singalong.

We can't really do this one without you.

All right, this is an old tune written in 1964 by the great Motown songwriting trio of Holland, Dozier, Holland.

It was Lamont Dozier and the Holland brothers, Brian and Eddie Holland.

And they kinda grew up writing together, and they wrote this tune.

And James has always loved to do covers of his favorite songs by other artists.

And this is one of the first ones he did.

James released this one in 1975 on his album Gorilla.

♪ How sweet it is to be loved by you ♪ ♪ Well, it feels so fine ♪ ♪ How sweet it is to be loved by you ♪ ♪ I needed the shelter of someone's arms ♪ ♪ And there you were ♪ ♪ I needed someone to understand my ups and downs ♪ ♪ And there you were ♪ ♪ With sweet love and devotion ♪ ♪ Deeply touching my emotions ♪ ♪ I want to stop and thank you, baby ♪ ♪ I wanna stop and thank you baby, yes I do ♪ ♪ How sweet it is to be loved by you ♪ ♪ Well, it feels so fine ♪ ♪ How sweet it is to be loved by you ♪ ♪ I close my eyes at night ♪ ♪ Wondering where would I be without you in my life ♪ ♪ Everything I did was just a bore ♪ ♪ And everywhere I went, it seems I'd been there before ♪ ♪ But you brighten up for me all of my days ♪ ♪ With a love so sweet in so many ways ♪ ♪ I wanna stop and thank you, baby ♪ ♪ I just wanna stop and thank you baby, oh yes ♪ ♪ How sweet it is to be loved by you ♪ ♪ It's just like jelly, baby ♪ ♪ Oh, how sweet it is to be loved by you ♪ ♪ Oh, now ♪ [violin solo] [violin solo continues] ♪ You were better to me than I was to myself ♪ ♪ For me, there's you and there ain't nobody else ♪ ♪ I wanna stop and thank you, baby ♪ ♪ I just wanna stop and thank you baby, yes I do ♪ ♪ How sweet it is to be loved by you ♪ ♪ Just like honey sometimes ♪ ♪ How sweet it is to be loved by you ♪ All right, let's hear you guys.

♪ How sweet it is to be loved by you ♪ ♪ How sweet it is to be loved by you ♪ Hey, you guys, you guys right here.

♪ How sweet it is to be loved by you ♪ ♪ How sweet it is to be loved by you ♪ I think the balconies, you guys have it.

Everybody, come on.

♪ How sweet it is to be loved by you.

♪ All right, we're gonna take a short break.

We'll be right back.

Go get something to drink.

We'll see you in a couple of minutes.

All right, here we go.

Let's wrap it up.

Come on, help us out.

♪ How sweet it is to be loved by you.

♪ ♪ Well, it feels so fine ♪ ♪ How sweet it is to be loved by you ♪ ♪ Yes it is, yes it is ♪ ♪ How sweet it is to be loved by you ♪ Thank you so much.

We're going away but we'll be right back.

[audience cheering and applauding] [indistinct chatter] [no audio] ["You Can Close Your Eyes"] ♪ Well, the sun is surely sinking down ♪ ♪ But the moon is slowly rising ♪ ♪ So this old world must still be spinning round ♪ ♪ And I still love you ♪ ♪ So close your eyes ♪ ♪ You can close your eyes, it's all right ♪ ♪ I don't know no love songs ♪ ♪ And I can't sing the blues anymore ♪ ♪ But I can sing this song ♪ ♪ And you can sing this song when I'm gone ♪ ♪ It won't be long before another day ♪ ♪ We're gonna have a good time ♪ ♪ And no one's gonna take that time away ♪ ♪ You can stay as long as you like ♪ ♪ So close your eyes ♪ ♪ You can close your eyes, it's all right ♪ ♪ I don't know no love songs ♪ ♪ And I can't sing the blues anymore ♪ ♪ But I can sing this song ♪ ♪ And you can sing this song when I'm gone ♪ [guitar solo] [guitar solo continues] [guitar solo continues] ♪ So close your eyes ♪ ♪ You can close your eyes, it's all right ♪ ♪ I don't know no love songs ♪ ♪ And I can't sing the blues anymore ♪ ♪ Oh but I can sing this song ♪ ♪ And you can sing this song when I'm gone ♪ [guitar solo] AUDIENCE MEMBER: Yeah.

[audience cheering and applauding] SAM: Molli Hyman.

So is Mike Miller in the house somewhere?

Yeah, I'm here.

Hey, Mikey.

You gotta help me out with the end of this song, okay?

Oh yeah?

Yeah.

MIKE: Okay.

The great Mike Miller, folks, Mike Miller.

[audience cheering and applauding] ["Mean Old Man"] ♪ On my own ♪ ♪ How could I have known ♪ ♪ Imagine my surprise ♪ ♪ Just a fool ♪ ♪ From a tree full of fools ♪ ♪ Who can't believe his eyes ♪ ♪ Imagine my surprise ♪ ♪ I was a mean old man ♪ ♪ I was an ornery cuss ♪ ♪ I was a dismal Dan ♪ ♪ I made an awful fuss ♪ ♪ Ever since my life began ♪ ♪ Man, it was ever thus ♪ ♪ I was a nasty tyke who was hard to like ♪ ♪ I had to misbehave ♪ ♪ I did things in reverse ♪ ♪ Refused to wash or shave ♪ ♪ I was horrid to my nurse ♪ ♪ I got back what I gave ♪ ♪ Which only made me worse ♪ ♪ I had to have my way ♪ ♪ Which was bleak and gray, oh dear ♪ ♪ Living in here ♪ ♪ 100 years of rain ♪ ♪ Such a drag ♪ ♪ This riches to rags ♪ ♪ And just myself to blame ♪ ♪ The dirty low-down shame ♪ [violin solo] [violin solo continues] [violin solo continues] [violin solo continues] ♪ Silly me ♪ ♪ Silly old me ♪ ♪ Somewhere outside my mind ♪ ♪ Clever you ♪ ♪ Walking me through ♪ ♪ Willing to lead the blind just in the nick of time ♪ ♪ Now who gets a second chance ♪ ♪ Who gets to have some fun ♪ ♪ Who gets to learn to dance ♪ ♪ Before his race is run ♪ ♪ Who gets to shed his skin ♪ ♪ Who comes up born again ♪ ♪ Who was a mean old man ♪ ♪ 'Til you turned him into a golden retriever puppy dog ♪ Who's a good boy?

[audience cheering and applauding] Mike Miller.

[audience cheering and applauding] Mike and I did that song every night for a long time.

And at the end, Mike would always turn into Blue from "Blue's Clues."

And he'd go... [Mike barks] [audience laughing] Thanks, Mike.

Your check's in the mail for that.

[Sam laughs] [peaceful guitar notes] Well, what are we doing next?

I think that's all the songs we know, folks.

AUDIENCE: No.

Hope you had a good time tonight.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: No, "Kodachrome."

"Kodachrome."

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Big solo.

[Sam laughs] My father used to say, "Can you do a solo, "so low I can't hear it?"

[audience laughing] One, two... ["Your Smiling Face"] ♪ Whenever I see your smiling face ♪ ♪ I have to smile myself ♪ ♪ Because I love you, yes I do ♪ ♪ And when you give me that pretty little pout ♪ ♪ It turns me inside out ♪ ♪ There's something about you, baby ♪ ♪ I don't know ♪ ♪ Isn't it amazing a man like me can feel this way ♪ ♪ Tell me how much longer ♪ ♪ It can grow stronger every day ♪ ♪ Oh, how much longer ♪ ♪ I thought I was in love a couple of times before ♪ ♪ With the girl next door ♪ ♪ But that was long before I met you ♪ ♪ Now I'm sure that I won't forget you ♪ ♪ And I thank my lucky stars ♪ ♪ That you are who you are ♪ ♪ And not just another lovely lady ♪ ♪ Sent down to break my heart ♪ ♪ Isn't it amazing a man like me can feel this way ♪ ♪ Tell me how much longer ♪ ♪ It can grow stronger every day, yeah ♪ ♪ How much longer ♪ ♪ No one can tell me that I'm doing wrong today ♪ ♪ Whenever I see you smile at me ♪ ♪ No one can tell me that I'm doing wrong today ♪ ♪ Whenever I see your smilin' face my way ♪ ♪ No one can tell me that I'm doing wrong today ♪ ♪ No, no darling ♪ ♪ La la la la la la la la la la la la ♪ ♪ La la la la la la la la ♪ ♪ No one, yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah yeah yeah yeah ♪ [guitar solo] [guitar solo continues] [guitar solo continues] ["Your Smiling Face"] [audience cheering and applauding] Tom O'Camb, Tom O'Camb.

[audience cheering and applauding] You're getting me all hot and sweaty just looking at you.

[Sam chuckles] It's nothing new.

[low peaceful guitar music] So this tune right here, James Taylor was in the studio working with his longtime producer, Peter Asher.

Now Peter Asher had a band in the 60s called Peter and Gordon.

It was a duo.

And Peter was also James Taylor's producer because, let's see.

Let see if I can make this like take like less than three days to tell you.

Peter Asher was the brother of Jane Asher, who was dating Paul McCartney in the late 60s.

And Peter became friends with Paul.

And everybody recognized his talent.

He was really good.

Their first song, Peter and Gordon's first hit song was "World Without Love," which was written by Paul McCartney.

And Paul, looking for a place to stay, actually stayed in the Asher home in London.

And he was there.

So Jane was in the house also, right?

And Paul had a room upstairs.

That Paul, he was kinda, you know...

Anyway, so Peter and Paul were like right across the hall from each other.

They became very good friends.

And so when the Beatles did their record label, they hired Peter to be the A and R man.

Now, A and R is a record industry term that means artists and repertoire.

So Peter was responsible for choosing the artists and what they put on their records.

So his first sign was James Taylor.

And Peter was James Taylor's producer for a long time.

And they still do work together to this day.

And Peter became a very famous producer in his own right.

Produced Linda Ronstadt, all kinds of people.

Anyway, so that was pretty short, right?

Remarkably short.

I can get a little long-winded.

I don't know if you noticed that or not.

Anyway, so this tune, James Taylor and Peter were working on a record in 1977 called JT, the songs that would become JT in '77.

And so JT, not Justin Timberlake though.

That's a different JT.

So they're in the studio working.

Everybody takes a break.

James is the first one back in the studio.

He sits down and he starts going like this.

[soft guitar music] Everybody starts coming back into the studio to work on what they were working on before James stops doing that and goes back to work on whatever song they were working on.

And Peter said, "Wait, what was that?"

And James said, "This?"

[soft guitar music] He said, "Oh, it's just this tune I've been working on.

"It was written back in 1959 by Jimmy James "and Otis Blackwell."

And yes, Otis.

Every every once in a while, I say Otis James and Jimmy...

Wait a minute.

Sorry, so Otis is in here somewhere too, isn't he?

Okay.

Hey, remember when we opened for Billy Price right here a few years back?

Yeah, Otis James.

Anyway, so Jimmy James and Otis Blackwell wrote this song originally.

So James heard it and worked out a new arrangement of it.

And it goes like this.

["Handyman"] ["Handyman" continues] ♪ Hey girls, gather round ♪ ♪ Listen to what I'm puttin' down ♪ ♪ Hey, baby, I'm your handy man ♪ ♪ I'm not the kind that uses pencil or rule ♪ ♪ I'm handy with love and I'm no fool ♪ ♪ I fix broken hearts, I know, but I truly can ♪ ♪ If your broken heart should need repair ♪ ♪ Then I'm the man to see ♪ ♪ I whisper sweet things ♪ ♪ You tell all your friends ♪ ♪ And they'll come running to me ♪ ♪ Here is the main thing that I want to say ♪ ♪ I'm busy 24 hours a day ♪ ♪ I fix broken hearts, baby I'm your handy man ♪ ♪ Come-a, come-a, come-a, come-a, come, come ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Come-a, come-a, come-a, come-a, come, come ♪ ♪ And they'll come running to me ♪ ♪ Here is the main thing that I want to say ♪ ♪ I'm busy 24 hours a day ♪ ♪ I fix broken hearts, baby, I'm your handy man ♪ ♪ Come-a, come-a, come-a, come-a, come, come ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Come-a, come-a, come-a, come-a, come, come ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Come-a, come-a, come-a, come-a, come, come ♪ ♪ That's me ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ I'm your handy man ♪ ♪ Come-a, come-a, come-a, come-a, come, come ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ [audience cheering and applauding] So how we doing; how was the break?

Did you guys all wet your whistles out there?

[Sam chuckles] Wow.

Kinda reminds me of playing at Goofy's years ago.

["Fire and Rain"] ♪ Just yesterday mornin', they let me know you were gone ♪ ♪ Suzanne, the plans they made put an end to you ♪ ♪ I walked out this morning and I wrote down this song ♪ ♪ I just can't remember who to send it to ♪ ♪ I've seen fire and I've seen rain ♪ ♪ I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end ♪ ♪ I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend ♪ ♪ But I always thought that I'd see you again ♪ ♪ Won't you look down upon me, Jesus ♪ ♪ You've got to help me make a stand ♪ ♪ You've just got to see me through another day ♪ ♪ My body is aching and my time is at hand ♪ ♪ And I won't make it any other way ♪ ♪ I've seen fire and I've seen rain ♪ ♪ I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end ♪ ♪ I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend ♪ ♪ But I always thought that I'd see you again ♪ [violin solo] [violin solo continues] [violin solo continues] [guitar solo] [guitar solo continues] [guitar solo continues] ♪ Been walking my mind to an easy time ♪ ♪ My back turned toward the sun ♪ ♪ Lord knows, when the cold wind blows ♪ ♪ It'll turn your head around ♪ ♪ But there's hours of time on the telephone line ♪ ♪ To talk about things to come ♪ ♪ Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground ♪ ♪ Oh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain ♪ ♪ I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end ♪ ♪ I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend ♪ ♪ But I always thought that I'd see you, baby, ♪ ♪ one more time again now ♪ ♪ Thought I'd see you one more time again ♪ ♪ There's just a few things ♪ ♪ coming my way this time around, now ♪ ♪ Thought I'd see you, thought I'd see you ♪ ♪ Fire and rain ♪ ♪ Na na da da na na la la la la la la la la la ♪ ♪ La la la la ♪ [audience cheering and applauding] Thank you.

[audience cheering and applauding] [audience member screams] My mom used to call me Sammy.

[Sam chuckles] Okay.

Well.

So in 1985, James Taylor was working on his album, That's Why I'm Here.

And he decided to put another cover of an old song.

This one was written in 1957 by Buddy Holly.

And Buddy's version of the song went like this.

♪ Every day, it's a getting closer ♪ ♪ Going faster than a rollercoaster ♪ ♪ A love like yours will surely come my way ♪ ♪ A hey, a hey, hey.

♪ That's Buddy's version.

So James, James did a... [audience member whistling] Thank you.

James Taylor did a version of it.

Completely rebuilt the song.

Somehow, because of his genius as a songwriter, ended up paying an homage to the original song somehow while he restructured and rebuilt the whole song.

So James Taylor's version of it goes like this.

And it's gonna feature our keyboard player, the great Chris Moore on the keys.

[audience cheering and applauding] ["Everyday"] ♪ Oh, every day ♪ ♪ It's a-getting closer ♪ ♪ Going faster than a rollercoaster ♪ ♪ A love like yours would ♪ ♪ Surely come my way ♪ ♪ Yeah, every day ♪ ♪ Seems a little faster ♪ ♪ All my friends ♪ ♪ They say, "Go on up and ask her" ♪ ♪ A love like yours would ♪ ♪ Surely come my way ♪ ♪ Oh, every day [every day] seems a little stronger ♪ ♪ And every day lasts a little longer ♪ ♪ Come what may ♪ ♪ Do you ever long for ♪ ♪ True love from me ♪ ♪ Like I long for you, baby ♪ ♪ Said, every day ♪ ♪ Seems a little closer ♪ ♪ Going faster than a roller coaster ♪ ♪ A love like yours would ♪ ♪ Surely come my way [ooh, ooh, ooh] ♪ ♪ Yes, a love like yours ♪ ♪ Would surely come my way ♪ ♪ Every day ♪ ♪ Every day, yeah [ooh, every day] ♪ ♪ Every day [ooh, every day] ♪ ♪ Each and every day, yeah [ooh, ooh] ♪ ♪ Every day ♪ ♪ Every day, it seems a little stronger ♪ ♪ Every day ♪ ♪ You know, it lasts a little longer ♪ ♪ Come what may ♪ ♪ Do you ever long for ♪ ♪ True love from me ♪ ♪ Like I long for you, baby ♪ ♪ Said every day ♪ ♪ Seems a little closer ♪ ♪ Going faster than a rollercoaster ♪ ♪ A love like yours will surely come my way [ooh, ooh, ooh] ♪ ♪ Come my way [ooh, ooh, ooh] ♪ ♪ Oh, every day [ooh, ooh, ooh] ♪ ♪ I said every day, baby [ooh, every day] ♪ ♪ Every day, every day, every day, [ooh, every day] ♪ ♪ Oh every day, every day, every day [ooh, every day] ♪ ♪ Oh every day, every day, every day [ooh, every day] ♪ ♪ Every day, every day, every day, ♪ ♪ every day, every day [ooh, every day] ♪ [audience cheering and applauding] [audience cheering] So how we doing so far?

AUDIENCE: Good.

You guys all right?

Having fun, everything okay?

All right.

Okay.

[Sam chuckles] So first time I ever heard this next tune, I was actually playing drums and not nearly as well as the great James B. Sturdevant plays drums.

I was playing drums in a country band.

You guys must be from Warren.

All right.

Ha ha.

Okay, so I'm playing drums in this country western band.

And somebody hired me to do Wednesday nights at an old country western bar out in Fairview years and years ago.

And there was about enough money to pay nobody.

So I had to put a band together to do country songs.

And so I got the great Billy Arnold.

[audience members scream] Yeah, to play.

Billy's in Florida right now, probably playing right now.

So I got Bill to play because he played guitar.

He could pick like anybody.

And he knew well like 99% of any country song that was ever written.

And then I got Tom Beam to play also.

I dunno if Tom's here.

Maybe Tom's here, I don't know.

The reason I got Tom to play was because I knew he knew all the 99% that Billy knew, and he also knew 1% that Bill did not know.

And I could play drums, so I didn't have to know any songs at all.

I could just follow along because I wasn't nearly that good.

So anyway.

And plus, with Tom, he sang and played bass with his left hand on his keyboard, chords with his right hand, and solos.

He played a harmonica with this contraption around his neck and sang lead and background vocals.

So I had like eight musicians with Tom Beam.

So we kind of were able to make it work.

Anyway, so Tom used to play this next song every night.

And I thought it was a Merle Haggard tune.

Honestly, it's an old country standard-ish sounding thing.

And I asked Tom one night: Who wrote the song?

And he said, "James Taylor."

And I said: No.

And turns out it was James Taylor.

I heard George Jones do a version of it.

I think George Jones maybe won a Grammy with his version of it.

But okay, all right, it's "Bartender's Blues."