Classic Sesame Street - James Taylor sings "Up On The Roof"

[zacandtaylorrule]

Love this one. I have always loved James and his cover of this tune is fantastic. I remember the Jellyman Kelly clip a lot more than this one probably because it was showed more and more people on YT have posted that than this one. FYI the original was donew by Ben E King and the Drifters. Ben E King alsio sang Stand By Me.

[RonNYC100]

OMIGOD! JT is the best!

[nealgh111]

J.T. is AWESOME!

[mooky9669]

I remember this when I was little...thanks for this!!

[APaulA222]

James Taylor- Massachusetts Pride!!!

[omitchell04]

I remember watching this! I loved it so much and he has one of the best voices!! So many memories

[najgee1]

love it

[dhaymore7]

JT, truly one of the best, ever!

[BuckWilliams17]

Vintage Sesame Street.

Gotta Love it!

[michaeltgrace]

Amazing... I remember this when I was little...and this was what made me a true fan of JT to this day.

Sesame Street was such a wonderful, cutting edge and fun program.

[Brennna]

I love that man. I love his voice.

[Garrettk41]

It is beyond terrific that this song was performed on Sesame Street. James Taylor is one of the greatest music artists of our time. And the setting was just perfect. Let me tell you, there is no way one could perform that song during the daytime. There's no reason why one would want to.

[Dulcimerist]

I love the chorus effect on the guitar!

His vocals are excellent, and quite relaxing!

[atroye]

literally one of my first musical memories.

[nessie96]

Great vocal...another amazing song penned by Carole King and Gerry Goffin.

[mattp1803]

Great video! I was just a child watching sesame street, but I totally remember watching this! I never thought I would see this again...

[JLBtiger92]

OMFG I grew up with James Taylor. We own all his CDs. It's so awesome.

[partridge1212]

Loved it!

[emmtampa]

This song should be included in every fucking album made...including best of The Ramones...James is brilliant and this version is amazing

[jmillzz2]

LOL nice

[osahju914]

the ramones covered it?!?

[dimaxian]

WADDY!!!

[negutzcht]

i was eight-years old when i first saw this on a Sesame Street episode in mid-1980's. didn't know it was James Taylor back then until i heard one of his albums from my brother seven years later. i figured the song sounded familiar until i saw the same clip again from one mid-1990's Sesame Street. A year later he performed in our country with his son Ben, two years after his first live album. since then, even from the time i heard my bro's CD I've been a huge fan of James Taylor.

[Ntouchwithchildhood]

yeah i didn't know it was james taylor either, we don't look into those things much as kids :) When i first hear his "youve got a freind" song a few years back, thats when i knew, his voice is so distinctive, and since he's a childhood memory he's awsome :)

[omitchell04]

I remember hearing this for the first time on Sesame Street. I've loved him since!!

[pokinsmot]

im having some serious beard envy

[tricky69ner]

lol

[Jemznuyda]

on the roof is peaceful as can be, anybody there feeling down and tired,..lets go up on the roof and share w/ me a show for free the stars at nght! come on

[ktbcsn]

Yep... I like James. And Leland, does he EVER look any different? ;)

[animatika78]

This is an amazing exercise in Nostalgia. I remember what it was like to only worry about my mom threatening to turn off the television. I grew up in Nigeria,but it is so amazing that I share the power of this moment with people I have never met, or may never see, On thhe other side of the Atlantic.

Thank you. Every good feeling I have wish to you, and more. All gifts can't be measured in dollars, pounds or euros.

[jcincosiete]

great philosophy, you sound like a beautiful person.

[indyvknife]

wow, very nicely phrased - I agree totally.  Thank's for your comment :)

[prideventures]

I guess this in one of those terrible liberal entertainers that have brainwashed us on PBS....it worked because I love his music and remember watching this on SS...even in High School...remember crying when I heard Mr Rodgers died...I guess he's another one of those radicals that Palin and many right wing Rep were attacking too...but seriously...this is what music is about....it's not like that now...

[rabidhighlander]

What the hell are you talking about? I'm a conservative, and I grew up watching Sesame Street. If anything, it's the toned down, Elmo-dominated Sesame Street that we right-wingers can't stand nowadays.

[RobinsonzProductions]

Is that Steve Gadd on drums?

[RobinsonzProductions]

Is that Steve Gadd on drums?

[jasbigj]

The Drummer is Russ Kunkel.

[gymman1031]

Russ Kunkel was James' drummer many times, but he had very blonde hair. This was another drummer.

[DonLubiano]

Watching this now brings beautiful childhood feelings - especially that silly excitement whenever there was a Sesame Street replay on a rare evening and we get to watch it in pyjamas!

[KatMomof3]

I remember seeing this when I was a kid.

It was what began my love of James Taylor's music.

Shows that all these musicians who come on Sesame Street don't just get publicity with the parents... they open the minds of kids.

I remember even at age 8, if I caught this episode on rerun, I'd stop and wait for this song... I loved the song that much.

[oasisannie]

absolutely beautiful

[traffordroaad]

heartbreaking then and now

[mavis41558]

And dig LELAND SKLAR on bass!

[threefour5]

I like the recorded version of this song quite a bit actually but jesus christ these kids are manic especially compared to JT. If I had directed this I would have sedated them.

[frankthetank325]

OMG this was the first James Taylor song I ever heard as a kid watching it on sesame street...dang the man is a talented songwriter...thank you SO much for posting this takes me back

[krazykritik]

absolutely soul soothingly masterful!..man!..talk about closin' your eyes..and dreamin'your way home..

[SkillVillageMaui]

I remember this song both when it first came out on an 8 track as a teenager. Funny how what goes around comes around-back in '87 I watched this on Sesame Street with my toddler

daughter and even she was focused in on TV watching this. Shows how even a toddler enjoys

GOOD MUSIC! What is music today except for a few good elite musicians? Think about it.

[jcummings2112]

havent seen this in 25 years.thanks for posting it

[redsoxfan1982]

Great video. I wish it was better quality though

[zymaymyn]

This version make you forget that this is actually a remake.

[peppertee]

And, he plays a little bit too.

[islandman24]

This brings back memories from my childhood. Thanks for posting.

[citysafari]

nostalgia city for me, too--just love the urban imagery and the final chord...

[2OOOdude]

in these potential-apocaliptic times, you hear this dude sing (especially this song & this particular video and it's like, 'no, it just CAN'T happen yet, not THIS LIFETIME at least.......'

[nyotpaks]

Very nice song... One of my favorite James Taylor songs!

[Lordofjunggle]

This song speaks to me.I know about having so much problems that I to wish I could escape from the realities of my life.

[label1877]

Reality is for people who can't handle drugs.

[svyt]

Yes, absolutely - amen for Leland Sklar.

Likewise for Kootch and Waddy... What a great group (only miss Russ Kunkel on drums.)

I was wondering why Waddy leans down at the end, and then I see that he's getting his guitar near the cabinet to pull a nice feedback sustain on the C note that rides over the final F chord...

[BuckWilliams17]

I remember this version from my kiddie-hood. Nostalgia city.

[attybong]

i love this version...

[spiffcorgi]

better than the carol king version

[yilishihfu]

This is one of my favorites! Thanks a bunch!

[ashleycraig]

pretty bland but ok

[msalatino]

Actually your comment is rather bland. I thought the performance got more spirited toward the end. So what if there's no string section? Is that what made it bland for you?

[stefka3265]

Thank Carol King for this song.

[samsticka]

Who's on piano? It looks like Jim Henson.

[markjb1162]

Can anyone post "Stand up and Fight?

[MsGina]

haha love how he TRYS to dance...lol :-x

[cvg127]

Can AnybODy pOSt HIs SonG "That's why i'm here"... Its a Great SonG and i juSt caN seem to FInd i here in youtube,, its a great sONg, so if anybody can pOSt it, it woUld be Much aPPreciated...

[cnfnoleto]

lindas canções. Parabens.

Brasil

[yilishihfu]

Love this song!!!!

[mca19580]

And Danny Kortchmar on guitar

[hippymis]

This is when I fell in love with James...I was 12. My mom went out and bought me my first James T-Shirt. :)

[katemccormic]

Does anyone have a copy of "Got my Pajamas On"? It was a cute Sesame Street song and I havent heard it since i was a kid

[martinhd28v2]

James' brother Livingston Taylor has "Got My Pajamas On" available for free download on his website w w w . livtaylor . c o m

[enokidesuka]

Check oot the guy with the beard in the background!

[zackman86]

thats lee sklar on bass

[bsteinagel]

That looks like a young Steve Gadd on drums.

[paukenmeister]

Nope. Per "jeffkahl" it's Rick Marotta. I can see how the dark curly hair would make him look like Gadd.

[jitbxvx]

I remember seeing this as a kid!

[wattamack4]

One of the rare occasions that a musician performs one of his *non* kiddie songs on Sesame Street like Stevie Wonder's "Superstition".

[Rambo222]

Nothing is better then the original version by the drifters

[homeyChingaso]

Lee Sklar is the man.

[amdesignist]

You are absolutely right.

[gymman1031]

Lee Sklar-the best studio bass player ever! Amen?

[Sticks1967]

How about James Jamerson, however most people probably would't know the name as he was one of the many uncredited musicians on most of the early 'Motown' records. Wikipedia him.

[Gumsy4]

The Funk Brothers are on the most albums in the world !! Great singers get Great musicians!

[radio70s]

yes!

[Greysouthen]

He was the bass guitarist for Phil Collins for a few years - along with Darryl Sturmer on lead and Chester Thompson on drums, I had the privelege of seeeing him live in Sydney (Australia) many years ago.

Leland ranks up there with the best- a real cool dude !!

[imashithead123]

i really really miss Sesame Street

[looner84]

I remember when i'm just a kid I'll always climb on the roof. I't feel so relaxing while you staring at the sky.

[gymman1031]

Did you all know that Carole King wrote this song? She is the best female singer/songqriter ever!

[gymman1031]

Oops! I meant songwriter! By the way, Lee Sklar may be the best session bass player ever. He is not flashy like Chris Squire of Yes, Geddy Lee of Rush, or even John Taylor of Duran Duran, yet he plays just as big a part in all of the songs. Who agrees?

[jhillst]

Which episode is this from? The only copy I've known to exist is on the "Nighttime" episode from 1986, but that one has a different preceding sketch.

[sawing14s]

It's from #2366, which incidentally is a Season 19 repeat of that episode you're thinking of!

[treffynnon19]

Great to see something like this on Sesame Street. Were there any other live performances by guest artists over the years?

[NooralJahan]

Hi! Thanks very very much... I just loved it!

[samsticka]

I love James Taylor. He's such a great singer. I wouldn't mind seeing "Your Grouchy Face" on here.

[jbl1975]

This was, like, the only time I liked seeing a real musician perform. I wish Rush had performed on the show.

[questionablekristina]

Thankyou! This is one of his best performances

[WhatsAYak]

Good stuff...Taylor also performed "Your Smiling Face" on the show, a clip of it was shown on the 01 A&E Biography ep about SS, where he sung it to - of all people - Oscar. :-)

[landyachtfan79]

I sure wish someone wold post that A&E special here on YouTube. That would be in my favorites fan you could sing the entire SS theme, I'll tell you that right now!

[kcro25]

HOLY CRAP! This and "Jellyman Kelly" were the 2 clips that made me a lifelong fan of the great James Taylor. Thank you very much for posting this. It is AWESOME to sse it again!!

[Lectronimo]

I'm glad the show keeps chugging along on PBS, but, wow - how very sad that you would never see something this wonderful on Sesame Street today.

[Ian16545]

I bet the band James is playing with must've been the same band that accompanied him on the original record.

[jeffkahl]

yeah most of the guy on this gig are all session cats. Rick Marotta especially on drums and I think that's Leland Sklar on bass.

[BigBoiJC]

yes it is Leland Sklar...my dad's bass playing hero.