James Taylor - Steamroller 1979

[jesterd14]

Linda Rondstat used a lot of members of the band that JT put together, and yeah they wailed with her too.

[kedeens]

soooo awesome . I never saw this . what a bonus to here Sanborn on this

[1stSaintsFan]

JT and the musician lineup from the perfect dream...what a band..

[1PhilHarmonic]

They had some fun that night

[quad1000]

I was absolutely at this show at Blossom. I was sold down the river to be a musician this night...bought it lock, stock and barrel.

[Grendelmonster8u]

@quad1000 The [Flag] tour was drawing well. At Pine Knob, JT was about to play for his third of four successive sell-out crowds (12k per night) that were wildly enthusiastic. Honest-to-goodness rock & roll made up a healthy portion of the performance, spurred by Kortchmar and Wachtel's thick, punchy rhythm guitar textures. And Taylor, who more than any other singer has been branded with the term "mellow," belted out the songs with fire and closed each hard number with (ctnd...)

[quad1000]

@Grendelmonster8u: Right on, this show was a record crowd at Blossom at the time, close to 20,000ish at an outdoor venue just packed to the gills.

[samsticka]

@LiamS92 He's been wearing hats in recent years.

[LukeCoulson]

Players, play.

[LukeCoulson]

You only got to look in his eye;

[66feebee]

whooooo....

[Thakiid101]

that piano was fucking brilliant

[MsKat1972]

looks like 2 people accidentally found some real music, and need to go watch some lady Ca Ca instead : /

[mdincaa3]

If ANYONE could transcribe the piano solo...you would make my life complete.

[metallicafan2005]

is that tim renwick on the 2nd guitar?

[samsticka]

@metallicafan2005 No, that's Danny Kortchmar.

[TrudiM100]

I'm addicted to this clip, because he looks so much like my ex husband it is uncanny.

[docrobertdoubleoseve]

@TrudiM100

no no no

your ex husband looks like him

[Thakiid101]

@docrobertdoubleoseve thats right!

[chachalarue22]

STRANNNNG BEEAAAANNNNNN... SPACCCCEE MANNN.. I WANTA BE YO SWEET POTATO PIE THIS THANKSGIVING..if i may be so bold print..

[Diatommy554]

holy shit he awesome

[TheBabs91]

John Lennon didn't die, he just grew out his hair and played lead guitar for James Taylor!

[quad1000]

@TheBabs91 yeah, but this was the year before :)

[ajohninoz1]

HOT!  SEXY MAN!!!

[slawek810]

danny kortchmar on guitar, great

[treyrosenmeyer]

all star cast on this one boys.saw JT w/Carol king in 71.what a talent .

[spacedoginnebraska]

freakin' David Sanborn, Glenn Frey, Waddy Wachtel, who the heck else? Nice!

[dannybighair]

Chicken, Chunky, Motherfucking Case. These words never sounded so good next to each other..

[tripwire99]

I think I will go steamroll my girlfriend now.

[davcnslt]

Was the band clicking on all cylinders for this one or what!! Great performance of this great song that has James Taylor all over it forever more.

[jtjjbannie]

That was intense.....

[geeky311]

A Curnin Earn of Burnin Funk

[rockatophat]

who knew JT could sing the blues!!!! What a voice, what a gift, thank you JT for sharing it with us! Love you.

[pinchold]

@rockatophat it's not sexy it's sexist and James wrote it with tongue in cheek

[erencandoit]

this is a sexy song anyway but Elvis Presley just adds more sex to a already sexy song

[pinchold]

@erencandoit Everybody who has bought "Sweet baby James" album published in 1970. The track is on it.

[heavensecho33]

He's got that crazy look in his eyes! He's gonna steamroll all over you! Wooo Hooo!

[downhill240]

Taylor just gets better every year! 

[pinchold]

@downhill240 that's right it took him 46 years to get where he is now but every year he gets better

[dannybighair]

I WANT TO LIVE IN MARTHA'S VINEYARD AND EAT GRITS

[samsticka]

I can't believe JT traded Danny Kortchmar for Dan Dugmore and Russell Kunkel for Rick Marotta the next year for his album "Dad Loves His Work." At least Leland Sklar stuck with him They were a good team, the 4 of them.

[balloonsandparties]

@glenneveaux That's Don Grolnick. He passed away a number of years ago. Great player

[samsticka]

This is the best version of "Steamroller".

[morthlyg17]

Damn right no dislikes!

[samsticka]

@morthlyg17 There's one now. Not me, just so you know.

[desertswo]

I was never a big James Taylor fan back in the day, but a friend who was some sort of public affairs flack in San Diego offered me tickets to this tour back '79. I wasn't interested but my wife was a fan so I took them. Turned out to be front row center and The Section turned it into one of the greatest rock concerts I've ever seen or heard. Absolutely fantastic musicians, every one of them, including Taylor himself. I'd love to go back 32 years and hear it all over again!

[robinjones251]

@desertswo My proper intro to J.T. mirrors yours. My buddy's girl canceled on him so he dragged me to see James supporting the Flag album, '79 in Memphis. To make a long story short I was completely blown away. I've been to a lot of shows over the years but of the best four I've seen, two were J.T.

[samsticka]

My favorite part is from 1:16 to 4:08. :)

[gilkulot]

Nice Video . . . love JT I was in High School when he's releasing all these wonderful & great songs . . . 70's man .... Tnx fro posting this !

[The7thBeatle]

This is one of the best clips I've ever seen. And I've seen a lot of clips. Thank you for posting this!!!

[shaun72410]

I grew up with jt ,was the first album i bought. timeless

[JakeWarwick2410]

That saxaphone player looks like a mix between MicK Jagger and Robbie Robertson.

[samsticka]

@JakeWarwick2410 That's David Sanborn.

[samsticka]

Everybody has a solo. First Don, then Waddy, then David and then Danny. Wow.

[deeway1963]

James Taylor...THE MAN!

[MsGabrielrose]

Damn !! , does it get better than that ?

[redlinechavez]

Anyone else think the saxophone player looks a little like Mick Jagger?

[TheEric2040]

A Blues one from James! Nice!

[gva0917]

TJ if you are still out there, I want you to know I remember your telling me all the time that you were a ".... churning urn of burning funk..." over me. Some things one just never forgets. In truth, you were a sweet, terrific guy to work with and I still remember and appreciate the way you showed my son around the entire lab that one day; it mean a lot to me.

[masticaticachicle]

@glenneveaux

There is absolutely no reason why the piano player would be “...conveniently left out of the mix” (?)

This is a super tight band of great White musicians in a bringing-down-the-house performance which by the way debunks the cliché or myth, if you will, that no one plays the blues like blacks because they have a lot of soul…

These White boys have incredible soul and can play as great as anyone. Specially the great James Taylor pouring his heart and soul out in the song.

[jpageaddict]

@glenneveaux Don Grolnick was a long time friend of James and was his musical arranger for many years. You are very right, unfortunately he passed a while ago.

[curvy71]

i always wanted to name my son after James Taylor but i never had any children.

[valarmanwe]

@curvy71 What do you mean you never had any children ? JT sounds like a good name to me. Come over to England,and lets have some kids.x

[curvy71]

@valarmanwe thanks for the off but i'm married.i mean it i never had kids.

[valarmanwe]

@curvy71 Fine ! ( only joking ). Take care.

[curvy71]

@valarmanwe ok good

[jimmyfrancicone]

thanks,Nina!!

[harhar58]

What a LINEUP!! Half-alive, freeze-dried, deep southern funky fat-fried.......JT IN HIS PRIME!!

[ianbauer2]

4:39.  Try not to laugh.

[truculantmuse]

Earlier at this concert, James did an incredible version of 'Long Ago and Far Away'. I found it on youtube a couple of years ago, but I can't find it anymore. If anyone could post it, I'd surely appreciate it.

[TheTrudilou]

Thanks for posting - this I love it.

He looks the spitting image of my ex husband - who could sing great but not like this....

[515linda]

F'ing A!! That was BLISTERING. And yeah, Danny Kortchmar rules. :):):)

[laramy1]

Oh hell yeah! he can definitely roll on over me!

[barbie200455]

Sweet Baby James-still hot after all these years! This is one of the best videos I've seen, and I play it almost daily. There's something about that look in his eyes when he's cussing up there on stage that cracks me up!! He's got the soul of a poet, and the heart of a bad boy who can create some of the most amazing music ever....

[harhar58]

Churnin Urn of Burnin Funk........You're God Damn Right I AM!!......

[BDWFilms115]

my favorite taylor tune

[ggpilkington]

Hot Damn that felt good ...

[floridashorti]

Sweet Baby James BRANGIN IT Y'ALL!!

[ugmodude]

Kootch Rools!

[MrLausanneBlues]

Excelente version.

[averagehomosapien]

@crowehead1

You're goddamn right!

[desertswo]

I saw this tour. Long story about how, but the tickets were free and up front and center. James really wasn't my thing but definitely was my wife's and since if was free, more the better. Well, I was stunned by how much he rocked, and I gained a whole new appreciation for professional musicians like Lee, Kootch, Waddy, Dan, and Russ. I've been a real fan ever since!

[strav12]

Is it me or did Sanborn run out of breath during his solo?!

[crowehead1]

Really like JT and this song just think he should have lost the cursing God's name.

Woulda been a better experience for me...

[shadowclan978]

this is amazin' stuff

[SteveMcGarrett]

Fantastic!

[sambucca1960]

that is one happy hunk of GREAT steamin junk! love it

[musicgrrl11]

oh jeez- who IS that sax player?! great vid! thanks!

[thonicco]

good old Lee on bass...

Met him a few times, hes a real down to earth guy!!! as nice as you get em :) for those who dont know him, check his discography/appearences

[bertoxalisk]

Motherfuckin' cajun... NO. hahahahahahah cracks me up each-time.

[CowbellProfessional]

ok, when will this kind of lineup ever exist again? Dream Team. Just when I thought having Don, Waddy, and Lee was a big deal they put the spotlight on David! Ow!

[theenick]

@Mr1962KDselvis i agree whole heartly, the instroments and the funk and flow in this version are amazing, by far my favorite version of this song

[guyfidelity]

This is fantastic stuff, top shelf paying from everyone inolved. Woulda killed to see JT in his day. I've heard a lot worse from self proclaimed "blues" bands.

[Mr1962KDSelvis]

his other "live" performances of this on youtube pale in comparison to this one - he just had the groove BAD on this one - got right into the fatback of it. you go sweet baby james you go !

[silverspoon421]

d-d-d-d-damnnnn

[zebrapaw4]

K grandma

[Mamaluvsmambo]

I feel so sorry for people who were not alive when JT was at his pinnacle..not that he is not there now ....his songs will live forever. If you think he is old school...sucks to be you.

[NinaC300]

Don Grolnick - Keyboards (including piano)

[harhar58]

If you have more footage of this show please post, he really had the fire burning on this one..he's still great but 30 years does something to even the best of us....thanks for sharing this great stuff!

[quad1000]

@NinaC300: Sadly I believe Don died in 1996, and was a good friend of James. And a helluva a player.

[yankel57]

@NinaC300 Was just wondering. Great live version.

[swiggy58a]

@NinaC300 Thanks. I always want to know who "the Players" are! I don't follow "trends" in Music.

I find PEOPLE that I like....and follow THEM!

[janter101087]

JT and Waddy Wachtel Whoa

[bdurey56]

I have always loved JT and this song is one of my favorites!

[anatefcan13]

When i'm bored at work, I enjoy telling everyone i can find that I have a case of those Freeze Dried, HALF LIFE, DEEP southern funky Fat Fried, Chicken Chokin, Motha Fuckin Blues!

Beautiful son, beautiful!

5\5

[jazzermonk]

lol!!! chickin chokin mutha fucking....

[Laurar44]

One of James Taylor's BEST songs -- He's awesome!

[careyanns]

Awesome!!!

[aunthelen]

I agree--this is an amazing video !