James Taylor ft Iris Dement - You can close your eyes

[jondoe8889]

Nice version. For me, the ultimate version is the first one I heard, by James and Joni - also in London. Back when they seemed to still have a spark between them.

[majornichols]

It would have been recorded at the end of May 1994/beginning of June 1994. 5 sessions in 5 nights for Loudon & Co. There is even a pic of Iris, James & Loudon from the sessions. (google for Identity Crisis,Iris Dement, Carlene Carter , Jasper Carrott....)

The transatlantic sessions themselves were recorded in November of that year in Ayrshire, SW of Glasgow.

[goth1945]

this is fun. ive seen it a dozen times and I am impressed by how careful he is with her. For whatever reason, perhaps they were unfamiliar with each other's timing, but he is giving her cues, like time steps, to bring her into several of the lines. they are obviously both aware of her missed entrances, but he is so good at covering it seems naturally done.

[goth1945]

a good duet depends on the strength of each voice, and how well they match. The other one that comes close to this is David Gray and Annie Lennox--this is delightful,

[dermotsuks]

Going to see the great man tonight at the O2 in London

[MsPamelaRickman]

My favorite version, without doubt.

[markgrewar]

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!

[PoppaBlue59]

Sweet Baby James and Iris...that's a hard combo to beat! Thanks for posting.

[goth1945]

i love the eye contact and the smiles as much as the song

[sunbeams7]

why are the cream of U.S talent allways captured on the BBC JT ,Iris, Allison Krause,

Dave Rawlins,jillian Welch etc etc ,its like theyre not appreciated in their home country,till they make it big in the UK,JT was signed to Apple records for cryin out loud,same with commedians,they move over here because we "get Them"

[moonbreezes]

wow!

[SummerRussellMusic]

Beautiful.

[Bilbo63]

Best. Song. Ever.

[MrPaco0112]

Simply said, just Perfect!

[57kellygirl]

This song is so beautiful with two people I love!! You both are truly a gift. Thank you.

[musicloverarmeda]

I have never heard this. It is simply beautiful!

[noiui]

simply beautiful... as always!!

[celloprofundo]

James is so generous, you can sense it..Iris did seem to fade out a time or two, but when she was there it was pure magic

[huntingkyjamie]

i love iris voice of an angel

[tenjed2]

Carol King and Carly have nothing on this woman's voice.

[hrothgleas]

@tenjed2 That's nearly blasphemy, but she's very effective here.  Wouldn't have guessed her warble would work so well...

[TheGcortesmunizaga]

She has a beautiful voice ,but loks too self contained,perhaps nervous or shy,(in the end,he is The Real JAMES TAYLOR..).I guess they did not rehearse much.

In my opinion ,the best version is that one from the 70's with Carly Simon,recorded home ...by the way i think this is one one of the most moving song versions I've ever heard , please note the precious work of Carly's voice ,making a creative second voice,and her warm tone...thanks

[catndryer]

When you hear a really good harmony......the singers have "worked it out". This does not seem to be something that has been rehearsed. Let's give these two magnificent singers a break.

[doyle47446]

I'm a harmony/back-up singer. Singing too much harmony can "frustrate" the song in my opinion. Sometimes less IS more. You really have to have a super tight sound that compliments in order to sing that much harmony.

[hankjr33]

i do love iris voice so much, its so pretty

[resobill]

Really great camera angles

[tobama08]

Iris Dement

Is soooo holding back. Very generous

singer. I would LOVE to hear her sing this

song full throttle with JT. Through the

whole song, I just felt like she wanted

to really let go. I think James wanted to

too. A good version, but I found myself

waiting for them to let go.

[folkmusicgirl]

@tobama08

One of my absolute favourite songs& I think of all the versions I have heard as a duo singing it, this is the best!

I don't know if Iris is holding back or not but actually I really like the sort of shyness that she shows when performing this song. There is something just really nice, very sweet to see a little shyness in a performer sometimes (even if they may be holding back) but of course we don't really know for sure that she is holding back. I love her performance here!

[genecorrado]

If you want to see a great Iris D video-check out John Prine and In Spite of Ourselves.

[chazLdy]

This is most excellent! But do seek out the Derkman and his lovely wife Barbara. Theirs is the most poignant version you will ever find of one of Taylor's most beautiful songs!

[tobama08]

@chazLdy

OMG!!! LOL You are soooo RIGHT!!!

I have them on my favorites.

I have concluded that THEY

win my vote!!! Even over JT and CS

The original duet

[buryinggod]

@chazLdy Seriously....You must be family. I did seek out their "poignant" version and it was very amateur, That's another 5 minutes I'll never get back!

[inatizzy2]

I would like this song played at my memorial "when I'm gone" What more could U ask for.

[SeventhHeaven5655]

@inatizzy2 I hear ya. Thanks for sending this to me. So nice and gentle on the ears.

[afrost59]

OMG to me this guy is the King of Acoustic.. none other

[neonmoon82]

My absolute favorite version on this song is the one that James' sister Kate did.

[mullyjf]

agree - won an album of hers back in maybe 1970 by answering a quiz at a tavern in Rockland, WI...when I had to sell albums to have $ to eat...that one? A keeper.

[tobama08]

PLEASE...

Can u send me the link??

I would LOVE to see it if,

in fact , there even is a video

of it. JT did a duet of this song

with his daughter... (mmm... not so great)

but I would LOVE to hear it with

his sister Kate.

Thanks !!-)

[deadluvva]

Does music get any better than this? I think not.....

[brian30bc]

LOVE IT!!!

[LaRocheFoucauld]

I think both version are very good. The acoustics and mix are better in the CS version but I feel Iris brings her own unique flavour and this is different in mood, a somewhat sadder and more somber version....

[juliemar3]

Oh no, this version doesn't do it for me at all. The version of Carly Simon and James is perfect..their voices melt together..this slightly scratches...

[Rico388]

yeah, it almost sounds like theyre competing for lead in this version: they just dont harmonize well i feel.

[majorcynic]

I know - Carly looks like she just adores him and their phrasing together is so perfect. This version is a little bit Zombie-esque (and I don't mean Colin Blunstone - I'm talking Night of the Living Dead).

[leesagrrl]

Iris wrote on of my favorite sad songs... ever:

Iris Dement - "Our Town"

watch?v=o9-pDSYPrio

[romanowskistudios]

I'm sorry, I have always loved the version with Carly Simon.

[majorcynic]

The most beautiful version of this as a duet is JT & Carly Simon from back when they were married. And, with the exception of a note here and there, the harmony lines that the second person sings are the same.

[romanowskistudios]

I whole heartedly agree!!

[majorcynic]

Right? This pales in comparison! Anyone who is interested - here is the YouTube video i.d. v=E_D0i7UC9UY. Back when JT and CS were the "it" couple, they did lots of gigs and recordings together - and you get the sense that just hanging around the house singing was a natural thing with them. There is something a little bit "manufactured" about this version here - Iris is like three generations behind him and his voice doesn't have that "edge" it did back then. OF COURSE, I STILL LOVE HIM THOUGH!

[LaRocheFoucauld]

majorcynic, thanks for supplying the link to the other version.

[breffnipark]

what an absolute cracking song !

[hindview]

Why Iris would be putting herself down around these people ..i'll never know??

[hindview]

Yankees will always hate IRIS...SO WHAT??

[woodscritter]

"Yankees will always hate Iris" ??? Eh? Who told you that? Some Yorker? :')

Let's not stir up regional divisiveness, and let's be thankful for opportunities like YT to "discover" and appreciate talents like hers.

[resobill]

I listened to this video 20 or 30 times before I even realized that she flubbed her lines a few times. She recovers really well. Her harmony is the best of all that I've heard of JT versions of this song on Utube. Better than Carly and Joni. Iris Dement lays on a humble backup which is so sweet, unlike her solo stuff. I've never seen rockers or blurgrassers look at each other with such a groove.

[martinaxman]

? I don't know which James/Carly clip you listened to, but you need to listen again.

[resobill]

Maybe it's the live performance that makes this video seem more vibrant than the JT-Carly 1977 version on Utube. Iris Dement's voice has a sharper quality to it than CS's mellow voice. I just like it better. I like their sweet looks at about 1:36.

[StephenDavis]

Is Utube really easier than typing YouTube?

[resobill]

U bet

[Buanand]

she sounds lovely

[Rainman270]

that was nice

[macaibhistin]

Well, she adds a much more haunting quality to the song than did Linda. Good to see James bringing a diverse crowd into his tunes.

[celloprofundo]

Linda Ronstadt harmonized on the record, nailed it forever, hard to compete with perfection ; )

[gtrrobster]

it was Joni

[celloprofundo]

They don't call him ' sweet ' for nuthin', and Iris' voice is as real as Smoky Mtn. dew !

[audrey661]

iRIS HAS BEEN BLESSED WITH HARMONY HEAVEN

[justmusicandme]

wonderful duo!

[znarf541]

nice harmonizing - she can be a little to shrill on her own.,.,.

[catndryer]

Iris' voice has deepened a little with age and she tends to overdo the nasal arkansas twang sometimes.....especially on slow ballads that she's really putting her heart into. But damn it.....no matter what voice she uses.....I still love her so.

[catndryer]

How cool to see the two of them together. I love them both but this is a strange match. Scott is right....Iris had the good nature to be a respectful second fiddle.  I used to sing this song to my kids as a lullaby.

[friggya]

it is a lullaby, what choice did you have ?

[friggya]

Are you suggesting that JT should have been second fiddle or that she has even reached the prominence of a JT? Good golly miss molly, please say no!!!!!

[catndryer]

Although Iris often harmonizes well with others....it wasn't gonna happen with JT....so she knew her place and served the Masta...:)

[banjopicker88]

epic

[tiredoldcrow]

wow this is to cool must add to faves

[defuse73]

wait don't!

[lauriannnni]

I am so touched by this song. I really love the harmonizing of these two distinct voices. Puts a lump in my throat! Thank you for posting this.

[jeffro1234567891]

laurianni,

I was thinking the same thing. I love James Taylor!

Jeffro :)

[lcb678]

iris is truly awesome and this a wonderful, iris and james together. wow

[cci110]

iris,what a voice

[shirleyrosetalbot]

i just think it's lovely ,i am 70 years old can i download a dvd of iris dements

[CincyPolly]

Wow, I just love this version! Iris Dement's voice blends so wonderfully with James Taylor's. This is such a truly beautiful song anyway, and to hear them do it just makes it all that much more enjoyable. Thanks to the OP for sharing it! :-)

[Clangeddin86]

I don't want to sound rude or a jerk or offend anyone, but in my opinion she is really ruining the song with her voice...

JT is fantastic tho.

[woodscritter]

No offense taken. IMHO, the real problem is that Iris seems to be poorly miked/mixed, so you can hardly hear her lovely voice.

[scottgui]

Iris has one of those trademarked voices that people seek out for that folk singer/blue grass sound. However, she was singing along side a legend and she is humble enough to try and fade into the background and support his voice, not over power it with her own.

[songster22046]

Admittedly, Iris' voice sounds a little like a hick (I mean that in the best possible way) and JT is, of course a yankee (though not a damned one), and so there is an interesting juxtaposition of flavors, so-to-speak. But definitely give Iris a chance. Check out "Our Town"; also "In Spite of Ourselves" with John Prine. You may find, as I did, that her voice really grows on you. Also, see James and Carly doing this from 76 or 77 in their bedroom. It kills.

[CincyPolly]

I agree! Yeah, she's got that "inbred" sound, but I love it! "In Spite of Ourselves" is just nothing short of awesome! Who better to pair with John Prine than Iris Dement? I also checked out her harmonies with Karen Black and Emmylou Harris...she's just very, very good at harmonies! Don't get me wrong, she's great on her own as well, but she's kind of like getting used to a new brand of coffee (or bourbon)...you notice the difference, but after a while, you're just fine with it! :-)

[ghish2000]

she has a great accompanying voice, but i couldn't imagine listening to her singing by herself... this is a fantastic recording!

[woodscritter]

she has harmonized very beautifully with lots of people (e.g. search Transatlantic Sessions) and is simply amazing solo. IMHO. silly me- just stumbled across her work recently, on dvd with Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

[Blogengezer]

Check out 'Our town' It is a story she tells so believably you want to listen to it again to make sure you didn't miss anything. daflikkers on B log Spot

[MROSEN62]

Dead wrong. Iris Dement is one of the great vocalists of our time.

[ghish2000]

i'll agree that she has a great voice, but on her own, for me, it's a bit much.

let's say that we'll just agree to disagree?

[boomac62]

OK, lets just lock them in a studio for a week and see what they come out with. What a wonderful pairing. Two of my favorites.

[noynimic]

James Taylor is to the acoustic guitar what Paganinni was to the violin.

[play21cw]

Amazing song, voice and man

[spiritmaddy]

♥ Beautiful song, two beautiful voices. ♥

[dinnerbucket9]

Weep Ajax, weep Hercules, weep Paris....

[ScooterNerd]

A couple of American giants...lovely.

[TacticalSiege]

I remember listening to this song as a child and i always harmonised to his singing and my father said "you have a talent you can automatically harmonise with a singer.." sadly that is the nicest thing he ever said to me...

[hbtharle]

Don't be sad about that! We never say what we feel to the ones we love. My father died when I was 11. I don't remember him.

[thetapeoperator]

All hail Iris Dement!

[Stillillgal]

this song realy catch me

[specialk1988]

Is that Glasgow's Fruitmarket they're in?

[cosycorp]

Yes, I've managed to find out that the clip is from a UK TV show called 'Loudon & Co' recorded at the The Old Fruit Market - Glasgow about 1993/4.

[specialk1988]

Thanks.  Cool!

[DaveZeman]

wow... I have to get our Tim and Paula in our band to cover this...

Thanks Dave

[boomac62]

Iris is such an angel, isn't she? And JT...well...you can't get much better.

Peace

[MarieDawnn]

your right T.C. a very nice song...thank you for sending it to me......

[frkaz911]

This was always my favorite JT song, and the addition of Iris Dement's beautiful voice makes it all that much better.

[julian488]

What a great song .....this is why James Taylor is my favorite singer/songwriter ...

[LuckyStarAT]

I toppled into this song through a friend of mine, she is right it´s indeed a very nice version and most beautiful.

Thank you guys!

[tenderminx]

:D yep

[tenderminx]

I never fail to swoon over this!

[copperhead29]

I had never heard of Iris DeMent until I was looking for some EmmyLou Harris songs on here and by luck ran across her. She is AMAZING!!! Have you listeend to the song called These Hills? BEAUTIFUL

[theonlytruepunk]

Check out "Our town"...that song sends chills up my spine...one of my all time fave songs.

[mark9780]

Iris Dement could sing me every name in my telephone directory ,i would still love her and her BEAUTIFUL voice...

[username5215]

Did they rehearse? She's on, like, a 2-sec delay for Pete's sake!

[ProfessionalCynic]

Their voices blend like magic. That's really really something special. Thanks so much for posting. I've loved this song since the 70's....and Iris DeMent could sing ANYTHING to me and I'd be happy!

[TENRECORDS]

What a duo, what a song stunning

[javahead2000]

brilliant performance, cheers