146 James Taylor James Taylor Jame's Taylor's 1969 debut album was one of the first albums released on the Beatles' Apple label. Though nearly capsized by heavy-handed orchestration, it was an eye-opening collection of songs whose highlights- " Knocking 'Round the Zoo ," " Something in the Way She Moves " and " Carolina in My Mind " (the latter two rerecorded for the 1976 Greatest Hits )- point toward the path he'd pursue in the next decade. Sweet Baby James , Taylor's landmark second release, heralds the arrival of pop music's sensitive phase. " Fire and Rain " epitomizes singer/songwriter stance: acoustic-based autobiography, where the arresting musical sparseness casts Taylor's gently melodies and warm, unassuming vocals in full relief. On " Steamroller ," he effectively mocks the straining pomposity of then-current white bluesmen- though Taylor became entrapped by his own laid-b