Fun
James Taylor’s Break Shot
Dear Ann,
I’m spending this weekend in Washington, D.C., to celebrate my little brother’s 60th birthday. You think turning 60 is kind of a big deal, but “my little brother’s 60th” is a phrase that requires a little practice before you can say it with nonchalance. As the eldest of four, I hope to get used to it and bear it with grace. As the saying goes, it’s a privilege to grow old and look this foxy.
Getting older involves a lot of thinking about when you were very young, which surprises me, but there you are. Maybe we’re just finally getting the space in our heads to process the things that happened, the people we knew, the things they got up to and did for us or to us. Maybe it’s that these people who were giants to us then are now fading away.
Earlier this week, on a reader’s recommendation (thank you!), I listened to Break Shot: My First 21 Years, an audio memoir by James Taylor. This is becoming a favorite format for me: the 90-minute story. In James Taylor’s quiet telling of his early years, interspersed with music, I learned a lot of things I didn’t know about his family and early life, and the stories behind his breakthrough songs. I had no idea the Beatles came into it! To avoid spoilers, I won’t tell you why I’m now kind of creeped out about the subway stop I use every day. (Taylor also tells the story in this interview.)
As I listened, I kept wishing there was more color, more descriptive detail—more life—in the renderings of people he knew and the things that happened to him. But despite the just-the-facts tone, I got a lot out of it. Break Shot is a perfect accompaniment to knitting on a late winter’s day. For me, it was worth it for the acoustic guitar interpretation of the hymn “Jerusalem” alone.
Love,
Kay
Well I never would have guessed you were over sixty! Maybe it’s something to do with counting in imperial, I think in metric you are probably fifty, what with multiplying by ten instead of twelve.
I, too, am visiting with family this weekend, celebrating my “baby” brother’s 60th birthday, and it IS very strange to think of him as “so old”. How can this be when I feel so much younger!
As a bonus, we also get to celebrate mom’s 87th tomorrow. Wonderful to get together for joyous occasions.
Wait ’til your baby brother turns 70–that’s really wierd!
I’ve been wanting to listen to this already, but nobody told me it had “Jerusalem” in it! That’s my fave hymn! Now I REALLY have to hear it!! I ❤️ James Taylor!
Agree! -I hope these autobio audios with music are going to become a trend. Did you listen to Patty Smith’s?
I will! It’s the perfect knitting companion.
Grew up listening to James Taylor. Love him.
I loved listening to Breakshot. I must say that I cried more than once.
James Taylor’s latest “album” dropped yesterday, and it, too, is well-worth a listen. Especially for those of us old enough to have grown up on “the standards.”
I have you beat as I became 67 on 2/19. Mudslide Slim got me through my first year in college and remains my favorite James Taylor album. Last weekend, NPR had an interview with James and I have listened to the podcast with some sadness.
Thanks for bringing it to the attention of others
Love JT! Your recommendations are almost always spot on for me.
I am especially enjoying pbs’s ‘Now Hear This’ series that you mentioned recently.
He just wanted to do what his brother was doing to pass time!
I’m a identical twin 2 mins. older I possibly saw one of your brothers USF1970’s on a piano singlural in a small class room was satisfied!
Thanks for this. Hadn’t realized it was more than an album. I can’t imagine my teen years w/o him. The rest I can imagine, but it wouldn’t have been as good.
Looking for my safe zone….events are overwhelming….Some days things can hit you right between the eyes….but you have to find the strength to go on.