In historic retrospect, there's

something comforting ond

reassuring in realizing that,

from long before Bach, until long

after tomorrow's hottest group,

every generation-in era after era of

humanity-succeeds in producing their

own classic artisans. But, growing up

in any given generation, it's hard to

see the forest for the trees—it's hard

to conceive that your newest pop-

headliner could eventually shoulder

the same historic importance as the

older, established musical sages. For

these reasons, it's been wonderful to

witness the gradual maturing of

James Taylor, from his emergence in

the late-'60s, to his becoming, some

20 years later, an established

representative of our age.

Being a hero of sorts is a heavy

burden, and not a designation that

James-or most heroes, for that mat-

ter—originally set out for. James

Taylor, first and foremost, was a

guy with a guitar, who, in finding a

door to the inexpressible-in

music-struggled to capture and por-

tray that transcendence. It's the

clarity of that connection to the inner

well that bonds an artist to us-or

doesn't-and James Taylor has suc-

ceeded beyond most. He speaks, in

varying degrees, to almost all of

us...his unique communications con-

veyed and buoyed by a most singu-

lar and personal instrumental style...