James Taylor’s Before This World is his first album to hit the top spot on the Billboard 200 in a career spanning more than four decades. The album, produced and engineered by Dave O’Donnell, began with tracking at Taylor’s private studio in Massachusetts and them moved to United Recording in Hollywood.
‘In addition to James’ performances and the great songs, this record is all about how great his band is,’ says O’Donnell, who has been working with Taylor since 2000. ‘Jimmy Johnson on bass, Steve Gadd on drums, Michael Landau on guitar, Larry Goldings on keyboards and accordion, Luis Conte on percussion, and the singers Arnold McCuller, David Lasley, Kate Markowitz and Andrea Zonn.’
Grammy-winner O’Donnell has worked with Taylor for the past 15 years, and has also recorded with the likes of Eric Clapton, John Mayer, Keb’ Mo’, Lyle Lovett, Milton Nascimento, Joss Stone, Morrissey and Ray Charles.
‘I loved working on this album at United,’ he says. ‘Assistant engineer Scott Moore was great, and I love that old Neve console. They have a nice selection of outboard gear, including 1176s that were in perfect shape and nice to have. They also have excellent microphones, as good as you can get, and everything else we needed without having to bring in anything extra.’
Before This World (Concord Music) is Taylor’s 17th full-length album and the first disc of original material since 2002’s October Road.
