Ain’t It Good To Know You’ve Got a Friend

My parent’s raised me right. Growing up, our house was very often filled with the simple, melodic folk sounds of James Taylor and Carole King. The first record I ever owned was James Taylor’s Sweet Baby James (thanks to Uncle Rob). I’d play it over and over on my record player. I felt so hip.

We had Carole King’s Tapestry album as well, a favorite of my parents. They knew every word of every song. I remember this album cover. Carole in her jeans, with her cat and the sun streaming through the window. When I see it now I think of my parents, how they must have looked before we knew them, way back in the day.

While I was in college, one of my favorite and most listened to albums was James Taylor Live. Whenever I hear any song from that album it  takes me right back to my college years. My friend Debbie and I used to spend hours in her dorm room studying and listening to James Taylor Live, singing out loud to our favorites. I always had a good JT album in my huge, boat-like college automobile too. Somehow it made it easier to drive the beast.

In a nut shell…listening to James or Carole takes me to my happy place, brings back pleasant memories, inspires me.

Last night, to celebrate my dad’s retirement, my parents took Mike and I and two of my brothers (the two that wanted to go) to the James Taylor and Carole King Troubadour Reunion Concert. We all LOVED it. What a fabulous night!

Carole is 67, James is 62 and they can still sing their tails off. They looked pretty darn good too. They sang all our favorites, so we were  all taken on a nostalgic journey, especially my parents who were transported back to their younger days. The highlight of the night was when they sang You’ve Got a Friend together. This song just happens to be my parent’s token love song. I have to admit, I got a bit choked up during that song. I love that my parents are still in love. I feel lucky about that.

Anyway, James and Carole sang all my favorites (except Cooperline and Frozen Man) I guess you can’t sing everything in two hours. I certainly wasn’t disappointed though. Their song’s are timeless, inspiring, with lyrics that are life affirming. These songs are true classics….I mean, read these lyrics…

When you’re down and troubled, and you need a helping hand
And nothing’, whoa nothing is going right
Just close your eyes and think of me, and soon I will be there;
To brighten up even your darkest night

You just call out my name, and you know wherever I am;
I’ll come running, oh yeah baby
To see you again….

Simple, sweet, perfect. Love, love, love.

Thanks mom and dad for treating us. We loved enjoying this concert with you both. And thanks James and Carole for all the music. You both rock, literally!