James Taylor, “You’ve Got A Friend” Live On Top Of The Pops 1971

Top Of The Pops, 1971

Despite never writing it for anyone in particular, Carole King’s ‘You’ve Got A Friend’ drew James Taylor in like a moth to a flame upon its 1971 release, prompting him to record his own rendition. ‘You’ve Got A Friend’ soared to the top of the charts that year, reaching number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning Grammy awards for both King and Taylor.

As an added treat, the two shared the success of ‘You’ve Got A Friend’ with joint performances of the song, usually featuring James on vocals and acoustic guitar and accompanied by Carole on piano; this 1971 performance features the two delivering a powerhouse performance that’s meant to both uplift and inspire, and succeeds in spades!

According to Taylor, King told him that the song was a response to a line in Taylor’s earlier song ‘Fire and Rain’ that “I’ve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend.”

This performance proves that James Taylor is a testament to the power of music! While an accomplished songwriter in his own right, having penned profound lyrics like those of ‘Fire And Rain’, James allowed himself to be inspired by words that brought him out of the darkness and turned it into one of the greatest masterpieces of his entire career.

Whether it’s in the way James shyly, almost cautiously proclaims his faith in friendship or the way King gently supports him from behind her piano, this performance is bound to make you want to reach out to someone who needs it!