Flag is the ninth studio album by American singer-songwriter James Taylor released on May 1, 1979. The album included songs ("Millworker", "Brother Trucker") from Taylor's music score to Stephen Schwartz's Broadway musical, Working, based on the book by Studs Terkel.
Flag | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | May 1, 1979 | |||
Recorded | January 4 – March 25, 1979 | |||
Studio | Sound Factory (Hollywood) | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 42:52 | |||
Label | Columbia/Legacy | |||
Producer | Peter Asher | |||
James Taylor chronology | ||||
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Singles from Flag | ||||
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The album was not well received, but it did provide a hit in Taylor's cover version of the Gerry Goffin–Carole King composition "Up on the Roof" (Taylor's most recent top 40 hit as a solo artist).
"Rainy Day Man", which first appeared on Taylor's self-titled debut album, was re-recorded.
The signal flag that makes up the cover of the album is "O (Oscar)", standing for man overboard.
On the May 12, 1979, episode of Saturday Night Live, Taylor was the musical guest, and performed three songs from the album, "Up on the Roof", "Millworker", and "Johnnie Comes Back".
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Christgau's Record Guide | C+[2] |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [3] |
MusicHound Rock | [4] |
Rolling Stone | (favorable)[5] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [6] |
The New York Times wrote that Taylor's "vulnerable tenor and the glossy production Peter Asher gives his record conspire to court blandness."[7]
All songs by James Taylor unless otherwise noted.
Side one
Side two
Weekly charts edit
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Year-end charts edit
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