On March 16, 1971, “Warner Bros” label released “Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon”, the third James Taylor studio album. It was recorded January – February 1971, at “Crystal Sound Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Peter Asher. In 1972, song “You’ve Got a Friend” won “Grammy” for “Best Male Pop Vocal Performance”.

Personnel:

• James Taylor -vocals, acoustic guitar, piano
• Danny Kortchmar- acoustic and electric guitar, congas
• John Hartford – banjo
• Peter Asher- tambourine, backing vocals
• Kevin Kelly – piano, accordion
• Carole King- piano, backing vocals
• Richard Greene- fiddle
• Leland Sklar – bass
• Russ Kunkel – drums, congas, tambourine, cabasa, cowbell, small cymbals
• The Memphis Horns- horns
• Andrew Love- tenor saxophone
• Wayne Jackson- trumpet
• Gail Haness – backing vocals
• Steven Edney- backing vocals
• Joni Mitchell- backing vocals
• Kate Taylor- backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by James Taylor, except where noted.

1. Love Has Brought Me Around
2. You’ve Got a Friend – Carole King
3. Places in My Past
4. Riding on a Railroad
5. Soldiers
6. Mud Slide Slim
7. Hey Mister, That’s Me up on the Jukebox
8. You Can Close Your Eyes
9. Machine Gun Kelly – Danny Kortchmar
10. Long Ago and Far Away
11. Let Me Ride
12. Highway Song
13. Isn’t It Nice to Be Home Again