The Troubadour is a highly regarded music venue located in West Hollywood, California that was opened by Doug Weston in 1957. This venue was so important in giving major exposure to folk music and singer-songwriters in the 1960’s. The Troubadour opened up many opportunites for artists such as Elton John, Eagles, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, and many others. However, nothing lasts forever and The Troubadour eventually lost the magic that it once had.
James Taylor and Carole King were monumental artists of the time and some of the best to come out of The Troubadour. James Taylor is an amazing folk singer-songwriter highly respected for his intricate guitar work and honest lyrics, while Carole King is a master of the piano and has written so many hit songs. For the venue’s 50th anniversary, the two decided to have a show at The Troubadour to give modern listeners a taste of the magic that once existed there. This was such a special concert because this venue is the first place that King and Taylor played at together and there’s just so much history and so much talent that has been made there.
“Live at the Troubadour” is a live album by Carole King and James Taylor and was recorded right at The Troubadour in West Hollywood in 2007 and was released in 2010. Shortly after, King and Taylor announced that they would do a “Troubadour Reunion” tour in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and North America. The live album reached number four in the United States within the first week of sales. This accomplishment is huge because it gives James Taylor a top 10 album in very decade since the 1970’s and Carole King her first top 10 since 1976. The album contains hits from both Carole King and James Taylor including songs like “Blossom”, “So Far Away”, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow”, “Country Road”, and “You’ve Got a Friend”. Basically, it’s a greatest hits album played live so that the listener can truly feel a part of the music.
This album is a great collection of timeless music played live by the very artists who created the songs and most importantly, it pays homage to one of the greatest music venues of our time.
