For the Vernons- Some Backstory
Brushes With Two of the Taylor Boys

As I was pulling together For The Vernons, I reminisced about my brushes with brothers James and  Livingston Taylor.

The Guitar Regift

I’ve been a huge admirer of James Vernon Taylor ever since he released his monster album, Sweet Baby James in 1970. I’ve entertained myself and a few others with my covers of many of his songs on guitar and piano for over 50 years.  I’m in awe of his talent and energy to continue to churn out great music and tour well into his 8^th decade. 

I’m also a little jealous of my Swiss nephew, Leo Butie.  Several years ago, Leo gave me back guitar I had given him the year before, but now bearing the signature of James Taylor.  Leo told the story:

Our family went to a concert in Lucerne six months ago to see James Taylor.  My mother told me how much you love him, so I brought the guitar with me to the concert.  He isn’t as well known in Switzerland and during the intermission he just hung out on stage and a few people from the audience came up and talked to him.  He was really cool with it.  So I waited in the back and, when the crowd thinned, I went up to him with the guitar and asked if he would sign it.  I told him my uncle in San Diego was a huge fan and I was doing this for him.  James said
‘Sure, what’s your uncle’s name?’”  He wrote on the guitar with Leo’s black
Sharpie “4 Casey James Taylor.”

That was in 2008, and that guitar remains one of my most cherished possessions that I proudly display on the wall of my office.   Our son, James, “Jimmy,” summed it up well, “That took a lot of balls.”

I couldn’t believe it–Leo actually spoke with James Taylor!  

Going Round One More Time

My first close encounter with a Taylor took place twenty years earlier.  

With James’ younger brother, Livingston Taylor.

I’ve been as big an admirer of Livingston’s work, also born in 1950 like me, as I am of his older brother’s.   One of my all-time favorites songs of his is “Going Round One More Time,” that appeared on Livingston’s “Three Way Mirror” album released in 1978.    I’ve sung that song at least 1,000 times.   I even sang it acapella in 2015 on the stage of a packed house at the amphitheater in Ephesus Turkey built in the 3^rd Century B.C.  “Packed” if you count the 50 or so Chinese tourists who wandered into the venue, curious why this tall, pale, white, old man was singing at the top of his lungs.   I did get a standing ovation, mainly because they never sat down. 

My wife Hilary and our touring friends were slightly embarrassed.  I say “slightly” because they’ve seen this “show” before.  

In August of 1988, we read that Livingston was going to perform at the Belly Up Tavern, a small, intimate venue in our hometown of Solana Beach.   Of course we had to go.   Livingston was very relaxed and engaging with the 200 or so in the audience.  He played some songs on the piano, including another one of my favorites, “Longing For Your Loving Arms Again.”

Switching to acoustic guitar, Livingston played other hits including “Carolina On My Mind,” “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” and “One of the Things I Do So Well.”  He then launched into “Going Round One More Time.”   For some reason, he left out a verse and a refrain of the chorus.  As far as what happened next, John D’Augustino, a writer for the San Diego Union Tribune who reviewed the show, had this to say. 

“Another indication of Taylor’s egoless style came when his abbreviated rendition of a song brought a protest from a male fan who loudly demanded the complete version.

“’Why don’t you sing it?’ teased a grinning Taylor as he began to finger-pick the chords.  To everyone’s surprise, the man—still seated in the audience—sang two verses and the choruses and got one of the biggest ovations of the night for his trouble. 

“‘The wrong man’s been recording my albums,’ laughed a sheepish Taylor.”

Soon after I started singing, Livingston joined in—and propped me up—and we sang the entire song together with him weaving in some really nice harmonies.

A lifetime memory for sure.   Here is a link to Livingston performing “Going Round One More Time” on his podcast a few years ago.