Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Never Die Young is the twelfth studio album by singer-songwriter James Taylor released in 1988, three years after his previous effort, That's Why I'm Here. The album reached No. 25 on the Billboard 200 and eventually was certified Platinum by the RIAA. It features the title track, which peaked at No. 80 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the only charting single from the album.
Cash Box said of the title track that the "lyrics are, as always, a dazzling string of pearls that mesmerize your heart while the musical feel covers you like a warm breeze." Cash Box said of "Baby Boom Baby" that "Taylor again defines the agonizingly beautiful attainment of everything and really nothing at all, life's passage and passing." Cash Box said of "Sweet Potato Pie" that it contains "smooth yet deceptively deep material."
James Taylor sings "Sweet Potato Pie" as a duet with Ray Charles on Charles' 2004 Grammy Winning album Genius Loves Company.
Personnel
James Taylor – lead vocals, guitars
Don Grolnick – keyboards
Clifford Carter – synthesizer programming
Robbie Kilgore – synthesizer programming
Bill Payne – synthesizers (2, 4)
Bob Mann – guitars
Jeff Mironov – additional guitars (2, 6)
Dan Dugmore – banjo, pedal steel guitar
Leland Sklar – bass guitar (1–4, 6–10)
Jay Leonhart – acoustic bass (5)
Carlos Vega – drums, percussion
"Cafe" Edison A. da Silva – percussion (10)
Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone (2, 3)
Mark O'Connor – violin (4, 5)
Greg "Fingers" Taylor – harmonica (8)
Rosemary Butler – backing vocals
Arnold McCuller – backing vocals
Lani Groves – additional backing vocals (1, 6, 10)
David Lasley – additional backing vocals (1, 6, 10)
Gretsch - 14x20, 8x10, 9x13, 16x16
Ludwig Black Beauty - 6.5x14
Paiste - 15" Giant Beat Hi Hats, 12" splash, 16" 2002 Thin Crash (2), 22” Big Beat, 20" 505 Crash, 18" 2002 Crash, LP Salsa Cowbell
Avenir WackStack Alloy Clap Effect Cymbal Stack 11/13/15
Logic Pro X
Focusrite 18i20
Behringer ADA 8200
Seventh Circle Audio Preamps (J-99 (2), N-72, A-12)
Now available Earldrum's Spring Store
https://my-store-d51346.creator-sprin...
Please check out my series on how to make a drum cover in this playlist
• How I Make A Drum Cover (Series)
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
No Copyright Infringement Intended. All copyrighted material remains the property of the respective copyright owner(s).
Never Die Young is the twelfth studio album by singer-songwriter James Taylor released in 1988, three years after his previous effort, That's Why I'm Here. The album reached No. 25 on the Billboard 200 and eventually was certified Platinum by the RIAA. It features the title track, which peaked at No. 80 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the only charting single from the album.
Cash Box said of the title track that the "lyrics are, as always, a dazzling string of pearls that mesmerize your heart while the musical feel covers you like a warm breeze." Cash Box said of "Baby Boom Baby" that "Taylor again defines the agonizingly beautiful attainment of everything and really nothing at all, life's passage and passing." Cash Box said of "Sweet Potato Pie" that it contains "smooth yet deceptively deep material."
James Taylor sings "Sweet Potato Pie" as a duet with Ray Charles on Charles' 2004 Grammy Winning album Genius Loves Company.
Personnel
James Taylor – lead vocals, guitars
Don Grolnick – keyboards
Clifford Carter – synthesizer programming
Robbie Kilgore – synthesizer programming
Bill Payne – synthesizers (2, 4)
Bob Mann – guitars
Jeff Mironov – additional guitars (2, 6)
Dan Dugmore – banjo, pedal steel guitar
Leland Sklar – bass guitar (1–4, 6–10)
Jay Leonhart – acoustic bass (5)
Carlos Vega – drums, percussion
"Cafe" Edison A. da Silva – percussion (10)
Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone (2, 3)
Mark O'Connor – violin (4, 5)
Greg "Fingers" Taylor – harmonica (8)
Rosemary Butler – backing vocals
Arnold McCuller – backing vocals
Lani Groves – additional backing vocals (1, 6, 10)
David Lasley – additional backing vocals (1, 6, 10)
Gretsch - 14x20, 8x10, 9x13, 16x16
Ludwig Black Beauty - 6.5x14
Paiste - 15" Giant Beat Hi Hats, 12" splash, 16" 2002 Thin Crash (2), 22” Big Beat, 20" 505 Crash, 18" 2002 Crash, LP Salsa Cowbell
Avenir WackStack Alloy Clap Effect Cymbal Stack 11/13/15
Logic Pro X
Focusrite 18i20
Behringer ADA 8200
Seventh Circle Audio Preamps (J-99 (2), N-72, A-12)
Now available Earldrum's Spring Store
https://my-store-d51346.creator-sprin...
Please check out my series on how to make a drum cover in this playlist
• How I Make A Drum Cover (Series)
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
No Copyright Infringement Intended. All copyrighted material remains the property of the respective copyright owner(s).
