''Dad Loves His Work'' is the tenth studio album by

James Taylor James Vernon Taylor (born March 12, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A six-time Grammy Award winner, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. Taylor achieved his breakthrough in 1970 with the single "Fi ...

, released in 1981. The album includes the duet with JD Souther titled " Her Town Too", which peaked at number 11 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and number 5 on the ''Billboard'' Adult Contemporary chart. The album was certified Platinum in the United States. It was his first album without any covers.

Background

The album's title was a response by Taylor to then-wife

Carly Simon Carly Elisabeth Simon (born June 25, 1943) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and author. She rose to fame in the 1970s with a string of hit records; her 13 Billboard Hot 100, top 40 U.S. hits include "Anticipation (song), Anticipatio ...

, who had issued an ultimatum to Taylor regarding his constant touring, leaving her home with their two children, Benjamin and Sally. Simon informed Taylor in 1980 that unless he curtailed his schedule to be home more with his family, that she would divorce him. Shortly before the album's release, the pair separated, officially dissolving their 11-year marriage in 1983. Taylor, who was still struggling with a lengthy history of drug abuse, later admitted that he was ill-equipped to be a family man at that time in his life and put his career before his family.

Critical reception

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. The magazine was first known fo ...

'' wrote that "the tunes are simple and memorable—you can sing along with most of them after two listens."

Track listing

All songs by

unless otherwise noted. ;Side one #" Hard Times" – 3:13 #" Her Town Too" (Duet with JD Souther) (Taylor, JD Souther, Waddy Wachtel) – 4:34 #"Hour That the Morning Comes" – 2:56 #"I Will Follow" – 4:19 #"Believe It or Not" – 3:53 ;Side two #

"Stand and Fight" (Taylor, Jacob Brackman) – 3:10 #"Only for Me" – 4:55 #"Summer's Here" – 2:43 #"Sugar Trade" (Taylor,

Jimmy Buffett James William Buffett (December 25, 1946 – September 1, 2023) was an American singer-songwriter, author, and businessman. He was known for his tropical rock sound and persona, which often portrayed a lifestyle described as "island escapis ...

, Timothy Mayer) – 2:48 #"London Town" – 3:56 #"That Lonesome Road" (Taylor, Don Grolnick) – 2:22

Personnel

– lead vocals, acoustic guitar (3–10), bass harmonica (9) * Bill Cuomo – synthesizers (1, 4) * Don Grolnick – acoustic piano (1, 3, 5, 10, 11), organ (1–3, 7–9),

Fender Rhodes The Rhodes piano (also known as the Fender Rhodes piano) is an electric piano invented by Harold Rhodes, which became popular in the 1970s. Like a conventional piano, the Rhodes generates sound with keys and hammers, but instead of strings, t ...

(2, 5, 8, 10), keyboards (4) * Dan Dugmore – electric guitar (1–3, 6–8, 10), pedal steel guitar (4, 5) * Waddy Wachtel – electric guitar (1, 4–8, 10), guitar solo (1), acoustic guitar (2),

slide guitar Slide guitar is a technique for playing the guitar that is often used in blues music. It involves playing a guitar while holding a hard object (a slide) against the strings, creating the opportunity for glissando effects and deep vibratos that ...

(3) *

Leland Sklar Leland Bruce Sklar (born May 28, 1947) is an American bassist and session musician. He rose to prominence as a member of James Taylor's backing band, which coalesced into a group in its own right, The Section, which supported so many of Asylu ...

– bass (1–10) * Rick Marotta – drums (1–8, 10), congas (1), percussion (5, 6), timbales (8) * Peter Asher – percussion (6, 7), shaker (8) * Greg "Fingers" Taylor –

harmonica The harmonica, also known as a French harp or mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used worldwide in many musical genres, notably in blues, American folk music, classical music, jazz, country, and rock. The many types of harmonica incl ...

(6, 8, 10) * Gene Page – string arrangements and conductor (2) * David Lasley – backing vocals (1, 4, 6, 7, 10) * Arnold McCuller – backing vocals (1, 4, 6, 7, 10) * JD Souther – harmony vocals (2) Choir on "That Lonesome Road" * Peter Asher * Jim Gilstrap * Bernard Ighner * David Lasley * Arnold McCuller * James Taylor * Jennifer Warnes

Production

* Producer – Peter Asher * Engineer – Val Garay * Assistant Engineer – Niko Bolas * Recorded at

Record One Record One is a recording studio complex in the Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, Sherman Oaks neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Originally founded in 1979, the studio has been the site of numerous commercially successful and award-winning record ...

(Los Angeles, CA). * Piano and Keyboard Technician – Edd Kolakowski * Mastered by Doug Sax and Mike Reese at The Mastering Lab (Hollywood, CA). * Photography – Aaron Rapoport * Art Direction and Design – John Kosh

Charts

Notes

{{Authority control 1981 albums James Taylor albums Albums produced by Peter Asher Columbia Records albums Legacy Recordings albums