Audible Book Review: Break Shot: My First 21 Years, An Audio Memoir, by James Taylor

I was surprised by this history of James Taylor's early years.
Break Shot: My First 21 Years
An Audio Memoir
By: James Taylor
Narrated by: James Taylor

Length: 1 hr and 33 mins
Release date: 01-31-20
Publisher: Audible Originals
Categories: Arts & Entertainment, Memoir, Music
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

About This Audible Original
"I’m James Taylor and I’m a professional autobiographer," says the celebrated folk singer at the start of this tender audio memoir. Through decades of music by one of the best-selling musicians of all time, who created classics like "Fire and Rain" and "Carolina in My Mind," James Taylor has doled out his history in the poetry of his work. Taylor says his early life is, "the source of many of my songs," and Break Shot is a tour of his first 21 years in rich, new detail. Praised by Forbes magazine as going "beyond the spoken word," Break Shot combines storytelling, music and performance to create a one-of-a-kind listening experience. Longtime fans will savor a crop of musical gems, including an unreleased recording of the beloved hymn "Jerusalem," selections from his newest release American Standard, as well as new original scoring by Taylor specially recorded for Break Shot and more from the Grammy Award-winning artist.
Recorded in his home studio, TheBarn in western Massachusetts, Taylor tells the deeply personal story of his youth, which is entwined with the story of his family. What started as an idyllic tight unit soon became a family sent to different emotional corners—like a break shot in the game of pool, he says, when you slam the cue ball into the fifteen other balls and they all go flying off. By the time Taylor released his breakout second album in 1970, Sweet Baby James, he had seen the disintegration of his parents’ marriage and his family crumble in the aftermath. He had committed himself twice to a psychiatric hospital, battled depression, a heroin addiction, suffered a relapse, and traveled far away from the wood smoke and moonshine of the North Carolina landscapes in which he came of age. Despite it all, he was also on the cusp of superstardom and on his way to bringing light and joy to millions. He was 21.
Journey with James Taylor to a time before he became a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors and both the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the National Medal of Arts—and a beloved voice to millions.
© 2019 James Taylor (P) 2020 AO Media LLC

Review:
James Taylor, born in 1948, is a renowned musician/songwriter who is only a few years older than me. I enjoy many of his songs when I was young, and still do today. I was totally surprised that this prolific songwriter suffered mental illness during his teen years. I enjoyed that he shared his family struggles openly and frankly. He acknowledged that he got involved with drugs early on and had to seek help more than once… all before the age of 21. Taylor thanked several friends and musicians who helped him begin his career, including a visit with the Beetles. He also explained how personal events and relationships contributed to the songs he was writing. It was interesting that Taylor reveals the humanity and fragility that provided inspiration for his music.

I agree that Fire and Rain is a ‘classic’ and I was pleased when the song was shared at the end of the book. This is a quick listen, narrated by the author which provided more authenticity. I did enjoy what was shared but I would have liked more lyrics in the piece. There were several sections of music without lyrics which were nice but not as meaningful for me. I recommend this to those of the era and to those who enjoy learning about the background of an American songwriter.

Source: 2/10/2020 Extra Free Audible Original. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook, and 2021Alphabet goals.