Makes you think.

Kim Triolo Feil James Michael Taylor that's a fantastic story and a very lovely song

California has a chorus that camouflages the dramatic irony of the verse narrative. If it weren’t for the unusual intro, it’d seem zirconium. Christopher Youngblood

Circle of No Regrets sounds quaint. That’s what makes it hit. Unless you turn your ears on, it’s a boring song, but once you do, it’s hard to take. It’s almost like you’re giving the audience an option. Christopher Youngblood

I wrote to my children, my answer. I told the how I watched them thru the window and enjoyed them in ways they never knew. How seeing them learn and succeed at their efforts was such pleasure to me. How discovering who they were by the talents and generosity they exhibited made me happy...The first response I got was from Embyr, now a registered nurse, mother of 4, just said, "Jim, you were mean."

Sat 11:38 PM Christopher sent Yesterday at 11:38 PM I listened to Kite a bunch of times, trying to think how it could be improved (it can’t be), and it occurred to me that Ben Franklin flew a key. That part of the story had never occurred to me as important before. But it’s like he was trying to unlock something. Maybe he tried it on a clear day and let the kite rise to where he couldn’t see it. That’d be a different experiment altogether. Christopher Youngblood

Love the piano. Love the brevity, and the words themselves. Love "voice like confetti"! I get more about her story from the music itself. The words set it up beautifully. But the music, the back up, the energy had me seeing those waves, and sensing the sleeping fish beneath! Love the "tip" of another story, her buying l ip gloss in NYC. Love that that is all that you gave. Seen by Gwyn at 12:20 PM Gwyn Henry

"Love this! That last verse... ummm hmmmmm." Gwyn Henry

Sure is some good listening .....

Ah! The history in discarded things. I see the similarity with my "his name in a book". I hope the couch found a new home (and the mouse..). Nice to have the words to read too, I hadn't thought of doing that.

"Unbelievable..., unbuckled my jaw." Christopher Youngblood

Good gawd, this song still makes me cry, every time I hear it... and I have listened to this song for years. Good gawd, what a great song. You do know, old friend, that on most of your songs, I love your voice; but this song cries out for someone who is a true vocalist.

Gwyn Henry Again...poetry!! Love this. Can relate to the discoveries under the couch!!

I've always said, The best compliment I can give a poet or a songwriter is... "Damn, I wish I had written that!" Damn, ol' son... I had forgotten what a great gut punch of a song this one is. I wish I had written it! But then again, if I had written it, then not only would no one else have had the chance to hear and appreciate how damn good it really is... but I too would never have had the pleasure myself. Old friend, you are one hell of an artist.

Pake Rossi James Michael Taylor this is one of my favorite of your songs!

A JMT musical Haiku! Love it!

I'm not sure I want to know where you came up with this... :) acoustic57 My song "Down By The Sea" is from spending time at the beach with my wife. So, yes, it is pretty much real :)

Hey, cool. Makes you feel young again :). acoustic57

Nice song James. Great vocals. Reminds me a lot of CSNY. from acoustic57 :)

Carolyn Wade 60 Years later?? This is a good song. Love the lyrics, the music fits the words.

Bruce Balmer I like the parallel sixths in the backing vocals.

Tim Tandy Hickory Stix has always captivated me. Dang, I gotta start getting out to open mics again. Might even get the chance to sing that high harmony on the "oohs!"

Rose Jeffus - I agree. (with Lane. "I declare this album your #1 compilation."

Watermelon Wind is a good one too. Really inspiring images Lazarus Knight

Yes, it is obvious to anyone who actually listens to follow the story. The killer line ... the picture that finishes breaking what's left of the listener's heart is "but Jimmy bought the yearbook, and he hold it now and then". Lazarus Knight

brush up on "Lest night I said goodbye to Rose" I know that's not exactly the title, but I think many people would like that song like I do. Lazareth Knight

Oh Jimmy rings of a certain kind of pain that you've captured perfectly. Lazarath Knight.

Lane Beauvais By the power invested in me, I declare this album your #1 compilation.

I was talking about the Wight Hotel, directly across the street from The White Elephant. The things you mention were going on when The Beer Garden 1st took over that rat hole between the Elephant and the steak house.

Tim Tandy This one really grabs me, Jim. I enjoy the "play like" aspect of the Stockyards District today, but I KNOW what was real and what wasn't. When I grew up in East Fort Worth in the 50's thru the 70's, the Stockyards were a working affair. Everyone downwind got the dust and rancid odors that were a mixture of cattle manure, blood and guts, and rendered fat. Get up close, and you added in the panicked sounds of cattle going up the ramps to slaughter. The buildings along E and W Exchange were mostly delapidated flop-houses, and I recall there were usually destitute men in soiled undershirts leaning out the upstairs windows smoking cigarettes and taking it all in. When the slaughterhouses shut down and the development folks took over, they neatly "packed up" the ambience of the historical "Hell's Half Acre" - gambling halls, saloons, cheap hotels, bordello's and the site of gunfights such as the famous Luke Short/Jim Courtright affair - which had been razed in the 60's and replaced with the Water Gardens and Convention Center as an act of "urban renewal", and "relocated" them to the Stockyards. I really don't object to all of it, but just wish they were a bit more open about what's shit and what's Shinola, ya know? All the tourists crowd E Exhange at the appointed hour and hoot and holler and excitedly REAL Wild West every day when the "cattle drive" occurs. Oh, well, as Bruce Willis' character in "Die Hard" liked to say, "Yippi-ki-yay, MF!"

Sad, and that was 11 years ago. How does it feel now ... like more of the same? It seems to me like your not just accepted but held in high esteem at the places where I've seen you perform. Lazarus Knight

Terry Rasor I remember those daze Michael, y’all were awesome and I’m glad and proud to have known you all and have you at my Raz On The Braz festival so many years ago! Love ya my friend!

Roland Brown Sorry to hear about Barbara. Texas Water was as good as you say. I’m thinking about adding “I’ll Be Glad to Let You Love Me” to our band’s set list.

Joe Brunelle - I like this, Jim

Lazarus Knight That's a really good song. It resonates with truth.

Tim Tandy Brilliantly haunting! Like a character in a Hank Williams song, you're telling a poignant, sad story, but NOT seeking pity.

"Wow, beautiful." Ken McIntyre

I like that a lot. Its a fresh perspective. Lazareth Knight

Gwyn -Verrrrry nice! PS: I listened to the "shorts" you sent me while sitting in the car waiting for Greg to pick up some groceries. I think you have invented a new artform with these shorts: Haiku Songs! I really loved them. I laughed a lot, and that's a compliment!

Laurie Callinan ...beautiful heartbreaking song.