James Taylor, in summer twilight, plays the lovely fingerpicked intro to Fire and Rain, a song he has been performing for decades – and the crowd cheers in recognition of a classic. But does the 78-year-old still feel those old songs? He sings them beautifully in his lulling baritone, but perhaps they no longer lift and soothe his heart quite like they do ours. Is the man on stage in front of Edinburgh Castle now just a heritage act at a heritage site?
There is evidence for the prosecution. His live show has a slick professionalism that at times shades into tedium. The 11-piece backing band, including four backing vocalists, is packed with veteran sidemen whose smooth virtuosity can sound bloodless. As a result, the set’s better songs are generally those with spare instrumentation. Millworker has an austerity that suits its subject, the soul-crushing exploitation of labour. Taylor’s voice shines in its simple setting – a violin drone and martial beat.
