"Knocking 'Round the Zoo" is a song written by James Taylor that was originally released on his 1968 debut album on Apple Records. He had previously recorded the song in 1966 with his band the Flying Machine, but that recording was not released until 1971 on James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine. It was also released by Apple as a single in France (APF 506), backed with "Something's Wrong." "Knocking 'Round the Zoo" and "Something in the Way She Moves" were included on the demo tape that Taylor sent producer Peter Asher that convinced him to sign Taylor to Apple.[1]
Allmusic critic Lindsay Planer describes "Knocking 'Round the Zoo" as a "pseudo-blues."[2] The lyrics were inspired by Taylor's stay at the psychiatric facilityMcLean Hospital.[3][4] In the first verse of the song, Taylor sings that "There's bars on all the windows and they're countin' up the spoons."[5] In actuality, McLean had 2000 pound security screens on the windows rather than bars, but they did use special utensils and count all the metal after each meal.[5][6] The verse goes on to state that "if I'm feeling edgy there's a chick who's paid to be my slave/And she'll hit me with a needle if she thinks I'm trying to misbehave."[7] In the second verse, Taylor further sings of his anger towards the workers at McLean.[5] In the third verse, Taylor sings of how he felt ostracized at McLean with lines such as "Now my friends all come to see me/They point at me and stare."[3][8] According to the editors of Time, "Taylor adds a chilling descant of bedlamite sounds" to this verse.[8]Rolling Stone critic Timothy Crouse describes the song's drum beat as "sinister" and its guitar playing as "nervous," stating that this reflects the "anger and impatience" Taylor felt at McLean.[5]
Rolling Stone Album Guide critic Mark Coleman considers "Knocking 'Round the Zoo" a "highlight" of James Taylor, describing it as "kicky" and saying that it predicted the path Taylor would take in future recordings.[9]Time praises its "witty, riffy musical irony."[8]Rolling Stone critic Jon Landau says that it "combines a subdued sense of humor with more naturalism."[6] Taylor biographer Timothy White criticizes the "ponderous" prelude on string instruments that arranger Richard Hewson prepended to the song on the James Taylor album.[4]Rolling Stone writer Jules Siegel criticized the song for sounding like "a sado-masochistic fantasy."[10] Siegel suggested that Taylor was making himself out to be an aristocrat and still in control despite being in a mental hospital, with "a female attendant paid to be his slave."[10] Siegel also criticizes the line about the attendant hitting him with a needle.[10] Author Ian Helperin criticizes the compact disc release of James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine for revising the instrumentation.[3]
References
^Browne, D. (2012). Fire and Rain: The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, James Taylor, CSNY, and the Bittersweet Story Of 1970. Da Capo Press. ISBN9780306822131.
^Planer, L. "James Taylor". Allmusic. Retrieved 2014-07-03.
^ abcHalperin, I. (2003). Fire and Rain. Citadel Press. pp. 48–49, 126. ISBN0806523484.
^ abWhite, T. (2009). Long Ago And Far Away: James Taylor - His Life And Music. Omnibus Press. pp. 118, 229, 138. ISBN9780857120069.
^McCarthy Bartlett, M. (2011). Loving the Tasmanian Devil: Reflections on Marriage and Asperger Syndrome. AAPC Publishing. pp. 293–294. ISBN9781934575819.
^ abc"James Taylor: One Man's Family of Rock". Time. March 1, 1971. pp. 45–53.
^ abcThompson, D. (2012). Hearts of Darkness: James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Cat Stevens, and the Unlikely Rise of the Singer-Songwriter. Backbeat Books. ISBN9781458471390.
January 20, 2023
knocking, round, song, written, james, taylor, that, originally, released, 1968, debut, album, apple, records, previously, recorded, song, 1966, with, band, flying, machine, that, recording, released, until, 1971, james, taylor, original, flying, machine, also. Knocking Round the Zoo is a song written by James Taylor that was originally released on his 1968 debut album on Apple Records He had previously recorded the song in 1966 with his band the Flying Machine but that recording was not released until 1971 on James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine It was also released by Apple as a single in France APF 506 backed with Something s Wrong Knocking Round the Zoo and Something in the Way She Moves were included on the demo tape that Taylor sent producer Peter Asher that convinced him to sign Taylor to Apple 1 Knocking Round the Zoo Single by James Taylorfrom the album James TaylorB side Something s Wrong Released1969Recorded1968GenreFolk RockLength3 26LabelApple APF 506 Songwriter s James TaylorProducer s Peter AsherJames Taylor singles chronology Carolina in My Mind 1969 Knocking Round the Zoo 1969 Sweet Baby James 1970 Allmusic critic Lindsay Planer describes Knocking Round the Zoo as a pseudo blues 2 The lyrics were inspired by Taylor s stay at the psychiatric facility McLean Hospital 3 4 In the first verse of the song Taylor sings that There s bars on all the windows and they re countin up the spoons 5 In actuality McLean had 2000 pound security screens on the windows rather than bars but they did use special utensils and count all the metal after each meal 5 6 The verse goes on to state that if I m feeling edgy there s a chick who s paid to be my slave And she ll hit me with a needle if she thinks I m trying to misbehave 7 In the second verse Taylor further sings of his anger towards the workers at McLean 5 In the third verse Taylor sings of how he felt ostracized at McLean with lines such as Now my friends all come to see me They point at me and stare 3 8 According to the editors of Time Taylor adds a chilling descant of bedlamite sounds to this verse 8 Rolling Stone critic Timothy Crouse describes the song s drum beat as sinister and its guitar playing as nervous stating that this reflects the anger and impatience Taylor felt at McLean 5 Rolling Stone Album Guide critic Mark Coleman considers Knocking Round the Zoo a highlight of James Taylor describing it as kicky and saying that it predicted the path Taylor would take in future recordings 9 Time praises its witty riffy musical irony 8 Rolling Stone critic Jon Landau says that it combines a subdued sense of humor with more naturalism 6 Taylor biographer Timothy White criticizes the ponderous prelude on string instruments that arranger Richard Hewson prepended to the song on the James Taylor album 4 Rolling Stone writer Jules Siegel criticized the song for sounding like a sado masochistic fantasy 10 Siegel suggested that Taylor was making himself out to be an aristocrat and still in control despite being in a mental hospital with a female attendant paid to be his slave 10 Siegel also criticizes the line about the attendant hitting him with a needle 10 Author Ian Helperin criticizes the compact disc release of James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine for revising the instrumentation 3 References Edit Browne D 2012 Fire and Rain The Beatles Simon and Garfunkel James Taylor CSNY and the Bittersweet Story Of 1970 Da Capo Press ISBN 9780306822131 Planer L James Taylor Allmusic Retrieved 2014 07 03 a b c Halperin I 2003 Fire and Rain Citadel Press pp 48 49 126 ISBN 0806523484 a b White T 2009 Long Ago And Far Away James Taylor His Life And Music Omnibus Press pp 118 229 138 ISBN 9780857120069 a b c d Crouse T February 18 1971 The First Family of the New Rock Rolling Stone pp 34 37 a b Landau J April 19 1969 James Taylor Rolling Stone Retrieved 2014 07 03 McCarthy Bartlett M 2011 Loving the Tasmanian Devil Reflections on Marriage and Asperger Syndrome AAPC Publishing pp 293 294 ISBN 9781934575819 a b c James Taylor One Man s Family of Rock Time March 1 1971 pp 45 53 Coleman M 1992 DeCurtis A Henke J George Warren H eds The Rolling Stone Album Guide 3rd ed Straight Arrow Publishers p 293 ISBN 0679737294 a b c Thompson D 2012 Hearts of Darkness James Taylor Jackson Browne Cat Stevens and the Unlikely Rise of the Singer Songwriter Backbeat Books ISBN 9781458471390 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Knocking 27Round the Zoo amp oldid 1003443020, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
