Flag (James Taylor album)


Flag is the ninth studio album by American singer-songwriter James Taylor released on May 1, 1979. The album included songs from Taylor's music score to Stephen Schwartz's Broadway musical, Working, based on the book by Studs Terkel.
The album was not well received, but it did provide a hit in Taylor's cover version of the Gerry Goffin–Carole King composition "Up on the Roof".
"Rainy Day Man", which first appeared on Taylor's self-titled debut album, was re-recorded.
The signal flag that makes up the cover of the album is a modified form of "O ", standing for man overboard.
On the May 12, 1979, episode of Saturday Night Live, Taylor was the musical guest, and performed three songs from the album, "Up on the Roof", "Millworker", and "Johnnie Comes Back".

Critical reception

The New York Times wrote that Taylor's "vulnerable tenor and the glossy production Peter Asher gives his record conspire to court blandness."

Track listing

All songs by James Taylor unless otherwise noted.
Side one
  1. "Company Man" – 3:47
  2. "Johnnie Comes Back" – 3:55
  3. "Day Tripper" – 4:25
  4. "I Will Not Lie for You" – 3:16
  5. "Brother Trucker" – 4:01
  6. "Is That the Way You Look?" – 1:59
Side two
  1. "B.S.U.R. " – 3:23
  2. "Rainy Day Man" – 3:02
  3. "Millworker" – 3:52
  4. "Up on the Roof" – 4:21
  5. "Chanson Française" – 2:05
  6. "Sleep Come Free Me" – 4:43

Personnel

Production