{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Classic Songs | type = compilation | artist = James Taylor | cover = Album Classic Songs.jpg | alt = | released = {{Start date|1987}} | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = Soft rock, folk rock | length = {{Duration|m=58|s=12}} | label = CBS/WEA | producer = | prev_title = That's Why I'm Here | prev_year = 1985 | next_title = Never Die Young | next_year = 1988 }} {{Music ratings |rev1 = Allmusic.com |rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/album/classic-songs-r209111 Allmusic.com review]</ref> |rev2 = ''Encyclopedia of Popular Music'' |rev2Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|author-link=Colin Larkin|title=Encyclopedia of Popular Music|year=2007|publisher=Oxford University Press|edition=4th|isbn=978-0195313734|title-link=Encyclopedia of Popular Music}}</ref> }}<!-- Automatically generated by DASHBot-->

'''''Classic Songs''''' is the second compilation album by James Taylor. Only available in Europe it was, for a long time, the only compilation album to feature original versions of Taylor's classics. It spanned from his original work to his ''That's Why I'm Here'' album from 1985.<ref>{{cite web|last=Woodstra |first=Chris |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/classic-songs-r209111 |title=Classic Songs - James Taylor |publisher=AllMusic |date= |accessdate=2012-02-09}}</ref>

== Track listing ==

{{Track listing | headline = Side one | all_writing = James Taylor, except where noted | extra_column = Original release | title1 = Fire and Rain | extra1 = ''Sweet Baby James'', 1970 | length1 = 3:25 | title2 = Mexico | extra2 = ''Gorilla'', 1975 | length2 = 3:00 | title3 = How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You) | writer3 = Holland–Dozier–Holland | extra3 = ''Gorilla'' | length3 = 3:36 | title4 = You've Got a Friend | writer4 = Carole King | extra4 = ''Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon'', 1971 | length4 = 4:30 | title5 = Carolina in My Mind | extra5 = ''Greatest Hits'', 1976 | length5 = 4:00 | title6 = Something in the Way She Moves | extra6 = ''Greatest Hits'' | length6 = 3:09 | title7 = Shower the People | extra7 = ''In the Pocket'', 1976 | length7 = 4:32 | title8 = Sweet Baby James | extra8 = ''Sweet Baby James'' | length8 = 2:52 | total_length = 29:04 }}

{{Track listing | headline = Side two | extra_column = Original release | title1 = That's Why I'm Here | extra1 = ''That's Why I'm Here'', 1985 | length1 = 3:38 | title2 = Everyday | writer2 = {{hlist|Buddy Holly|Norman Petty}} | extra2 = ''That's Why I'm Here'' | length2 = 3:12 | title3 = Up on the Roof | writer3 = {{hlist|Gerry Goffin|King}} | extra3 = ''Flag'', 1979 | length3 = 4:20 | title4 = Your Smiling Face | extra4 = ''JT'', 1977 | length4 = 2:42 | title5 = Her Town Too | writer5 = {{hlist|Taylor|JD Souther|Waddy Watchel}} | extra5 = ''Dad Loves His Work'', 1981 | length5 = 4:25 | title6 = Handy Man | writer6 = {{hlist|Otis Blackwell|Jimmy Jones}} | extra6 = ''JT'' | length6 = 3:17 | title7 = Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight | extra7 = ''One Man Dog'', 1972 | length7 = 2:36 | title8 = Only a Dream in Rio | extra8 = ''That's Why I'm Here'' | length8 = 4:58 | total_length = 29:08 }}

==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Chart performance for ''Classic Songs'' ! scope="col"| Chart (1987–1989) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{album chart|Australia|48|artist=James Taylor|album=Classic Songs|rowheader=true|access-date=October 20, 2022}} |- {{album chart|UK2|53|date=19870405|rowheader=true|access-date=October 20, 2022}} |}

==Certifications== {{certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for ''Classic Songs''}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=album |region=United Kingdom|artist=James Taylor |title=Classic Songs|award=Silver|relyear=1987|certyear=2013|certmonth=7|id=9059-2532-2|accessdate=September 11, 2022}} {{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{James Taylor}} {{Authority control}}

Category:1987 greatest hits albums Category:James Taylor compilation albums Category:Warner Records compilation albums