My first exposure to James Taylor – drinking wine with my Upstage Downstage youth drama buddies in a bedroom in Portrush. I was completely smitten with the images of departure and homecoming, sunshine and long dusty roads. ‘I’m the one-eyed seed of a tumbleweed, in the belly of a rolling stone’. I also loved the sound the record made – warm and woody, unshowy and real. It's still a Sunday morning favourite. James has put out some amazing songs since then, but this one still feels like the most consistent body of work. And I find myself back in that bedroom with the candles glimmering every now and then. Metaphorically speaking, of course...