It is a bit of a weird phenomenon when a cover song becomes so synonymous with an artist that people forget who wrote it in the first place. That is exactly what happened with how sweet it is by james taylor. Most folks hear those bright, rolling piano chords and Taylor’s breezy, North Carolina-inflected baritone and immediately think of 1975. But the song was actually a decade old by then. Holland-Dozier-Holland wrote it for Marvin Gaye back in '64, and while Gaye’s version is a soulful masterpiece, Taylor turned it into something else entirely. He made it feel like a Sunday morning in a denim shirt.
Honestly, the mid-seventies were a strange time for James Taylor. He was coming off the massive, soul-baring success of Sweet Baby James and Mud Slide Slim, and the "sensitive singer-songwriter" label was starting to feel like a straightjacket. He needed a hit that didn't feel like a therapy session.
The Motown Roots and the 1975 Transformation
To understand why how sweet it is by james taylor worked so well, you have to look at what he stripped away. Marvin Gaye’s original is driving. It’s got that quintessential Motown "four-on-the-floor" beat that demands you move. Taylor, working with producer Lenny Waronker for the album Gorilla, decided to lean into the groove rather than the drive.
He slowed it down. Just a hair.
He brought in a legendary crew of session musicians known as "The Section." We are talking about Lee Sklar on bass and Russ Kunkel on drums. If you’ve listened to any soft rock from the 70s, you’ve heard these guys. They provided this rubbery, flexible foundation that allowed Taylor to play with the phrasing.
There’s a specific kind of magic in the way Lee Sklar’s bass moves on this track. It’s melodic. It doesn't just thump; it talks back to the vocal. When Taylor sings "I needed the shelter of someone's arms," the instrumentation feels like those actual arms. It is warm. It’s safe. It is the sonic equivalent of a well-worn corduroy jacket.
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The Carly Simon Connection
You can't talk about this song without mentioning Carly Simon. At the time, they were the "it" couple of the music world—the King and Queen of the Laurel Canyon scene. She provides the backing vocals on the track, and you can hear the genuine chemistry. It isn't just professional harmony; it’s two people who were deeply in love at the time, and that translates into the recording.
It’s infectious.
People often criticize Taylor for being "too mellow," but there is a rhythmic complexity in his version of How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) that is incredibly hard to pull off. Try singing along and hitting the pauses exactly where he does. It’s tougher than it sounds. He’s playing with the syncopation in a way that feels effortless but is actually quite sophisticated musically.
Why 'Gorilla' Changed the Narrative
Before Gorilla, James Taylor was the guy who sang about fire and rain and lonely pits of despair. He was the poster boy for the "Me Decade" introspection. But how sweet it is by james taylor signaled a shift toward his role as a premier interpreter of the Great American Songbook and R&B classics.
- It reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100.
- It went to number one on the Adult Contemporary chart.
- It proved he could be a "pop star" without losing his folk-rock credibility.
The song basically saved the Gorilla album. While the record had other great tracks like "Mexico," it was the Marvin Gaye cover that gave it the commercial legs to stay on the charts. It showed that Taylor wasn't just a songwriter; he was a stylist. He could take a song that belonged to the world of Detroit soul and relocate it to the Berkshires without it feeling like cultural appropriation or a cheap gimmick.
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The Anatomy of the Arrangement
Let's get nerdy for a second. The piano work by Clarence McDonald is the secret sauce here. That opening riff is instantly recognizable. It sets a mood of gratitude. That is really what the song is about—gratitude. In an era of cynical protest songs and heavy prog-rock, hearing a man simply say "thank you" to his partner was refreshing.
The bridge features a brief, tasteful sax solo by David Sanborn. It’s not over-the-top. It doesn't scream for attention. It just glides in, reinforces the melody, and gets out of the way. This is the hallmark of the "Warner Bros. Sound" of the 1970s—everything in its right place, nothing wasted.
Common Misconceptions About the Song
A lot of people think Taylor was the first to cover it. Not even close. Before him, everyone from The Isley Brothers to Junior Walker & the All Stars had a go at it. Even Jerry Garcia played it frequently with his side bands.
But Taylor’s version is the one that stuck in the cultural craw.
Why? Because he leaned into the vulnerability. Marvin Gaye sang it like a man who knew he was a catch. James Taylor sang it like a man who couldn't believe his luck. That subtle shift in perspective changed the entire emotional weight of the lyrics. When he sings "You were better to me than I was to myself," you believe him. He had been through the ringer with addiction and mental health struggles by that point, and the lyrics felt autobiographical even though he didn't write them.
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How to Truly Appreciate the Track Today
If you really want to hear the depth of how sweet it is by james taylor, you need to move past the "Greatest Hits" version. Listen to the live recordings from the late 90s or his Live at the Beacon Theatre performance.
You’ll notice how he’s changed the arrangement over the years to keep it fresh. He often adds a bit more of a swing feel in live settings. The backing vocalists—usually the incredible Arnold McCuller and Kate Markowitz—take on a much larger role, turning the song into a call-and-response gospel celebration.
Actionable Steps for Music Lovers
To get the most out of this specific era of music history, don't just stop at the hit. Explore the context that made it possible.
- Compare the Mixes: Listen to the original 1964 Marvin Gaye version back-to-back with the 1975 Taylor version. Pay attention to the percussion. Gaye uses a tambourine to drive the beat; Taylor uses a subtle shaker and a dampened snare. It changes how the song "breathes."
- Check the Credits: Look up "The Section." These musicians (Sklar, Kunkel, Danny Kortchmar, Craig Doerge) are the architects of the 70s sound. Understanding their influence helps you see why this song sounds so "expensive" and polished.
- Watch the 1976 BBC Performance: There is footage of James Taylor performing this live in the mid-70s. You can see his fingerpicking style—which is unique because he uses his fingernails and a very specific hand position—and how he incorporates that into a full band arrangement.
- Analyze the Lyrics as Poetry: Forget the melody for a moment. Read the words. It is a masterclass in simple, effective songwriting. "With sweet love and devotion, deeply touching my emotion." It’s direct. No metaphors needed.
The enduring legacy of how sweet it is by james taylor isn't just that it’s a "nice" song. It’s that it represents a perfect alignment of artist, material, and timing. It turned a soul standard into a folk-rock anthem of domestic bliss, and in doing so, it gave James Taylor a second act that has lasted for over fifty years.
It is a reminder that sometimes the best way to find your own voice is to sing someone else's song. Taylor found a sense of joy in these three minutes and thirty-five seconds that helped define the rest of his musical life. If you’re building a playlist of essential Americana or 70s staples, this isn't just a suggestion; it’s a requirement. The song remains a masterclass in how to pay homage to the past while firmly planting your feet in the present.