When you think of 1970s soft rock, you probably picture the denim, the acoustic guitars, and that specific, golden-hued glow of James Taylor and Carly Simon. They were the undisputed king and queen of the genre. For a solid decade, they weren't just a couple; they were a brand. People projected everything onto them—peace, love, and a sort of effortless artistry that felt like a permanent vacation on Martha’s Vineyard.
But here is the thing.
If you look at the actual James Taylor and Carly Simon songs, the ones they did together and the ones they wrote about each other, the picture is a lot messier. It wasn't all sunshine and sailboats. It was complicated, occasionally competitive, and deeply fraught with the kind of stuff that eventually breaks even the most famous marriages.
The duet that defined an era (and a pregnancy)
Most people point to "Mockingbird" as the definitive collaboration. It’s the high-energy, rhythmic cover of the Inez and Charlie Foxx classic that hit the airwaves in 1974. If you listen to it today, it sounds like two people having the time of their lives.
James actually suggested the song. He used to sing it with his sister, Kate, when they were kids. When Carly was recording her album Hotcakes, she was heavily pregnant with their first child, Sally. James hopped on the track, and they turned a soul standard into a folk-rock staple.
It reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100. Honestly, it's one of those rare instances where the remake becomes more famous than the original for a whole generation. But "Mockingbird" wasn't their only moment.
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- "Devoted to You": A 1978 cover of the Everly Brothers. It’s sweet, almost sugary, and perfectly showcases their harmonies.
- "You Can Close Your Eyes": While originally a James Taylor solo track from Mudslide Slim, their live duets of this song are legendary. There’s a grainy 1977 video of them performing it at home on the Vineyard that feels like eavesdropping on something private.
- "One Man Dog": Carly provided backing vocals on several tracks of James’s album of the same name.
The songs that told the real story
Carly Simon has always been more of an open book than James. She’s the one who admitted that while they looked like the "perfect couple" in the press, the reality was a lot of silence and unspoken tension.
If you want to understand what was really happening, you have to look at the lyrics.
Carly’s song "James" from her 1980 album Come Upstairs is a heartbreakingly direct address. She sings about his distance and his struggle with addiction. It’s not a "mean" song, but it is a lonely one. She’s basically pleading with him to come back to her from wherever he’s gone mentally.
On the flip side, James Taylor is famously cryptic. He doesn't usually name names. However, "There We Are" is a rare exception. In the final lines, he actually sings, "Carly, I do love you."
Carly later mentioned in interviews that it’s the only song she knows for sure he wrote for her. She also said that if she hears it on the radio, she’s "gone for the day." It still hits that hard.
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Why the collaborations stopped
By the time they divorced in 1983, the musical partnership was effectively over. Unlike some famous exes who continue to work together (looking at you, Fleetwood Mac), James and Carly went their separate ways with a startling finality.
They didn't just stop recording; they stopped speaking for decades.
This is where the "what people get wrong" part comes in. Fans often assume that because they made such beautiful music together, there must be a secret stash of unreleased duets or a lingering desire to reunite for one last show.
There isn't.
James has been notoriously quiet about the marriage in the years since. He’s moved on, remarried, and focused on his later career. Carly wrote extensively about him in her memoir, Boys in the Trees, but even she acknowledges the wall that went up.
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Actionable insights for the vinyl hunters
If you are looking to dig deeper into the James Taylor and Carly Simon songs catalog, don't just stick to the Greatest Hits. The real gold is in the deep cuts where they appear on each other's credits.
- Check the liner notes of Hotcakes: This is the peak of their collaborative period. James is all over this record.
- Listen for the harmonies: In songs like "Shower the People," you can hear the influence of their shared vocal style, even when she isn't the primary feature.
- Watch the 1979 No Nukes performance: This is arguably their best live moment together. The chemistry is palpable, even if the marriage was already under strain.
The legacy of their music isn't just about "Mockingbird." It's about a decade where two of the greatest songwriters of their time tried to merge their lives and their art. Even if the marriage didn't last, the records remain as a time capsule of a very specific, very beautiful kind of American melancholy.
If you want to experience the full arc of their relationship through music, start with the JT album for his perspective and Boys in the Trees (the album) for hers. It's the closest thing we'll ever get to a full conversation between them again.
To build the ultimate James Taylor and Carly Simon playlist, start by cross-referencing their 1974-1981 discography and looking for "Uncredited" background vocalists—you'll often find one hiding in the other's mix during the late-night sessions at Compass Point or Trident Studios.