Too often, Livingston Taylor is remembered as James Taylor’s younger brother, but he is a fine singer/songwriter in his own right. From the early seventies to this day, Liv Taylor has released a long string of albums including a few quality pop releases including “3-Way Mirror” in 1978 and “Man’s Best Friend” in 1980. They showcase his noteworthy songwriting style including a luxurious musical scenario that could rival the platinum-certified albums of his superstar brother.

In 1997, Taylor crafted a new collection titled Ink for the audiophile music label, Chesky Records. Under the skilled production of Joel Goodman and David Chesky, the singer covered some of his favorite pop songs accompanied by minimal yet refined instrumentation in an intimate, jazzy setting. Among the material picked were classic hits like Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely,” Don Henley’s “The End Of Innocence,” Ambrosia’s “Biggest Part Of Me” and Gerry Rafferty’s “Baker Street.” Ink also mined the songbook of the late, great Peter Allen (1944-1992) with a moving rendition of his gorgeous 1980 hit, “Fly Away.”

Allen co-wrote that beautiful ballad with Carole Bayer Sager and David Foster who also produced Allen’s seminal Bi-Coastal album. Taylor’s inventive, delicate rendition focused on acoustic guitars, bass and percussions that backed up his heartfelt vocal which was pure ear-candy. This stripped down version of “Fly Away” was very different from the smooth, soulful original crafted by Foster for Allen, but it keeps the magic of the composition intact. Take a listen to savor the evocative power of this brilliant acoustic rendition of a West Coast pop classic. For those interested, look in the archives to read about Allen’s glorious original.

Listen

• Lead Vocals: Livingston Taylor
• Guitar: Jerry Mironov & Larry Saltzman
• Bass: Ned Mann
• Percussion: John Arrucci
• Produced by Joel Goodman & David Chesky

Lyrics

You’re an anchor, I’m uptight
You’re what gets me throu-ough the night
You keep me steady and on cour-ourse
‘Til I found you I was lost
But you’re the earth and I’m sky
A-and sometimes if I go to high
Well then you pull a string that pulls me ba-ack
If not for you I might lose track

And I might fly away
Oh I might fly away, and go my own way
To places that we’ve never been together
I might fly away (fly away), take to the sky some day
But not for now, not today
Nobody here is flyin’ away-ay, away-ay

You have reasons, I have dreams
So we’re perfect, so it seems
You talk fortunes, I tell the truth
Kept me from my crazy youth
When you’re near me I fee-eel whole
I don’t have to rock and ro-oll
I don’t worry, I don’t thi-ink
But baby hold me close and I won’t break

I just might fly away
Oh I might fly away, and go my own way
To places that we’ve never been together
I might fly away (fly away), take to the sky some day
But not for now, not today
Nobody here is flyin’, flyin’ away
Oh I might fly away (fly away-ay)
I might fly away (fly away-ay)
But not for now-ow, not today
Nobody here is flyin’ away (flyin’ away)
Oh I might fly away (flyin’ away)
I might fly away, take to the sky some day
But not for now, not today
Nobody here is flyin’ away [fade]