"Before This World" is James Taylor's nineteenth studio album, released on June 15, 2015. This album marked Taylor's first collection of original material since October Road in 2002 and followed his covers album, Covers, in 2008. The album was recorded in a barn on his property in western Massachusetts, featuring notable musicians like Steve Gadd on drums and Jimmy Johnson on bass.
The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart on July 4, 2015, making it Taylor's first chart-topping album, a significant milestone over 45 years after his debut on the chart with Sweet Baby James. In its opening week, Before This World sold 96,000 copies, achieving Taylor's best debut since October Road.
Taylor had not focused on writing new material for many years, but he felt compelled to create this album. To do so, he isolated himself in a waterfront apartment in Newport, Rhode Island, to fully concentrate on his songwriting. The recording sessions took place over ten days in January 2014, followed by additional vocal work in Los Angeles.
Prior to the album's release, Taylor debuted several tracks during his 2014 tour, including "Today Today Today," "You And I Again," and "Stretch of the Highway." The album continues Taylor's legacy of introspective songwriting, with tracks reflecting his personal experiences and observations.
