The regular column “CYCLE MUSIC” delivers a short essay each time about bicycles and music. This time, I’d like to introduce the 1996 album “Bicycle” by folk singer-songwriter Livingston Taylor, whose gentle and heartwarming voice, along with his rich guitar sound, leave a lasting impression.
Livingston Taylor, commonly known as “Liv”, is the third of five siblings from the famous Taylor musical family, which includes the renowned James Taylor, Kate Taylor, and Alex Taylor. Since releasing his self-titled debut album in 1970, he has consistently put out new works, and he has also been a professor at the prestigious Berklee College of Music since 1989. That being said, his music leans more towards the simple and unpretentious, rather than academic. Throughout his career, the word “heartwarming” is what describes his music best, making it hard not to feel a deep fondness for it.
His 1996 release “Bicycle”, produced by his long-time collaborator Scott Petito, features a cover illustration by Nobuhiko Yabuki, with a bicycle floating in the sky as its centrepiece. This would capture the heart of any cycling enthusiast, and the title track is truly a wonderful song. Ever since this column began, I’ve always wanted to recommend it at some point.
Furthermore, back in 1996, during the peak of the Free Soul movement that I advocated, I was absolutely thrilled to find that the next track on the album was none other than “Don’t Let Me Lose This Dream”. Free Soul fans will surely understand—at the time (and even now), I couldn’t stop loving and frequently playing this heartfelt masterpiece, a cover of the song known in Japan as “Yume wo Samasanaide”, made famous by Aretha Franklin’s live take and Dusty Springfield’s version. I’m so pleased to have the chance to express the excitement I felt back then, 28 years later.
Toru Hashimoto (SUBURBIA) Editor / Music Selector / DJ / Producer. Founder of Suburbia Factory. Owner of Shibuya’s “Cafe Apres-midi” and “Apres-midi Selecao.” Over 350 compilation CDs, including series like ‘Free Soul,’ ‘Mellow Beats,’ ‘Cafe Apres-midi,’ ‘Jazz Supreme,’ ‘Music With A View,’ and many others, have been curated, making him the world’s foremost selector. He oversees and produces music broadcast channels “usen for Cafe Apres-midi” and “usen for Free Soul” on USEN, wielding significant influence in Japanese music scene since the 1990s. In recent years, his ‘Good Mellows’ series with a focus on mellow chillout has gained great popularity both domestically and internationally.
