James Taylor
ListenNight Owl · 1967
James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine — “Night Owl,” from 1967, official artist-channel audio.
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1967 · Rainy Day Records
Night Owl / Brighten Your Night With My Day
Before his solo debut, James Taylor made a record with the Flying Machine. “Night Owl” takes its name from the Greenwich Village club where the band regularly played—a little piece of their working life turned into a song. [1] [2]
| Accession | OMMA-0096 |
|---|---|
| Artist | The Flying Machine |
| Release | 1967 · United States |
| Label | Rainy Day Records · 45-8001 |
| Format | 7-inch vinyl single · 45 rpm |
| Issue | Promotional issue |
| Runouts | Not documented |
| Recorded grade | NM |
Release history and significance
The Night Owl was a meeting place for the Village’s folk-rock scene, frequented by the Turtles and the Lovin’ Spoonful as well as the Flying Machine. Taylor’s song paid tribute to that familiar room. [2]
Issued in 1967, this Rainy Day single couples two Taylor compositions. Al Gorgoni and Chip Taylor produced both sides; Gorgoni and Trade Martin arranged “Night Owl,” and Gorgoni arranged “Brighten Your Night With My Day.” Taylor returned to both songs on his 1968 solo debut for Apple, but this single documents their earlier life with the band. [1] [2]
Market context
As of 13 September 2026, Discogs reported sales for this promotional edition ranging from US$2.26 to US$23.98, with a median of US$8.00. Its most recent recorded sale was dated 26 March 2026. [1]
Physical Description
Black vinyl with black labels and the blue Rainy Day Records logo. The labels carry the wording “PROMOTION COPY NOT FOR SALE.” The record is housed in a generic sleeve.
Condition
The disc and labels are graded NM, with minimal evidence of handling.
Provenance
Acquired from Jackknife Records and Tapes through Discogs on 14 February 2026.
Sources
- Discogs, The Flying Machine — Night Owl, release 11282823. Exact promotional edition, credits and reported sales statistics.
- Morgan Enos, Billboard retrospective, republished by JamesTaylor.com, 7 December 2018. Night Owl club connection and the songs’ later Apple recordings.
Catalogue text reviewed 13 September 2026.