Before This World is the seventeenth studio album by American singer-songwriter James Taylor. It is set to be released June 16, 2015. It is Taylor's first album of original material since October Road (2002). James Taylor released his most recent original album, October Road, in 2002. Following this, Taylor did not prioritize writing new material for many years. He grew concerned he might never create another original album, and convinced his close family, friends, and manager it would be best to cut off communication from everything. He subsequently lived alone to write the album in a waterfront apartment in Newport, Rhode Island. He recorded the album on a barn on his property in West Massachusetts alongside Steve Gadd on drums and Jimmy Johnson on bass. In April 2015 he announced a short U.S. Tour running from July 2nd to August 6th to promote the album