BOSTONGLOBE.COM – Taylor excited about ballpark show

By: Mark Shanahan & Meredith Goldstein

James Taylor is already looking forward to August, when he’ll take the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston to perform at Fenway Park. Among career highlights — and there have been many for the 66-year-old “Country Road” singer — a gig at the ballpark ranks right up there. “There are things you never see coming, and this is one of them,” Taylor told us, talking about the Aug. 6 show with coheadliner Bonnie Raitt. (Tickets go on sale No. 21.)

As you would expect, Taylor plans to play his hits, but he’ll also be promoting a new album, his first of original material in over a decade. The troubadour took an extended hiatus from the road to write and record the album, which features a song called “Angels of Fenway,” about the 2004 World Series. “I’m pretty sure we’ll play that one,” he said. Taylor’s looking forward to hitting the road, even though it’s not as easy as it once was. “It’s sort of use or lose it. You need to do it to be able to do it,” he said. “I’ll do it as long as I can and as long as there’s audience that wants me to. The big wheel keeps rolling.”

JT has many admirers among contemporary singers, none bigger than megastar Taylor Swift, who was named for Sweet Baby James and invited him to perform “Fire and Rain” with her at Madison Square Garden. “She’s definitely got her head on straight,” he said. “That’s not my audience necessarily, but it’s still very nice to be shown that kind of respect.”