[.ca] Tapestry

Carole King was famous as a writer of girl-group hits in the '60s. In 1971, she became more famous. That's the year Tapestry became one of the biggest-selling LPs of all time. It's easy to hear why--the music is loose, earthy, L.A. session-pop. King is casual, intimate, and tough; she covers all the emotional ground of the post-liberated woman with ease. She brings adult nuance to "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?" and comes up with hits ("It's Too Late," "I Feel the Earth Move") whose white-soul realism and maturity put pop hits to shame. --Steve Tignor --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Brilliant Sound!:
There's nothing like a classic album and few would argue with Carole King's "Tapestry" album. "It's Too Late" wasn't the only major hit off this album. Aretha Franklin had her own hit with King's penned, "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman". James Taylor hit gold with her, "You've Got A Friend". "Smackwater Jack" got a jazz infusion by "The Manhattan Transfer". In fact, "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" was covered by: Cher, The Bee Gees, Dusty Springfield, Dave Mason, The Four Seasons, Laura Branigan, Melanie, Neil Diamond, Linda Ronstadt, Roberta Flack, Joe Walsh and The Shirelles, to name just a few. Some would argue Carol's version is the definitive, but it's all in the ear. In SACD format, Carole sings in your living room, just as she still does with ongoing tours. This album is a must-have. This SACD is stereo only, despite the Multi-channel reference on the box.

Home, warmth, love and sincerity:
Four words spring to mind whenever I hear this classic 1971 album from Carole King - home, warmth, love and sincerity. Even the half-lit album cover of a barefoot Carole with her cat sitting by a window somewhat evokes this. There's just something very reassuring and familiar about this album, perfect for listening to if you're feeling sentimental on a rainy day, or optimistic on a spring morning. "Tapestry" arrived at something of a strange time for music. The idealism and politically-inspired music of the 60's had come to an end, and as if to let everyone know the 60's had well and truly finished, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and Janis Joplin had all passed on while the Beatles, the Supremes and Simon & Garfunkel had all gone their separate ways. Music seemed unsure where to go until glam rock and progressive rock developed, along with disco later. It was during this "void" in 1970/71 that songwriters of the 50's and 60's seem to emerge as the hitmakers of the day with songs that often told stories; people such as Neil Sedaka, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, James Taylor and Carole King. "It's Too Late" was one of those songs I'd always hear on the radio and I bought "Tapestry" on the strength of liking that song alone. I recognized the titles "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" and "You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman" from the versions made hits by The Shirelles and Aretha Franklin respectively, and when I listened to the album I discovered "I Feel The Earth Move" was the same song as that made a hit by Martika in the UK in 1989. There isn't one song on this album I don't like, but "So Far Away" is probably my favorite on the album. "You've Got A Friend" is another track that particularly stands out for me. I read an interview with Alanis Morissette in 1996 in which she said the middle 8 in that song just killed her every time she heard it, and I know what she means. You look forward to hearing it as much, if not more so, than the song itself. The simplicity of the recordings on this album by using just drums, piano and bass is very effective and what give the album it's weight in gold as much as Carole King's brilliant songwriting. In this case, less is definitely more. Terrific album.

She's great, but there are others!!:
I was just reviewing the reviews on Amazon of Carole King's "Tapestry" album (that's what we still call those discs) to get some info on something I'm putting together. I see alot of people have just discovered this album in the last couple of years, at least judging by the Amazon.com hits/reviews. Great! This was a HUGE LP when I was in H.S. (Class of '73)! And it was a great LP then and it still is. So, for those who liked that LP, have you tried "Between The Lines" by Janis Ian? Great lyrics & musicanship! 'Course, she'll make you want to slit your wrists with that album. But, I still throw it into the CD player, now and then. For those of you who are willing to venture far(very way far)afield, for melancholic, but great writing, try Sinatra's "In The Wee Small Hours" LP/CD, or his happier "love" CD (and also with great writing) "Songs For Swinging Lovers." These two albums, like Carole King's, are also "concept" albums, wherein the whole album is like a "story", or they are trying to evoke a certain and specific mood. Later, in the mid Seventies, I discovered the probably ultimate "concept" album. That is Willie Nelson's "Red Headed Stranger" album. Try these albums, even if you "think" you don't like these "genres".

Carole King's 1971 Masterpiece!:
If you remember listening to radio back in 1971 there was no way you wouldn't hear Carole King's beautiful "It's Too Late". This album contains that hit plus other gems such as "Smackwater Jack", "I Feel The Earth Move" (one of my all time favs), the beautiful ballad "So Far Away", the song James Taylor made so popular "You've Got A Friend" and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman". All classic songs! This edition of Tapestry also includes two unreleased songs "Out In The Cold" and "Smackwater Jack" (a live version). The entire cd is remastered and sounds great. Carole King was one cool and talented lady (she also wrote songs for The Monkees among others). If you like Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon, Linda Ronstadt then you'll love Carol King's classic "Tapestry".

Buy back ones youth:
As the search for vinyl turned from a romp to the local music store to a search in the antique mall. I realized it was time to switch to CD's. With limited space and no future for many old vinyl friends it was time to round them up and release them to the local used book store. I cried and could only hope they would find a home that would cherish them. It did not take long before I realized I missed them. So now I spend my days waiting for them to be reincarnated. Some that return are so tinny in sound that I can not believe they were that way to begin with. Others are so mangled that the original pattern of tunes is lost for ever. It may be the result of time but I found this album to be all I remember and then some. It is well worth the purchase. "Tapestry" is the best representation of Carol King and her music. If you only buy one, this is it. And you will feel the earth move under your feet.

• I Feel the Earth Move
• So Far Away
• It's Too Late
• Home Again
• Beautiful
• Way Over Yonder
• You've Got a Friend
• Where You Lead
• Will You Love Me Tomorrow?
• Smackwater Jack
• Tapestry
• (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
• Out in the Cold \o#\c\o*\c
• Smackwater Jack \oLive\c\o#\c\o*\c