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BUY THE CD
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When I was a sophomore in high school, and I first heard the jazz-infused “It’s Too Late” and the catchy “I Hear the Earth Move,” I just had to rush out and buy Tapestry, the album by my new favorite female artist. Little did I know that this singer, Carole King, had already made a name for herself as a songwriter in the early 1960s.
My vinyl copy of Tapestry now crackles, since I failed to replace the phonograph needle as required. So I was excited to find that much of Tapestry is included in The Essential Carole King.
What makes this two-CD set so memorable is that the first disc features King as a singer /songwriter, while the second disc compiles songs that she wrote with her husband at the time, Gerry Goffin. These songs are performed by the artists who made them popular.
First, let’s talk about the 18-cut Disc 1. Of course, my favorites are her hits from the early ‘70s. Carole’s voice, though not melodic or spectacular, has a melancholy and personal feel. In addition to the songs mentioned above, “Sweet Seasons” includes a catchy melody and a chorus that you can’t get out of your head. Another favorite, “Jazzman” from the Wrap Around Joy album, features strong saxophone solos that contrast her sweet, unassuming voice.
My least favorite is actually a more than seven-minute live medley that she sings with James Taylor. Though slow and steady, it lacks the sensitivity of the originals. However, her contemporary duet with Celine Dion, “The Reason,” takes full advantage of Celine’s powerful voice—which, by the way, I feel is underutilized in most of her solo work. And “You Can Do Anything,” performed with Babyface, goes back to King’s rhythm and blues style.
R&B is the foundation of King and Goffin’s early songwriting, which you’ll hear in the 15-song Disc 2. Now this is a real treat. Among the soulful and the intimate are “Up on the Roof” by the Drifters, Aretha’s “Natural Woman,” and “Just in My Life” performed by the Righteous Brothers. What really moved me was Billy Joel’s version of the ever-popular “Hey Girl,” which is sung in the same emotional vein as it was by the original artist, Freddie Scott.
The opening cut on the CD, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” by The Shirelles, is another song recorded by many artists through the years. The collection also includes quick, commercial songs, such as “Chains” by the Cookies and “One Fine Day” by the Chiffons. My favorite of these is Little Eva’s “The Loco-Motion.” Though this fun song was about a popular dance craze, I never figured out what it was—or if, in fact, it ever existed.
If you’re interested in pop music history, The Essential Carole King highlights the music of one of the most successful songwriters of all time. The two CDs are full of nostalgia, and they bring back memories of dancing to R&B records as a small child, as well as relating to King’s heartfelt songs as a teenager. Would these songs hold up today? Probably not. The simple beats and innocent lyrics of these songs remind me of days past. But is that such a bad thing?
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