Tapestry

“Tapestry” by Carole King (1971) Very familiar with this artist and album. Isn’t everyone? “Tapestry” is superb. Stands the test of time. Soulful, well crafted songs with highly evocative lyrics and creative, forward looking melodies. The recording quality is first rate, with brilliant, properly balanced contributions from studio musicians. Fine touch in the mix. Piano work is iconic, even if it doesn’t demonstrate a studied virtuosity. Lead vocal, likewise, perfectly delivers the feel and meaning of each composition, without exemplary power or range. Excellent pitch control and diction, even on blues bends and subdued passages. The tracks are arranged well on this album, taking the listener on a journey that is definitely laid out in two major sections, Side 1 and Side 2. This a skill that’s rather under appreciated in this era when one doesn’t have to ‘flip the record over’. I have no wisecracks about this album. I’m not worthy. 5/5

9/10. Was really enjoyable to listen to throughout, had a nice cat on the cover.

I'm about 800 reviews into this project, and my wife keeps asking me why on earth do I persist with Dimery's clearly flawed list. The most obvious shortcoming is the under-representation of female artists. Every time I have to suffer through another album of 70s classic rock or a cult psychedelic band or a gangsta rapper or over-rated male songwriter (have you seen how many records Neil Young has on this list?) or some other boring bunch of blokes strutting around showing off their (allegedly) enormous cocks and badmouthing the women in their lives, I get frustrated that there are so few female artists here. I mean, did you realise that Paul Simon has seven albums on this list and Nina Simone only has one? How does _that_ work? I want to quote here from Jessica Hopper's massively insightful essay "Emo: Where the girls aren't" compiled in her book 'The First Collection of Criticism by a Living Female Rock Critic': "Can you ignore the marginalization of women's lives [and artistry] on the records that line your record shelves in hopes that feigned ignorance will bridge the gulf, because it's either that or purge your collection of everything but free jazz, micro house 12"s and the Mr. Lady Records catalog?" Actually, there are a hundred bits of that essay that I want to quote here, so you should just go read it right now (published under a different title): https://lithub.com/classic-jessica-hopper-emo-comes-off-like-rimbaud-at-the-food-court/ Ms Hopper posits a really great question, and a hard question: how do we justify the exclusion of female voices and perspectives from our listening? I am now going to talk to my straight white male rock fan homies, as a straight white male rock fan myself; where are the female artists? where are the queer artists? the artists of colour? the indigenous artists? the differently abled artists? the artists who speak languages other than English? How did the musical canon become so focused on a particularly type of Western white male perspective that we would deny ourselves of the artistry and perspectives of the diversity of artists from those groups. Yes, there are a few examples of those group in the 1001 list, but let's get real; it's not truly representative. If you are curious, if you want music to show you new and different things, then a diversity of artistic voices provides a wealth of treasures. Things you haven't heard or experienced or thought before. We are all richer for it. There should be, there _must_ be more women on this list. </rant> Ok, now that I have that out of my system, let's talk about Carole King's Tapestry. It is a breath of fresh air to listen to this record. This album has been played so many times, it is embedded in the basic DNA of the culture. A classic easy listening album. Carole King would be a songwriting legend even if she had never released a single record under her own name . But it is a great pleasure to hear her perform some of her greatest songs herself, in her own voice. The band is relaxed and understated, playing as friends rather than hired guns (even though they were all crack session players). The Sound Opinions show celebrating the 50th anniversary of Tapestry (https://soundopinions.org/show/799) interviewed several band members who, even 50 years later, clearly had fond remembrance of the sessions and their friendship with Carole. That makes a pleasant change from the number of albums I have listened to recently by men who were talented artists but real arseholes. Thanks, Carole, for proving that you can be a successful artist and a decent human being. It restores my faith in humanity. I don't want to blame Tapestry for the thousands of pale imitators that followed. This is up there with 'Blue' as one of the greatest singer-songwriter albums of all time. I still think Smackwater Jack is out of place on the record, but, other that, it is difficult to fault. This album is warm, human, and comforting. Every home should have a copy.

This is a pretty remarkable album. It's absolutely choked with monster hits. The thing is, most of these hits I know because of other artists covering them. I don't think anyone can deny the sheer songwriting talent of Carole King. She's incredible. But every song is delivered in such a soft, chill manner that they rarely just GRAB you. But, ultimately, that's ok. The album feels whole in a way that very few albums do. Like it's all part of one, big... well, tapestry. Great songwriting, good performances. Overall, a pretty killer album.

Surpringly amazing album. Love the "spread out" feel to the music. Instruments are independent but work well together. Subtle in parts but very balanced

Oh wow

Listening to this with a good pair of headphones reveals a masterpiece in mixing/balance - audio effortlessly fades in and out/cross channel. This album is amazing, front to back

Beautiful but boring

This album is so hugely popular. My mother played it almost constantly. I'm probably going against the grain to say it, but I just hate her voice. The best songs on the album are the covers, but I mean, how you going to outdo Aretha? How you gonna beat the Shirelles? James Taylor did You've Got a Friend so much better. Everything that King sings is like she jumped the shark.

I described this as the musical equivalent of a cozy vintage sweater. I'm very familiar with and fond of this album. Carole is a master songwriter and this album is packed with hooks. She puts the "natural" in natural woman - top marks!

Simply beautiful, I can't believe I've never heard of this album before. Absolutely love it, an easy 5 stars. What a gorgeous voice, and every song is worth listening to.

Heard this for the first time in full during Lockdown 1 (had obviously heard most of the songs on their own) and didnt realise how many songs were Carol King's! I knew she sang "You've got a friend" but wouldn't have been able to put another song to her catalogue if you has asked me. She was obviously a HUGE influence on the next generation of female artists but I never noticed many citing her in the same way as, say, Joni Mitchell or Aretha Franklin. Anyway - point is, I was massively impressed with this album. 5/5 easily for me.

Certified 5 star song writing

Very solid album. Great cover art. Lots of stuff you've probably heard before that's been covered a hundred times.

Who said brunettes can't wear jeans?

Overall A really mellow oldtimey album with some upbeat and melancholy songs its good to put on the background. i give it 3/5 its good but not extraordinary I feel the Earth move - I really dig this vibe, i like the pace of the song a lot, and the instruments the lyrics are not bad either. So far away - Good bass, melancholy vibes but not enough for a sad song, still really good. It's too late - I feel like the vibe don't match the lyrics but i still like them both, Lyrics are what stands out the most tho. Beautiful - Really cute song I like the vibe and lyrics. --"At this point i start to get the formula of the album all the songs have sort of same pace to them its not bad they all work in their own ways"-- Way Over Yonder - We slow Down quite a bit, i love the backing voices and the piano on this one, the solo with the trumpet is nice too, i feel like here i can truly appreciate her voice more. You've got a friend - Sort of the same vibe as Beautiful but turned into love song (or friendship song), we are keeping this sort of powerful slow tempo which i think suits her better. Where you lead - Its the same song as You've got a friend but more upbeat, and faster tempo, i prefer You've got a friend over this one. Will you still love me tomorrow? - I didn't really like this one not much to say about it, slow song with sad lyrics. Smackwater Jack? - I love the piano on this one and the swing vibe it gives its well put together and the story in interesting and fun, strong old west vibes. Tapestry - The main song of the album, I like the lyrics a lot but not much else, of course that is the main selling point. A Natural Woman - I like the song but it felt the same as others in this album

An early pinnacle for 70's radio-friendly pop. The sheer pop craftmanship by Carole King is timeless. Only a few albums have as mellow and ear-wormy songs as this one. Songwriting masterpiece.

Will still love it tomorrow

Such a good album but should have ended with Tapestry!

I love this album - great variety, solid beats and lyrics

Masterpiece. The chonker cat on the cover is great. Amazingly I've never owned this album. I've listened to it plenty though. There's so much space and breath between the notes, it forces me to allow down and listen. Excellent headphone album. Definitely essential.

Never listened to this from start to finish before. I prefer these original versions to many of the more overly produced and polished versions. A couple of the songs are of a much lower standard but it would be churlish to give this anything lower than 5.

Unbelievable album filled with hits. Now I know the sound of Carole King

For someone I’d never listened to this was excellent. Both the lyrics and her voice were incredible. Put me in a good mood listening to it.

Listening to this album spurred me to look up more info about Carole King. It was very interesting to find out how many hits she wrote. It seems like Sia took a page out of her book

beautiful: the carole king musical caroline would really like this album

Classic

KITTY Classic parent jams

I thought I would like this more but it was a bit boring. But the cat on the cover made me like it slightly more.

If you’re a guy over 40, chances are you’ve had at least one girlfriend that made sure you heard this record before you die.

Would say the drawbacks are a general solemnity and the sparsity of the arrangements, except I can get showier uptempo renditions of similar or identical material elsewhere, so I wouldn't have this any other way. Complex. Brooding. Full-blooded. And gloriously ordinary. Which damn sure means it's every bit as beautiful as she feels.

На одном дыхании послушал. Думаю, что это хорошая характеристика и альбом явно заслужил свою оценку.

Love the voice on this woman. A few standout tracks, but the sound was overall a little samey throughout.

No..

Incredible album.

Wow. This album opens with a bang and just continues to keep you in a trance. The vocal performance is carefully crafted, down to the backing vocals. The musicianship surrounding it are second to none, all the choices seem so intentional and important. The production is excellent, thank you Lou, this many years later it still sounds incredible on sub par headphones. A new classic in my house.

now THIS is an influential album!

Wonderful voice and lovely music.

This is nice

Calm music, I really love it. It's like something to listen to while you are staring out at the sunset. Her lyrics are really nice too.

Talented song writer ❤️

Every song is amazing

one of my favorite albums of all time by one of the greatest singer songwriters of all time. every song is perfect.

Iconic. Classic. Perfection. Could listen to this every day.

An album I admit that when it was released I avoided like the plague and would vocally dismiss it has your mums and dads music. At that time big rock prog groups were the only thing I thought worthwhile so closed my ears to anything I thought inferior. However, it didn’t take long for me to begin to take an interest. This largely coincided with my interest in the opposite sex and the teenage angst of falling in love and breakups. This album is full of songs which I could relate to when going through all these dramas. So I became very familiar with every song on this album and each one holds very happy and sad memories. I have played this record constantly throughout my life and consider it a masterpiece not only has a soundtrack to my life but also sublime musicianship. Good as it is I would not put it anywhere near my all time Top 20 albums. I consider it more like a pair of comfy old slippers. Very familiar, taking away any built up stress, and like the album cover, a lovely warm feeling knowing all is well. 5/5 30/12/24

she is the goat so

5 I thought this album only had a few AMAZING songs, but I was wrong! Every song on the album is amazing and I am going to go and buy a vinyl for myself.

I have no idea why I haven't heard this before. Of course I have heard many of the individual tracks, some of them performed by others because let's not forget King has writing credits on ALL of them. I like her voice. The songs are wonderful. This gets a 5/5. I give 5s sparingly. This is only the 3rd in 54 albums and the only 5 that has gone to something I haven't owned for years.

Great album with some absolute classics

Perfect

This is a great record with some really incredible singing. We’ve had a few lady singers that seemed to be trying to create this kind of a record and who all fell a bit short (KT Tunstall, Dusty Baker) - this is the real deal. This also happens to be a favourite of my mother’s and it’s hard not to cherish my childhood memories when I hear it.

Tapestry was a lovely album to listen to, full of hope and love and friendship. I would definitely listen to this album again. Carole feels like a mom who I’d want to hug.

Carole is a GOAT. Enough said.

WHERE YOU LEAD

I guess nobody can say that they have never heard at least one of these songs. This is truly an amazing album. King is way above all other so-called singer-songwriters. Her talent for all-time classics is amazing.

Follow up Steely Dan they said… I never intentionally listened to Carole King before. Thid blew me away. Love the vocals and songwriting. Love the guitar - acoustic and electric. And the sax. This has it all. Really enjoyed Way Over Yonder and Smackwater Jack (and all the others).

I love this album. Something about Carole king’s voice just gets me. It’s just bluesy enough while also sounding a bit like a suburban mom. Also the interplay between her jazzy chording and the booming simple bass lines creates a full, unique sound. The idea that she ever had to ask someone ‘will you still love me in morning’ fills me with righteous indignation. Is it sexist that everytime I like a female musician I basically fall in love with her?

Fantastic! Ive definitely heard a bunch of cuts off of this, but there were a handful of surprises. I loved the James Taylor cover (which if Apple Music serves me right, JT plays on), You Make Me Feel and Tapestry were surprises to me Gotta love the hits here too - Its Too Late and I Feel The Earth Move are fucking jams.

Catching up on reviews so don't have time to rhapsodize, but boy would I like to. What a great album. A 10-years belated thanks to Frank for introducing this album to me when we lived in New York. Pretty sure Sean is a Carole King stan so very excited to read his review of this album. This has been a fucking hell of a week of albums. Makes it all worth it to put up with all the weeks where we have Pere Ubu and Fela Kuti

A one of a kind singer-songwriter. This album gets the fivest of fives.

what a beautiful album, yet another reason why I love this list, I can endure seemingly endless (shite) Radiohead albums for diamonds like this.

Love it

Fantastic album full of blue-eyed soul, magnetic piano riffs, and classics that have been covered and sampled by so many. Carole King is a legend and an incredible songwriter. 5/5

listening to this album is like hearing a soundtrack for my childhood. i didn't know how prevalent carole king was in pop culture until this.

My childhood in one album.

Rock setentero suave. Ni sé la de megahits que tiene... Un 5 claro.

I Feel the Earth Move, It's Too Late,Way Over Yonder, You've Got a Friend, Where You Lead,Will You Love Me Tomorrow?Will You Love Me Tomorrow?

One of my favourite albums of all time.

Amazing album that sounds like it could have been released this year, last year or is still to be released next year!

A lovely album from Carole that still hits.

оч качает с первых минут, нравится ее голос, крутые гитары, вайбово i feel the earth move очень крутой трек крутой альбом, очень приятный, очень интересный, не надоедает, очень приятный голос креол кинг написала кучу хитов для других исполнителей, а потом записала вот этот альбом, который не выходил из чартов, у нее 4 гремми и короче просто она оч крутая сонграйтерша

One of the greatest songwriters distills fifteen years of great songwriting into a superb collection of the craft and art of songwriting. An album about which so much can be said but little actually needs to be. Just listen. 5550000 stars.

An accidential find, a kind of reassuring warm comfort and maybe a hint of joy and (understated) sublimation unexpectedly here - an album which had so many familiar comofting sounds so wonderfully held together as a whole album (Carol King is a new name for me, but my ears recognise her). words liek imtimate , personal ... evokes beanbags and a slower time. On hearing it, I wanted to buy it for my daughters as an examplar of a 1970s sound and pace: an album to listen to on a bean bag, a light breeze, a lava lamp, rainbow sticker, and no partiularly rush to the day. It may not be a 5, but I am giving that number to albums I definitely will listen to again. and yeah, It belongs here as a sound/style/tone of a time.

Superb performance by a brilliant vocalist and songwriter. Deep emotional lyrics backed by a rich tapestry of instrumental music. A rare glittering gem.

Obviously perfect. Well done Carole

This was a huge album when it came out and should still be today. Talent above and beyond.

Wow. Did she write all the classic songs?

I don’t know what to say but this is just really really good

I fell in love with this album after my family bought tickets to the Carole King musical. There are more hits on this than there aren't. What a cool singer-songwriter.

One of the easiest five stars. Flawless. Received wisdom is of course other people sang her songs better, and of course in the case of Aretha Franklin that would be true. But she's got a wonderful voice, a wistfulness and melancholy that's unique. And that fabled warm analogue early seventies studio sound is perhaps here only equalled by Steely Dan.

New for me. Need to listen to more from Suzanne Vega

When I first heard this album I thought it was a greatest hits. It's incredible that the same person wrote all these gems.

A classic!!

I love this album - another of the ones my Dad would play to me on vinyl when I was a wee girl! Fond memories Great for a singalong, such powerful lyrics sung beautifully and the bass lines are funky AF! Fave Track: It's too late

I've been waiting for this one. Not because I know it front to back and want to gush about it (because I don't). No, I've been waiting because I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. So many times I've heard this album gushed about by critics, seen it on list after list of the best albums ever, and heard from my own mother just how important an album this is. So that's a lot of hype, right? How often does any piece of media actually live up to any amount of insane hype? How often are you left disappointed by an album that everyone else seems to love, but you just can't get into? Well, I'm here to say that not only did this album meet the high expectations set onto by everything I've ever heard about it, it exceeded it. This is a fantastic collection of songs by a wonderful singer songwriter. Truly a masterpiece of originality, storytelling, and emotional songwriting. Carole King does here what so many others strive to do, which is to produce an emotionally authentic piece of art that so many have found, absorbed, and loved long after its release. I can't say enough, honestly. Easy five stars. I loved it. Standout Tracks: I Feel the Earth Move, So Far Away, Way Over Yonder, Where You Lead, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman

I have such a sweet relationship with Carole king’s music, filled with youthful naivety and an ever-present sense of wisdom that never fails to fill my heart. This woman is an inspiration and a talent beyond words; I can never truly fault her work

What a great album. I knew of her but this album has blown me away.

Let's face it, this album is brilliant. There's some absolutely brilliant tracks in here, was some light relief after the last few days...

This album is a real powerhouse showcase of King's songwriting, having written nearly all of this album with most notable exception being a couple partial contributions by Gerry Goffin. Instrumentally King lands in real universal territory by taking her nuanced yet extremely relatable songs into very groove-based piano-driven territory. Are these songs cliché or overplayed now? Yes, but I'd argue that their place is earned, this is pure FM radio gold.

This album is perfection. No notes.

🔥🔥🔥

Everybody loves this album but that’s because it’s a fucking great album. One of the easiest 5s so far

Ah, I just love this album

A record filled with such warmth it’s like it’s being played live just for me. Simple and complex at the same time. Can’t imagine a time in my life when I would want to listen to this. Perfect.

MASTER-FUCKING-PIECE!!! The voice, the piano, the arrangement, the emotion - this album is perfection. So Far Away alone is worth 10 stars.

There’s so much semen in my pants

Love it 😍 4.5/5

Fucking top 10

I didn’t know how amazing this album was! Five stars for sure!

Without any doubt one of the landmark female singer/songwriter albums. Every song is a tour-de-force. Melodic and insightful. A true masterpiece.