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From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Tapestry

Carole King

1971

Buy At Rough Trade
Tapestry
Album Summary

Tapestry is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Carole King, released in 1971 on Ode Records and produced by Lou Adler. It received four Grammy Awards in 1972, including Album of the Year. The lead singles from the album—"It's Too Late" and "I Feel the Earth Move"—spent five weeks at number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Easy Listening charts. Tapestry has been certified 14× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in the US, and has sold an estimated 25 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time. In 2000, it attained number 74 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums, and in 2020, it was ranked number 25 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

Wikipedia

Rating

3.9

Votes

15970

Genres

  • Pop
  • Rock
  • Folk
  • Singer Songwriter

Reviews

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Mar 03 2021
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5

“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

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May 14 2021
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5

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

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May 20 2021
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5

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

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Feb 02 2021
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4

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.

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Nov 17 2020
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5

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

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Dec 21 2022
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1

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.

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Jan 06 2024
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5

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!

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Feb 22 2021
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5

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.

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Mar 05 2021
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5

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.

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Nov 04 2020
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5

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

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Sep 18 2023
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4

Who said brunettes can't wear jeans?

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Nov 02 2023
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3

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

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Oct 29 2024
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5

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.

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Jan 23 2024
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5

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.

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Mar 05 2021
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5

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.

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Mar 16 2021
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5

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

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Mar 18 2021
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5

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.

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Jan 22 2021
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5

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

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Nov 14 2020
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5

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

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Apr 19 2024
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3

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.

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Jun 03 2023
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3

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.

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Sep 20 2022
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3

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.

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Apr 08 2022
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3

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

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Jan 20 2021
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3

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

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Dec 03 2024
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5

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

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Nov 30 2024
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5

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

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Nov 25 2024
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5

Wow. Did she write all the classic songs?

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Nov 25 2024
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5

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

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Nov 25 2024
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5

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.

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Nov 24 2024
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5

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.

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Nov 23 2024
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5

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

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Nov 22 2024
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5

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

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Nov 18 2024
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5

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

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Nov 15 2024
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5

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

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Nov 11 2024
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5

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

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Nov 08 2024
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5

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

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Nov 05 2024
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5

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...

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Nov 04 2024
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5

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.

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Oct 31 2024
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5

This album is perfection. No notes.

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Oct 30 2024
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5

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

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Oct 29 2024
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5

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.

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Oct 29 2024
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5

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

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Oct 28 2024
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5

There’s so much semen in my pants

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Oct 28 2024
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5

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

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Oct 27 2024
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5

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

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Oct 24 2024
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5

just like slipping into a well-loved, old sweatshirt.

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Oct 23 2024
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5

Great album, great voice, lots of excellent hits - I feel the earth move, you make me feel like a natural woman, will you love me tomorrow.

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Oct 19 2024
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5

Tapesty is really good. It's piano-driven without being too samey, her voice is such an easy listen, the composition of the songs is beautifully balanced for the most part, you get a strong feel of the emotions attached to each story, it's a very strong piece of work. Way Over Yonder is the best song on the album, but the well-known You've Got a Friend and the two 'covers' (she wrote them but didn't perform the original releases) of Will You Love Me Tomorrow and A Natural Women are excellent too. This deserves a 5/5, I knew her name and a bit of her work but very happy to have this reason to find out a bit more about here.

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Oct 18 2024
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5

One of those all-time classic albums. Wouldn't change a note.

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Oct 15 2024
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5

No la conocía, suena bien. Habían varias canciones que había escuchado o me sonaban, lo que fue una sorpresa agradable. Bonito album.

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Oct 09 2024
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5

It’s too late is so good. She’s an incredible songwriter

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Oct 08 2024
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5

banger after banger after banger after banger

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Oct 08 2024
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5

It’s Carole King! She’s one of the greatest song writers of all time!!! Ultimate cozy listening!

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Oct 08 2024
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5

Awesome album. Love her voice. Also - Gilmore Girls theme!

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Oct 08 2024
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5

I love this album. So many songs I already know and never realized this was from the same album. Rightly recognized for the masterpiece it is.

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Oct 07 2024
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5

one of the best instrumentals i've ever heard

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Oct 05 2024
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5

It's a good album with nothing but solid hits. A timeless album.

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Oct 04 2024
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5

One of the Best LP's of All-Time!

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Oct 03 2024
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5

Love this album. CK is a great song writer. These songs make me smile. They hold up to the passage of time.

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Oct 03 2024
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5

I have always felt that this album, along with the Carpenters catalog, is the perfect music for staring out the window on a rainy day. There's really not a bad or "filler" song on the album. It has more than a handful of hits and even the covers (is it a cover if you do a song you wrote?) put King's own spin on the song. She seems to send a very different message in Will You Love Me Tomorrow than the Shirelles. While the latter's hit was aimed at teen girls, King's version seems to have a more mature relationship perspective. Also Natural Woman has a very different feel than the venerable Aretha version. Which brings me to the well documented controversy, or is it complaint, that her voice doesn't hold up. Well, clearly, she's not Aretha, but that's not fair. I think she sounds quite good on this album. Her voice doesn't have the power and quality to really pull off everything she wants to do, but she knows what she wants and hits it. And it works with the whole style of the excellent production of this album. Of course her songwriting remains her strongest point. Great classic album. 4.6

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Oct 01 2024
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5

I'd seen this album bought up before about how good it is, but I thought it'd find it a bit plain. It's actually lovely.

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Sep 30 2024
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5

Is there a single note wrong on this record? Any questionable lyrics or phrasings that seem forced or unnatural or anything less than spot on? Not that one can hear. There are big hits all over the place, and meaningful classics ("Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?") whose impact and influence go far beyond the pop charts. It's encouraging that such a rich and substantive record sold so well. Only downsides is that it can seem sorta boring, with playing right down the middle, and her voice isn't the best, though the singing (phrasing, etc.) is first-rate. An eat-your-vegetables classic it may be, but a classic nonetheless.

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Sep 30 2024
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5

I know this album by heart. Love it.

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Sep 28 2024
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5

Well it has finally happened The songs on here are so beautiful and well written. Folk songwriting , Singer Songwriter. Whatever you want to call it this is Top Notch “Way Over Yonder” has to be one of my favorite songs of all time First side doesn’t have a bad track! Now side 2 has some lesser songs but they are still well written and nothing is bad at all. This just flows so well and is not a choir to listen to. This is comfort food of music. It’s just beautiful nothing more nothing less . Carol King you’re on of the greats 5/5 1* - Not Good 2* - Has Merit 3* - Would Listen Again (Good) 4* - Like It/Love It 5* - LOVE IT AND IT IS A CLASSIC ALBUM

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Sep 26 2024
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5

Classic 70s funk and warmth. Opening track is a definitive 70s timecapsule. 70s stuff like this feels like it still has freedom of form and singer song writer lyrical qualities. Not quite stream of consciousness, but clearly the message inspired the lyricism. A pleasant, yet common voice that doesn't feel manufactured. It makes sense why do many of these have covers. So many iconic songs!

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Sep 26 2024
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5

This album is TITS! The musicianship was amazing. Could listen to that guy play guitar all day ….

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Sep 26 2024
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5

Iconic pop album, will have you recognizing hit after hit as you ride through the album.

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Sep 26 2024
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5

Easy listening, comforting music. Great lyrics. Minimalist album - mostly just singing and piano.

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Sep 24 2024
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5

viiill meh upbeat als ich erwartet han huere schön so far away chli ruhiger, ok it's too late BOPPP beautiful erinnered mich chli ah sechzger, POAH UND WAY OVER YONDER OOOOFF du hast einen freund (tönt wie es lied useme disney film) kenntmer halt aber s isch immerno so es guets lied allgemein riese album OAH ES ISCH ALLES SO SCHÖN mengisch chli sehr schnulzig aber s wird gnueg uufbroche dur paar upbeat lieder will you still love tomorrow isch sooo schön mite zweite stimmmmm hä es isch SO GUET smackwater jack wieder meh upbeat tapestry wunderschöne schluss. bin zwüsche 4 und 5 FUCKIT

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Sep 22 2024
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5

A+. Stands the test of time. Well-written, great songs, varied and interesting music. This is an absolute classic for a reason.

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Sep 19 2024
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5

This one is timeless genius. If I had to find something critical to say about this album it would be that it seems to draw more women than men, like barren cat women, even though every breeder woman I know loves it as well. That said, if this album doesn't deserve 5 stars, there is no method to the madness. "Way Over Yonder" has always been my personal favorite on a difficult set list to rank.

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Sep 19 2024
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5

Awesome album from one of the best singer-songwriters of all time.

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Sep 19 2024
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5

Very pleasant songs - a great album - I was pleasantly surprised

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Sep 12 2024
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5

An absolute masterclass in songwriting. Gorgeous, warm, inviting, soulful songs that will continue to stand the test of time.

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Sep 12 2024
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5

A great album. I don't worship at the altar of Carole King like some, but this is undeniably killer.

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Sep 11 2024
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5

Hard to imagine so many massive hit songs on one album 5*

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Sep 09 2024
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5

I had no idea one album produced so many recognizable songs. A truly great folk album with a little bit of everything. Every song brings something unique to the album either through the music or lyrics. Just an all-around excellent listen with no weak spots or skippable songs.

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Sep 09 2024
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5

I was not expecting this to be incredible.

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