Before there was Dark Side of The Moon, Frampton Comes Alive or Thriller, Carol King’s simple and plaintive Tapestry was the all time selling album. The composer of innocent pop hits like “The Locomotion” put out a debut album back in 71 that had material that everyone, from Quincy Jones to Freddie Hubbard to The Persuasions to everyone that ever stepped on a nightclub stage at one time covered. This wonderful disc collects the demos that she cut before putting the material on an “official” record, and let me tell you, the feel is the way you really want the songs to come across. Her voice is much more subdued and subtle; none of the shouts or east coast accented howls that dated many of the songs are present here. Pop hits like ”Pleasant Valley Sunday” and “Crying In The Rain” sound comfy and folksy here, while her anthems “You’ve Got a Friend” or “A Natural Woman” sound completely uncanned. A take of “It’s Too Late” surpasses the popular take, with a stark emotion that will make you listen over and over. Once again, less is more.
Concord Records