I've got to echo some of Hell's sentiments here. "Tapestry" is a record for
the masses - "Blue" is not. IMHO, "Blue" is a record for people who FEEL on a
deeper level than the average, an emotional roller coaster ride that not
everyone is going to enjoy listening to. Unfortunately, there are a great
many folks out there who only want music to show them 'a good time' - no tax,
please.
Sure, the writing on "Tapestry" is very, very good, but it's a totally
different ballgame than "Blue". The only similarities worth noting are the
release dates and the fact that they are both done by female
singer/songwriters. Carole's career, up until a few years earlier, had been
built on writing catchy pop tunes. Confessional? Sometimes. But when was the
last time you felt like you might need to have a drink after listening to
Carole King? Joni's writing has always had a degree of honesty to it
unrivaled by any other writer in the history of contemporary music (Dylan at
times, but without the pretty voice for executing the words, it comes off
differently. Maybe his masculinity makes him seem somehow devoid of that
'deep feeling' that I'm referring to...Women have always been better at
expressing themselves...Guys, don't throw fruit at me!).
Furthermore, as we take this time to celebrate "Tapestry" in our own way, by
'threading' about it, I will vent my frustration about the other really great
Carole King discs that always get lost in the Tapestry shuffle. Much as it's
one of the best recordings we've got, I simply cannot listen to it anymore.
VERY seldom. Over the years, I've come to appreciate it's follow-up, "Music"
much more, probably for no other reason than the tunes on it have not
suffered form the massive overexposure that Tap's lead cuts have. "Rhymes &
Reasons" is also excellent Carole King, nothing mind boggling, but a great
pop record nontheless.
My favorite, though, is "Fantasy". Much as it's sound is now quite dated,
this was probably the most interesting record she made. We get Carole's
commentary about the Women's Liberation movement, several different angles on
the difficulties of inner-city living, and a bit of political commentary
sprinkled in. The music often sounds like the soundtrack from a cheesy
crime-drama of the same period ('73 - take your pick), but with all it's
flaws, it's not just MORE BLAND LOVE SONGS FROM CAROLE KING, who I admire
very much despite her repetitive nature. We have to cut CK some slack about
that - she was trained to write that way. And made a good living doing it.
-Chris
PS. For those who've never heard them, "Writer" The City's "Now That
Everything's Been Said", & "Thoroughbred" are all worthy of your time and
with the exception of the City CD, have all sold several million copies to
date.
