> I have to clarify something I said in my post on Tapestry. I
effectively
> said that Carole's work deteriorated after Tapestry, which was a
damn lie!
> I completely agree that Music and Fantasy are very strong albums,
and I
> think Carole grew musically with these as well.
>
> But I think the main difference with her and Joni is that Carole
pretty much
> stayed on the same path musically - her basic style didn't change
too much.
> Sure there were the inevitable synthesisers in the 80's, but she
didn't
> "reinvent" herself, or immerse herself in another genre like Joni
did. Not
> that that's a bad thing, but I never felt the same excitement with a
new
> Carole album as I did with a new Joni - with Joni you never really
knew what
> you were going to get!
>
> Hell
Carole King was a huge leap forward in the sophistication of my
musical tastes. I really loved the song 'It's Too Late' when it was
such a big hit on the radio. Bought the single and later 'Tapestry'.
Up til that point my faves were the Carpenters, the 5th Dimension and
Dionne Warwick. I actually had a note from Carole, hand written, in
response to a fan letter I sent her but for the life of me I can't
locate it now. I think my mother may have tossed it out with a box of
stuff that was taking up space in her closets.
I really loved 'Music' and 'Rhymes & Reasons' brings back a lot of
memories of my first year in college. I also liked 'Fantasy' and
appreciated her attempt to make some kind of social statement. I
bought 'Wrap Around Joy' but the only song I really remember from it
is 'Jazz Man'. I stopped buying her stuff after that one. By that
time I had discovered Carly Simon and ultimately, Joni. Carole just
didn't interest me that much anymore.
But Carole King certainly deserves a place in music history. She &
Goffin penned some of the songs that became great soul classics of the
60s. Aretha's 'Natural Woman' comes to mind. 'Tapestry' is an
amazing work of popular art. It just makes you feel good to listen to
it. Seemingly simple songs that can take you deep inside your
innermost feelings. They almost seem to tap into something
archetypical in a Jungian kinda way....
Mark in Seattle
