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"…Home Again…And Feeling Right…"
Technically Carole King hammered the Seventies. When her second solo album came out after a decade writing for other artists and a one-album stint with a group called The City in late 1968 on Lou Adler's Ode Records - "Tapestry" hit the shops in the second week of February 1971 and it was little short of a sensation. Along with Joni Mitchell and her gorgeous "Blue" album in May 1971 on Reprise Records – they blew open singer-songwriting for women. Culturally, music has never been the same since but King's "Tapestry" was also a commercial beast – a No.1 for fifteen weeks – took four Grammys in 1972 and has gone on to near biblical deity status ever since (and rightly so). On re-release in October 2022, Joni's "Blue" finally achieved the No.1 status it had always deserved - a whole new generation digging its heart-on-my-sleeve and stomach-in-the-gutter songs of love gained and lost.
Back to statistics to Carole King. The follow-up LP should have been another commercial and musical monster and the three after too - and technically they were. "Music" was her third album launched 30 November 1971 which went to No.1 for three weeks, "Rhymes & Reasons" hit the shops 4 October 1972 and charged up to No.2, her fifth "Fantasy" was released 2 May 1973 and hit No. 6 on the US LP charts while "Wrap Around Joy" released 18 July 1974 brought her back to the coveted No.1 slot.
So why mention these – because I don't remember any of them bar "Tapestry" and to some degree – this strangely short-changing yet occasionally fab twofer seems to agree. "Tapestry" is included in full, but "Writer" gets only 2, "Music" gets 4, "Rhymes & Reasons" gets 3 and so on. And when you look at the playing times – ten minutes short on CD1 and fifteen on CD2. No genius like the "Snow Queen" song and US-45 by The City.
You see for me, the albums that followed "Tapestry" were nice, good too in places – but somehow that magical cohesion she achieved with "Tapestry" was missing. And I can remember that as each album arrived in Ireland and England – they were met largely with indifference. But although it is too bare - what "A Natural Woman: The Ode Collection 1968-1976" does is hit you on two fronts – the choice cuts and the fact that they're coming out of your speakers with beautifully balanced Remasters (from original tapes) by VIC ANESINI. You throw in serious sessionmen and feel artists like James Taylor, Danny 'Kootch' Kortchmar, Joni Mitchell, Merry Clayton, Dean Parks, Tom Scott, Harvey Mason, David T. Walker, Jim Horn, Andy Newmark, Ralph Schukett, Leland Sklar, Russ Kunkle, Chuck Findley (and more) – a 42-page booklet that respects and celebrates the mighty lady with style – then this twofer does indeed wrap itself around you with joy. To the Smackwater details…
UK/EU released 6 April 1998 - "A Natural Woman: The Ode Collection 1968-1976" by CAROLE KING on Ode/Epic/Legacy EPC 489321 2 (Barcode 5099748932129) is a 2CD 36-Track Compilation with Four Previously Unreleased Tracks and Vic Anesini Remasters throughout – it plays out as follows:
CD1 (66:36 minutes):
1. Hi-De-Ho (see Notes)
2. Wasn't Born To Follow (see Notes)
3. Up On The Roof
4. Child Of Mine
5. I Feel The Earth Move
6. So Far Away
7. It's Too Late
8. Home Again
9. Beautiful
10. Way Over Yonder
11. You've Got A Friend
12. Where You Lead
13. Will You Love Me Tomorrow
14. Smackwater Jack
15. Tapestry
16. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
17. Music
18. Brother, Brother
NOTES ON CD1:
Tracks 1 and 2 by THE CITY, the band Carole King was in before going solo in 1970. Both tracks from their lone album "Now That Everything's Been Said" released 18 December 1968 in the USA on Ode Records Z12 44012
Tracks 3 and 4 are from her debut solo album "Writer: Carole King" released 21 September 1970 in the USA on Ode Records SP-77006
Tracks 5 to 16 are the entirety of her second solo album "Tapestry" released 10 February 1971 in the USA on Ode Records ODE SP-77009
Tracks 17 and 18 are from her third studio album "Carole King Music" released 30 November 1971 on Ode Records SP-77013
CD2 (60:39 minutes):
1. Sweet Seasons
2. Pocket Money
3. It's Gonna Take Some Time
4. Bitter With The Sweet
5. Goodbye Don't Mean I'm Gone
6. At This Time In My Life?
7. Been To Canaan
8. Ties That Bind
9. Corazón
10. Believe In Humanity (Live)
11. Jazzman
12. Wrap Around Joy
13. Nightingale
14. Really Rosie
15. Alligators All Around
16. There's A Space Between Us
17. Only Love Is Real
18. You've Got A Friend (Live) with James Taylor and String Group
NOTES ON CD2:
Tracks 1 and 3 are from her third studio album "Carole King Music" released 30 November 1971 on Ode Records SP-77013
Track 2 is from the motion picture "Pocket Money" starring Paul Newman and Lee Marvin, also issued 11 January 1972 as the B-side to a US Carole King 45-Single for "Sweet Seasons" on Ode Records ODE-66022
Tracks 4, 5 and 7 are from her fourth studio album "Rhymes & Reasons" released 4 October 1972 on Ode Records SP-77016
Tracks 6 and 8 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED studio outtakes from the "Rhymes & Reasons" LP sessions in July 1972
Track 9 is from her fifth studio album "Fantasy" released 2 May 1973 on Ode Records SP-77018
Tracks 10 and 18 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED live songs; Track 10 recorded live 26 May 1973 in Central Park in New York City with Guests David T. Walker, Charles Larkey, Harvey Mason, Bobbye Hall, Tom Scott, Curtis my and many more; Track 18 recorded live 18 June 1971 at Carnegie Hall in New York City with guests James Taylor on Vocals and Keyboards, Barry Socher on Violin, David Campbell on Viola, Terry King on Cello and Charles Larkey on String Bass (Produced by Lou Adler)
Tracks 11, 12 and 13 are from her sixth studio album "Wrap Around Joy" released 18 July 1974 in the USA on Ode Records SP-77024
Tracks 14 and 15 are from her seventh studio album "Really Rosie" released 31 January 1975 in the USA on Ode Records SP 77027
Tracks 16 and 17 are her eighth studio album "Thoroughbred" released 15 December 1975 in the USA on Ode Records SP 77034
The card wrapround sleeve, fat double jewel case and especially its 42-page booklet lend this release a major feel. Produced and Project Managed by LOU ADLER, BOB IRWIN and PENNY ARMSTRONG for Epic/Legacy - the STEPHEN K. PEOPLES liner notes (dated April 1994) thank a long list of contributors and fact collaborators (and he should). Photos of her and James Taylor, live shots, the Carnegie Hall poster for June 18th that uses the Tapestry artwork and other musician friends pepper the details (singer Merry Clayton, Joni & JT at the microphones) – each album titled and discussed. The musical history building is seriously impressive – Billboard chart details for the eight No.1 singles and three No.1 LPs along with the heroes who musically accompanied her on such a groundbreaking journey – Danny Kortchmar, James Taylor, Leland Sklar and Russ Kunkle never mind the myriad of musicians after.
There is discussion of the Brill Building/Tin Pan Alley songwriting beginnings with Gerry Goffin – Carol Klein morphing into Carole King. There are six pages alone of track-by-track and LP-by-LP credits at the rear (Pages 33 to 39) – it is impressive and deeply thorough.
And the original tapes were used throughout – the VIC ANESINI Remasters shining with what at times feels like compromised material – especially in 1970 and 1971. There are four rarities (discussed later), but overall the sounds get more audiophile as 1972 becomes 1973 etc.
And the original tapes were used throughout – the VIC ANESINI Remasters shining with what at times feels like compromised material – especially in 1970 and 1971. There are four rarities (discussed later), but overall the sounds get more audiophile as 1972 becomes 1973 etc.
While CD1 cannot fail to impress with the entire "Tapestry" album dominating (Tracks 5 to 16) – the other six cuts are no slackers either. While (as I said earlier) the exclusion of the hugely melodious "Snow Queen" is a major dick move – the lovely re-working of her "Up On The Roof" (originally a hit in 1962) and her own "Child Of Mine" are pointing at the mellow and warm style that would flourish during the January 1971 sessions for "Tapestry". Her second album for the tailend of 1971 "Music" is under-represented here – but I will forever associate "Brother, Brother" with The Isley Brothers and their superb Soul-Funk cover of it on their "Brother. Brother. Brother." album on T-Neck Records).
But things take something of a nose-dive for me when you get to CD2 and its mid-riff. Stuff from "Really Rosie" and "Fantasy" have not worn well at all with even "Jazzman" sounding seriously dated now. And while the two Previously Unreleased 1972 outtakes from the "Rhymes & Reasons" LP sessions are interesting at best – the 1973 live in Central Park previously unreleased song has her vocals wavering badly and is easy to hear why it remained canned. An emotional live rendition of "You’ve Got A Friend" – a hit for James Taylor from his "Mud Slide Slim And The Blue Horizon" also (also 1971) – takes it all home but again you can hear why it was canned – their vocals are off in places - James taking a few moments to get his voice in line with hers (at least the string instruments give it a lovely feel). "Only Love Is Real" is a forgotten melodious gem from the "Thoroughbred" album too.
Classily presented, sounding boss and lickity-split - "A Natural Woman: The Ode Collection 1968-1976" is a looker for sure and a wee treat on the ears into the under five pounds bargain. You just wish it had gone that extra mile on both discs – Carole King is indeed the kind of Legacy Artist who deserves it and more...
