I’m working my way through my thrift shop find, and have hit upon the work of Carole King. Previously, I’d only known some of the more popular songs from Tapestry, so I was curious to see what else she’s produced. The recording of the album itself just sounds lush, particularly with the opening congas on “Brother, Brother.” This album has also opened my eyes to the instrumentation and arrangements behind King and her voice. In addition to the aforementioned congas and King’s grand piano (featured on the album cover), we’ve got an organ, acoustic bass, guitars, bongos, fleugel horn, sax, flute and woodwinds. Phew! It’s also neat to hear James Taylor contributing on “Song of Long Ago.” The closing song, "Back to California," is probably my top pick on the album with the electric piano and guitar solos, along with the backing drums.
Fans of vinyl often cite the tactile nature of the medium, and I have to say that King has some of my favorite album jackets. They are made with a thick matte paper that just feels high quality even three decades later. (6.5 stars)
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