I'll bet everyone of a certain age, or younger, or older !! .. knows at least 1/2 a dozen Carole King songs without realising it, and in reality, probably a lot more.
She's written or co-written over 60 songs that charted in the UK - if you're in the US almost 120 made it to the Billboard 100.
When Bobby Vee asked you to 'Take Good Care of My Baby', Carole was behind him.
The Chiffons enjoyed 'One Fine Day' because of her.
The Drifters were 'Up On The Roof' on her recommendation.
Dusty Springfield told us she was 'Goin' Back' thanks to Carole.
When Herman's Hermits Peter Noone said 'I'm Into Something Good' it was her doing.
The Shirelles asked pleadingly 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow' and even The Monkees 'Pleasant Valley Sunday' had the Carole King touch.
Famously, in 1962 when Eva Boyd wanted to earn some extra money by babysitting for Carole King and Gerry Goffin they heard her sing, got her to record a demo written for Dee Dee Sharp, and Little Eva and 'The Loco-Motion' became part of musical history.
1962 was also the year that Carole's voice hit the charts as well as her words. My first memory of hearing her sing was when 'It Might As Well Rain Until September' made it to number 3 in England.
And so to 'Tapestry'
Anyone with the least knowledge of Carole King knows that somewhere in the background is James Taylor - he appears on her stuff, she appears on his. So it is with 'Tapestry'. He was the one who effectively convinced her to record the album where she did her own versions of some of her songs that had already been hits for other artists. As mentioned above 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow' came out in 1960 for the Shirelles. James Taylor made a hit version of 'You've Got A Friend' and '(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman' was a 1967 hit for Aretha Franklin.
On his 1974 album 'Smiler' even Rod Stewart got in on the act by recording '(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Man'.
Bless him !
With a Broadway musical written about her, more awards and honours than you can poke a stick at and a catalogue of music spanning 7 decades from the 1950s to today Carole King is an institution - a voice that has been the soundtrack to everybody's lives.
This album should be in every collection.
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