Customer Reviews

The Carnegie Hall Concert 1971

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Don't let the fact that you already have the "Tapestry" CD (presumably after wearing out two or three copies of the LP before it) make you think this album isn't worth picking up as well. While many of the songs on here were standards long before the CD was released (and the others should have been!), the performances found here have a magic all their own.

King was apparently famous for her stage fright back in those days, and her somewhat nervous between-songs chatter with the extremely appreciative audience seems to confirm that rumor. This, after all, was just a matter of weeks after "Tapestry" had suddenly transformed her into a superstar after over a decade of behind-the-scenes work in the music business - and already, each song she performs from that album here receives a hero's welcome from the audience. But if King sometimes sounds a bit bewildered by her newfound popularity (she introduces "It's Too Late," the #1 song in the country that night, with a shy "Thank you for this, by the way!"), her performances don't suffer at all from it.

Naturally, the set list is dominated by songs from "Tapestry" - all of them are here, except for the title track and "Where You Lead" - but the combination of a stripped-down performance, an enthusiastic hometown audience and the spacious acoustics of the concert hall gives them all a refreshing sound. (The sound quality of the recording does occasionally show its age and King even runs out of breath at one point, but so what?) The much-fabled duet with James Taylor on "You've Got a Friend" is another nice touch for those of us who grew up dreaming of just such a recording.

But the best surprise here is the trio of gorgeous performances from King's 1970 solo debut, "Writer." That album featured most of the lyrical grace of its much more famous successor, but it lacked the near-perfect subtle instrumental styling that made "Tapestry" great and sounds unavoidably dated now for that reason. The spare production at work here proves to be the perfect remedy for that shortcoming, and "No Easy Way Down," "Eventually," and especially "Child of Mine" sound just as timeless as the better-known selections alongside them. If you've only heard the original versions of those songs, this album will be a revelation! Even her short-lived late-`60s band, The City, receives a nod with "Snow Queen," a quirky but interesting number from a usually-forgotten period of her long career.

It's not exactly witnessing the emergence of a star (she had, after all, been making records for over a decade, including a few of her own), but as an intimate performance by a master musician at what proved to be the top of her game, this is definitely one of the all time great live albums of its era.

This album is from a time when musicians were very creative, and didn't tour with large entourages of dancers, hairdressers, and wardrobe staff. If you like Carole King's music, this album is a must. The quality of the sound and the songs on the album are fantastic. It also features guest James Taylor. This is real music, not manufactured stuff which is now often the norm.

If you like Tapestry and "It's Too Late" you must add this to your collection. The songs are well written, well performed, and the piano talent and presence in these selections is amazing. If you enjoy a powerful and rich piano sound, you will love this CD. There is no mistaking the perfect vehicle of that concert grand(Steinway I suspect) behind, infront and alongside Carole as she moves through some of her best. You will love it. You will know why Dusty Springfield and so many others chose Carole King songs. She is the song writer of our time.

This is a wonderful live album capitualting all of Carole King's greatest hits. Carole King was one of those singer-songwriters who provided the musical backdrop for the exploration of alternative ways of looking at, exploring, and experiencing the world around us. Her many popular anthems described her feelings, existential angst, and sentimental deliberations about life, love and the battles between the sexes in very approachable and appealing ways. Both the melodies and the lyrics are topical, memorable, and quite up beat, although she is certainly capable of delivering some thought-provoking and plaintive songs, such as an existential wail over the problems with maintaining a long- distance relationship in songs like "So Far Away".

Yet Carole always keeps the tunes within the pop realm, and packages them in a seamless production with great vocals and impeccable musical arrangements, and what is included in this classic album is a treasure for the ages. From "Tapestry" to "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow", from "(You Make Me Feel) Like A Natural Woman" to ""You've Got A Friend", and from "Home Again" to "It's Too Late", the entire album resonates with her unique gift for terrific lyrics showcasing unforgettable melodies. It's all here, folks, a wonderful album that recapitulates all of the songs that this great pop star gave us as she emerges from the unbelievable sixties to prove the best just keep on singing! Enjoy!

Carnegie Hall is the one venue that most instrumentalists and performers aspire to...and Carole King, who claims to have been the frequent victim of stage fright in those early days of performing, seems to bring an air of confidence and elegance to the much-celebrated arena. Having just been thrust into the limelight earlier the same year with her wildly successful album "Tapestry", King is at the top of her form in one of the most important concerts of her career.

It goes without saying that all of the performances from "Tapestry" are incredibly memorable and even rival the studio recordings. Two compositions however from her earlier "Writer" album are absolutely remarkable and powerful. "No Easy Way Down" and "Eventually" are the evening's highlights and showcase King's simple, direct and persuasive style accomplished with strong vocals, a two-fisted piano style and a beautiful string quartet.

The evening concludes with a surprise visit from James Taylor helping her perform "You've Got A Friend". Don't miss it!

Desde pequeño que escucho a Carole King. Su música y sus dulces melodías me fascinaban. Después cuando entendí el inglés descubrí lo sencillo y a la vez profundo de sus letras. Hoy, que tengo hijos no puedo dejar de emocionarme con canciones como "Child of Mine". Carole King es realmente una de las cantantes mejor dotadas que conozco, su sencillez, sus melodías, sus letras, su simpatía la hacen digna de todos los elogios que ha recibido. Es un placer escucharla. Gracias Carole.

This is a wonderful live album capitualting all of Carole King's greatest hits. Carole King was one of those singer-songwriters who provided the musical backdrop for the exploration of alternative ways of looking at, exploring, and experiencing the world around us. Her many popular anthems described her feelings, existential angst, and sentimental deliberations about life, love and the battles between the sexes in very approachable and appealing ways. Both the melodies and the lyrics are topical, memorable, and quite up beat, although she is certainly capable of delivering some thought-provoking and plaintive songs, such as an existential wail over the problems with maintaining a long- distance relationship in songs like "So Far Away".

Yet Carole always keeps the tunes within the pop realm, and packages them in a seamless production with great vocals and impeccable musical arrangements, and what is included in this classic album is a treasure for the ages. From "Tapestry" to "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow", from "(You Make Me Feel) Like A Natural Woman" to ""You've Got A Friend", and from "Home Again" to "It's Too Late", the entire album resonates with her unique gift for terrific lyrics showcasing unforgettable melodies. It's all here, folks, a wonderful album that recapitulates all of the songs that this great pop star gave us as she emerges from the unbelievable sixties to prove the best just keep on singing! Enjoy!

I had the pleasure of seeing Carole King play a solo set before James Taylor's March '71 concert at Madison Square Garden, and then sit in on piano during JT's set. So I got an advance listen to what would become, in just a couple of months, Carole's Carnegie Hall concert. I wasn't there for that one, but this long-hoped-for CD has everything you'd want. It captures the time and the spirit beautifully. You can hear the nervousness in Carole's voice as she talks about being a New Yorker and comin' home before launching in to "Home Again." I know I can feel the heartache and sadness and hope when she sings "Eventually," which I think is one of the lost gems of the generation. And the addition of the string quartet for that song and a couple of others is sublime. Speaking of sublime, when she says she'll be right back...and you hear the gasps and squeals and cheers when she brings JT on stage and simply says "Surprise!" -- well, it gives me shivers just writing about it. Yes, the live concert repeats a lot of material from "Tapestry," but you won't be disappointed!

And practice she did. Honing her songwriting for years working at the now legendary Brill Building, King is at the top of her game here. Although this disc relies heavily on songs from "Tapestry",(not that there's anything wrong with that), some of these songs are given new life in that they are delivered by King with only her own piano accompaniment. As she takes the stage of this sacred venue, she begins pounding out the intro to "I Feel The Earth Move". If that doesn't send chills down your spine, as the audience reacts with pleasure. It's the selections where King is playing alone on stage that gives these songs a new honesty (if that's possible) and adds a new beauty in their starkness. Perhaps King reveals a little bit more of herself as she "aims to please" the home crowd (she grew up in Brooklyn). By the end of the show, you can hear her voice getting weaker, but it only adds to the intimacy of her stellar performance. Certainly this disc is a time piece, but what a time it was.

...from way before my time but its like I'm there that night with this great album.