Customer Reviews

Carnegie Hall Concert: June 18, 1971

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album is full of feeling, soul, and some of the most well-crafted piano-driven ballads in the female singer/songwriter catalogue. Recorded in 1971, this album should be celebrated as a great live concert experience. A string quartet brings added musical flavor towards the end of the album. As the music goes from solo piano, to added guitars and bass, and then finally even another vocalist, we experience King's authentic and powerful ballads, which although lyrically may be fairly straightforward, are harmonically and melodically advanced for pop music. Although King's voice takes a certain amount of grace to accept, it's heartfelt and genuine timbe and pure communicative ability cannot be overlooked. The minimalistic approach to the pieces is in stark contrast to contempary over-production and forgettable lyrics and melodies. Excellent live album, a great sampling of relatively early King music. recommended for any King fan, and any customer who enjoys piano-driven albums. Great live concert experience.

This is just a note to say that the import is superior in sound. There isn't nearly as much tape hiss, and Carole's voice and piano have greater depth and definition. However, I can't understand why the recording engineers couldn't give her a better sound overall from the beginning. Regardless, this is a trememdous improvement.

Carole King's "Tapestry" was a phenomenal album and I heard it for the first time when it was released back in the days. I have been listening to it for 4 decades and I still cannot get enough of it.

This recording of live concert although was released way back in 1996 if my memory serves me right but there is no comparison here with what Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab has been able to achieve. The detail that you hear when you listen to the SACD layer is breathtaking and it cannot get any better than this. Even the CD layer offers a great sound experience on its own. The initial presentation is just vocals and piano but as the album progresses various players and instruments come into play. The vocals are very natural and every instrument stands out on its own.

My evaluation of this very album is based on a tweaked audiophile grade system as well as my trusty Sennheiser HD-600 headphones. If your system is setup right you will have the pleasure of Ms King in your own room singing just for you a few feet away and that too at less than $30, its a bargain to be honest.

This album is part of MoFi's Limited Edition individually numbered in gold lettering disks in beautiful LP like packaging of the good old days. Sooner or later the album will sell out and price will sky rocket, why wait and regret, get it now when it is offered for peanuts. I don't have the courage to pay $300-500 for an album when it is out of print as is the case with most MoFi issues in the past.

For those who like the album Tapestry, this should be on the very top of their list.

I cannot compare this to the domestic version, as I took the plunge and bought the more costly one.

The sound is incredible. Each note of the piano is clear, as is her voice. No hiss, recording sounds. I'm not a sound engineer, but I found the sound amazing -- truly a feeling of being there. In other words, you can "hear" that the music is being played in a concert hall instead of a studio. You can also clearly hear her aside/whisper ("It's apple juice. I know that's hard to believe ...") before she launches into After All This Time (typo on the title on the CD).

The performance on So Far Away is superior to the studio version as well as superior to the "live" version on the re-released Tapestry. She embellishes with both piano and voice; this version is more blues-like than the studio version. I wish she'd left her husband (bass) out of the arrangement, though.

You also hear her Brooklyn accent as she introduces each song ... as well as a little bit on It's Too Late, which also has vocal embellishments not on the studio version.

If you like hearing favorite artists "live" ... and Carole King is a favorite ... then you should own this recording.

This is a great (and maybe rare) CD of early Carole King. Her nervousness is obvious. It was quite an honor to play alone at Carnegie Hall in 1971. She was still close to the beginning of her performing career. Her charm and uniqueness show through here and I'm sure the audience, though not used to hearing pop/folk artists, couldn't help but see her talent. Her choice of songs showed the range of her personal, honest approach to music. Two I especially like are "Child of Mine" and "Eventually". Her phrasing is really the best! Her sets with James Taylor (a very young James Taylor) are not the best part of the concert. His harmonies are not smooth and in general he sounds very young compared to her. (What a contrast to the James Taylor of the mid eighties to now!) All in all this is a great CD and I am pleased to have it in my collection.

This is a great CD of Carole King in concert,lots of great songs and most of Tapestry is performed here! James Taylor make a cameo apperance!!! I'm glad they released this on cd,great sound and booklet too!!! A perfect companion piece to the timeless Tapestry!!! And it's now available at an incredible price too!!! A+

Beautiful recording made by a fabulous entertainer in her innovative prime. The special re-mastering by MoFi makes it all the more natural and appealing.