Customer Reviews

City Streets

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In the same year that I discovered Carole King--Tapestry, of course--I found out she had a new studio album out. Upon hearing it, I was surprised how unchanged the music was overall, though sporting synths and a snatch of light 80's pop, and how her voice wove the same tapestry back in the 1970's. However, some of the songs are depictions of the darkness one feels in the threatening world.

The mid-paced title track, with its reflective keyboards, can be summarized with "city streets-they can be heaven, they can be hell," and from the POV of the scared and lonely someone for whom the streets are the latter, and wishing for them to give her dreams of hope. Eric Clapton is on lead guitar, with an unmistakable solo at the end.

Some of the synth rhythms of "Sweet Life" recall "I Feel The Earth Move." Putting on a brave face and realizing that it is a sweet life can be difficult, even when it's difficult just to get out of bed. How many can relate to this?: "You feel like you're getting older and older and nobody seems to care/it isn't what you do, it's who you know, ain't that the way it is any more/makes you keep on wondering...what are you living for."

Songs like mid-paced "Lovelight" with its fluttery midi-piano and the leisurely but reflective "I Can't Stop Thinking About You" might belong on a Tapestry Part II-the Next Strand.

With its pronounced synths, "Legacy" could be a Journey song a la "Only The Young." Leaving a legacy of goodness is the key here. "When it all comes down, it's gotta begin with you" she sings, after listing people stealing from each other, things getting wasted, burned out, used up, of which she says "Hey, that ain't the way it oughta be."

Clapton returns on lead guitar while King does piano and an organ recalling Procol Harum's "Whiter Shade Of Pale," on the elegiac and resigned "Ain't That The Way," a summary of life itself: "so it goes/you never know what's gonna happen/you never know, but something always does/and sometimes in quiet desperation/you realize it's never gonna be the way it was." Probably the best song here. Another Tapestry-like song.

Speaking of which "Homeless Heart" recalls the title track to Tapestry sound-wise. The self-torture of remembering laughter, only to have it turn to tears, and asking over and over "Why did you let me go?" leads the protagonist to surrender to her homeless heart. And thematically, "Someone Who Believes In You" becomes this album's "You've Got A Friend." with "when you're searching for that rainbow, I'll help you find it." And the line "just follow where I lead" seems to be "Where you lead I'll follow" (q.v. "Where You Lead" from Tapestry) turned around. This is one of two songs here co-written with Gerry Coffin, the other being the upbeat having a wild night on the town of "Midnight Flyer," with sax by Branford Marsalis.

Despite Tapestry being an unbeatable masterpiece, Carole King does well with this late 80's effort, mainly due to songs but a set of professional musicians to back her up, especially drummers Steve Ferrone (Duran Duran) and Omar Hakim (Sting). With proper marketing, this could've been a Tapestry for the 80's.

After a few years off from recording Carole returned with CITY STREETS- One of her Strongest albums in her catalog! For me this is her BEST! This is the one Lp that can stand on its own and not be compared to the Classic 'Tapesty' Lp, many of her lp's get unfairly measured against 'Tapesty' because it was such a big record(and still holds up after some 34 years!!).

CITY STREETS, every song here is great, and Carole had great musicians with her on this record!

City Streets is an impressive album with wonderful anthemic songs. The nasally introspection so characteristic of her 1970s albums is mercifully absent. Instead she sings robustly on these melodious and catchy compositons. The musical style is an appealing blend of rock and pop.

The brilliant guitar work and the piano stand out in the instrumental mix. The hook-filled title song has evocative imagery whilst there is an anthemic quality to Sweet Life. A message of hope underpins Down To The Darkness although it has a melancholy feel.

A theme of upliftment flows throughout the album, as in the uptempo Lovelight and the intimate love ballad I Can't Stop Thinking About You. Legacy is quite a rock stomper, Aint That The Way a bluesy ballad with moving lyrics, and Midnight Flyer a lilting uptempo rock song with an infectuous hook.

One of my favorites is the elegant and yearning Homeless Heart where the lovely piano stands out. The album concludes with the comforting and inspiring ballad Someone Who Believes In You. These songs are all hidden classics with real soul so rediscovering this album has been a pleasant surprize.

City Streets is an awesome work. There is none of Carole's nasal introspection so characteristic of her 1970s albums. Instead she sings properly and these songs are most impressive, melodious and gripping, whilst the musical style is an appealing blend of rock and pop.

What I like most in the instrumental mix is the brilliant guitar work and the piano. The hook-filled title track has evocative imagery whilst there is an anthemic quality to Sweet Life. Although Down To The Darkness has a melancholy air it brings a message of hope.

There is in fact a tone of upliftment throughout the album, as in the uptempo Lovelight and the intimate love ballad I Can't Stop Thinking About You. Legacy is quite a rock stomper, Aint That The Way a bluesy ballad with moving lyrics, and Midnight Flyer a lilting uptempo rock song with an infectuous hook.

One of my favorites is the elegant and yearning Homeless Heart where the lovely piano stands out. The album concludes with the comforting and inspiring ballad Someone Who Believes In You. These songs are all hidden classics with real soul so rediscovering this album has been a pleasant surprize.

Carole King at her best is a true musical wonder and sessions for "City Streets" must have blown away everyone in the studio...Carole at her finest in a collection of some of her greatest songs ever. In better times than the musically bland late eighties, "City Streets" would have had numerous hits & "Grammy Awards" as every great song is a winner. Title song opener features Eric Clapton on guitar & Michael Brecker on sax..."City Streets" is a story of longing and fear of getting lost and not finding love in the big city and has the sound of a #1 hit & same with the rocking and funky "Sweet Life" having a similiar infectious feel as "I Feel The Earth Move" and all could have easily gone Top Ten...shame to the music industry for dropping the ball on this engrossing and classic work! A stunning and deeply soulful vocal make "Down To The Darkness" a moving listening experience while "Lovelight" is a magical ride with a great feel to it. No Carole King classic collection is complete without a big soulful ballad and "I Can't Stop Thinking About You" is fine and soulful while "Legacy" is a riveting experience that is the centerpiece of this great collection of illuminating songs and great performances! Anyone who enjoys this peerless wonder will enjoy this wondrous work as it is one of Carole King's finest...Bravo Carole!!!

I bought this when it first came out in 1989 on tape, and it's one of the few I've not yet gotten on CD. She's awesome, and it's different from her earlier stuff, but just as good.

This was, and is a great album. It is the bookend to Tapestry. If Tapestry had not been the soundtrack to so many good and bad things in my I would say this is the better album.

This is a mature woman, singer, and songwriter at the top of what she does best. This is a great cycle of songs, especially for an aging listener who still owns his original Tapestry album. Tapestry = Spring. City Streets = Autumn.

Thanks Carole.

I found this to be a great "comeback" album. It contains four songs by Carole alone (City Streets, Down to the Darkness, Lovelight, Ain't That the Way), two by Carole and former husband Gerry Goffin (Midnight Flyer, Someone Who Believes in You), two by Carole and co-producer Rudy Guess (Sweet Life, Legacy), one by Carole and Paul Hipp (I Can't Stop Thinking About You), and one by Carole and John Bettis (Homeless Heart). Featured guests (cameos) include Eric Clapton, Max Weinberg, and Branford Marsalis. A very smooth album - well worth 5 stars!

This is a great album. But be sure to check all Amazon listings for this title and artist - you can get the exact same cd for a lot less money.

this collection is one of the worst (and, frankly, most embarrassing)of Carole's releases. I thought "Simple Things" was a departure from her previous artistic integrity, but, "City Streets" sunk Carole to a new low. Overly synthesized, bad writing, and bad arrangements. Carole should have retired after "Thoroughbred". It was her last well produced and listenable album. Only redeeming song here is "Homeless Heart", and it's heatbreaking to hear, being remembrance of what Carole King once was.