Fantasy

Carole King | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 1, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sbme Special Mkts.
• ASIN: B0012GN0MQ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #133,606 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Fantasy Beginning

2. You've Been Around Too Long

3. Being at War With Each Other

4. Directions

5. That's How Things Go Down

6. Weekdays

7. Haywood

8. A Quiet Place to Live

9. Welfare Symphony

10. You Light Up My Life

11. Corazón

12. Believe in Humanity

13. Fantasy End

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE REALITY IS...FANTASY IS ONE OF KING'S BEST, September 14, 2002

By 

"earthvolunteer" (Atlanta, Ga. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fantasy (Audio CD)

1973's "Fantasy" is certainly one of Carole King's greatest musical achievements and one of the most innovative albums of the early 1970s. The entire album works as a "sound suite" or "medley" as each song bleeds seamlessly into the next without any pause or interruption. King, of course, wrote, arranged and orchestrated all of the music, taking charge of conducting the string sections as well.

Musically, it is simply brillant. Observe the transitions from "You've Been Around Too Long" into "Being at War With Each Other" or how "Corazon" emerges with its bright Latin beat from the final strings of "You Light Up My Life." Likewise, it is a marvel to hear King launch from "Corazon" into the funky, "Soul Train" strains of "Believe In Humanity". She is positively joyous.

Lyrically, "Fantasy" has been attacked by critics throughout the years for being superficial and shallow. I find the lyrics adequate and sometimes even thought provoking, but at the same time very straightforward and uncomplicated in their phrasing, but I have always felt the best ideas are stated simply without pretention and complication. With that said... "Fantasy" becomes more magical and exciting with each and every listen.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This isn't fantasy, its real life., February 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Fantasy (Audio CD)

Lay back, close your eyes, and listen to the words, phrasing, and music of one of the best albums ever recorded. To Carol King, this may be fantasy, to millions of us, these are songs about everyday life. From the listener being urged to look around... at whats going on around them in "You've Been Around Too Long" to closing with the need to "Believe In Humanity", this album has it all. In between those songs, you will find a non-stop succession of songs about life, hopes and dreams, all beautifully performed. For many listeners, it will seem as if Carol King reached inside your mind and wrote the words you have tried to express for so many years. While written from a female point of view, the songs will have meaning to all. This is a must have album for those times when you want to lay back, enjoy the music, but keep on thinking.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite Carole King Album..., May 1, 2000

By 

yygsgsdrassil "yygsgsdrassil" (Crossroads America) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fantasy (Audio CD)

...the concept album "Fantasy", where the singer/ composer "steps outside herself" and "becomes someone else". It grabs you at "You've Been Around Too Long" and by the time it gets to the jam "That's How Things Go Down"--ie, being pregnant by a no-goodnik--and the ain't no love in the heart of the city cut, "Heywood", you are totally mesmerised by King's vocals, her storytelling, her piano playing and the orchestrations. In fact, with a little tweaking here and there, "Welfare Symphony" and "Believe In Humanity" could have easily fit in Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues" era repertoire..and I know the purists are gonna grill me for that last statement. King's "Tapestry" is her magnum opus, but the earth mother always has put out great, great music. This, I believe, is one of her best...