Carole King
Writer

I discovered Carole King a little at a time, and through other singers.

My first encounter with one of her songs was with the lively "The Locomotion" by Grand Funk Railroad. Then it was Aretha Franklin with "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", and I fell madly in love with "You've got a Friend" sung by James Taylor, and so on, with Queen, the Beatles ("Chains" on their first album), up to none other than Lisa Simpson and Bleeding Gums Murphy in a legendary episode of The Simpsons ("Jazzman"). In short, whenever I stumbled upon beautiful tracks, the name C. King often popped up. At first, I didn't even know she was a woman. Then I learned her full name, Carole.

Carole? I was a bit foolishly surprised, I admit. Of the glorious '60s, due in part to my ignorance, I didn't know any female songwriters (certainly none so important and famous). Overwhelmed by the allure that composers have on me, I developed a secret platonic crush on her past "self" (a bit like what had already happened with Agneta of ABBA). At 18, if you listen to music from morning to night, it can happen. However, I want to emphasize that I really have a visceral admiration for those who compose, regardless. This is not to detract from instrumentalists and singers; I know well that performance is in itself an art form, yet I always deeply admire the ability to create something new and beautiful. So, nothing strange then if I tell you that I procured all her albums.

Carole King began her career as a composer at 20, spending the '60s in an artistic and marital partnership with lyricist Gerry Goffin, with whom she wrote a slew of hits for other artists. Those were years behind the scenes, far from the spotlight, but at the same time, it was a very inspired period, and her name had already become legendary. But in 1970, there was a turning point. Two years after her divorce from Goffin (with whom she still collaborated for a few more years), she released her first solo album, "Writer" (1970). The brilliant author also became a singer-songwriter, eventually singing and recording her own songs. In the early '70s, Carole reached her creative peak, producing her greatest masterpieces. "Writer" is one of them. It is a much underappreciated album, and often her debut is mistakenly indicated as the subsequent "Tapestry" (1971), her undisputed and celebrated bestseller. But even "Writer" already contains tracks that will become great classics, such as the beautiful ballad "Up on The Roof", the very sweet "Child of Mine" and the more rhythmic and delightful "Sweet Sweetheart". Her compositional roots draw vital nourishment from the American musical tradition at 360 degrees, from musical theater, pop, white songwriters, but especially from black music, notably Soul, as is evident in "I Can't Hear You No More" and "No Easy Way Down". In every track, her melodic taste is impeccable and original, be it energetic moments like "Spaceship Races", or delicate like the wonderful "Eventually".

Her vocals are not extraordinary, but her voice has an intense timbre that makes her a passionate interpreter of great value. In some tracks, like "To Love", her past as an author for pop groups is evident, as well as in the famous "Goin' Back", already performed by Dusty Springfield and later covered by The Byrds, Queen, The Pretenders, and many others. If the album has a flaw, it is the feeling of a hastily and vaguely immature production.

An album like this would have deserved more refined arrangements and greater attention from the record companies, guilty of organizing an inadequate advertising campaign. Fortunately, the following year these mistakes would not be repeated, and her second album, the already mentioned "Tapestry", would have a different and thoroughly deserved fate.

Rating 8/10