Tapestry (album)
Encyclopedia
The album was well received by critics; Robert Christgau
felt that her voice, raw and imperfect, free of "technical decorum", would liberate female singers while Jon Landau
in Rolling Stone
felt that King was one of the most creative pop music figures and had created an album of "surpassing personal-intimacy and musical accomplishment".
In 2003, the album was ranked number 36 on Rolling Stone
magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time
. In 2001, the VH1
TV network named Tapestry the 39th greatest album ever. In 2003, it was one of 50 recordings chosen by the Library of Congress
to be added to the National Recording Registry
.
Various artists combined to re-record all the original tracks for more than one tribute album
; the first, released in 1995, entitled Tapestry Revisited: A Tribute to Carole King
, which was certified gold, and the second, released in 2003, entitled A New Tapestry — Carole King Tribute.
Original vinyl
1980 Half-Speed Audiophile
Released on the CBS Mastersound label, cut at half-speed and pressed on virgin vinyl; the track listing was identical to that of the original release.
Epic 82308
The album was reissued in 1999 onto CD, with two previously unreleased bonus tracks.
Legacy Edition
On April 22, 2008, Sony/BMG, Epic
, and Ode
released the 2-disc Legacy Edition of Tapestry, featuring the original album fully remastered, and a bonus disc of live vocal/piano renditions of 11 of the 12 songs on the album recorded between 1973 (in Boston, Massachusetts; Columbia, Maryland
; and Central Park
, New York City, New York) and in 1976 (at the San Francisco Opera House, San Francisco, California
). This deluxe edition also comes with an expansive booklet featuring extended liner notes and photos.
The Legacy Edition of Tapestry does not contain a live version of "Where You Lead
." King smilingly said on her Welcome to My Living Room
DVD that during the time she wrote the song with Toni Stern (in 1970), "we women didn't need to follow our men anymore" and therefore she did not feel comfortable performing the song live. However, when the television series Gilmore Girls
used the song as the show's theme song, the song "got a new lease on life" and that she [Carole King] no longer minded doing live performances of the song. Hank Cicalo recorded the live concerts that make up this album, and he remixed the performances for this release.
Bonus disc track listing
Production
Singles charts
Honors
In 2003 Tapestry was one of 50 recordings chosen to be added to the National Recording Registry
. Recordings added to the National Recording Registry are picked to be preserved in the Library of Congress
, the largest library in the world, as they are "culturally, historically, or aesthetically important."
Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
felt that her voice, raw and imperfect, free of "technical decorum", would liberate female singers while Jon Landau
Jon Landau
Jon Landau is an American music critic, manager and record producer, most known for his association in all three capacities with Bruce Springsteen.He is currently the head of the nominating committee for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame....
in Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
felt that King was one of the most creative pop music figures and had created an album of "surpassing personal-intimacy and musical accomplishment".
In 2003, the album was ranked number 36 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" is the title of a 2003 special issue of American magazine Rolling Stone, and a related book published in 2005.Related news articles:...
. In 2001, the VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
TV network named Tapestry the 39th greatest album ever. In 2003, it was one of 50 recordings chosen by the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
to be added to the National Recording Registry
National Recording Registry
The National Recording Registry is a list of sound recordings that "are culturally, historically, or aesthetically important, and/or inform or reflect life in the United States." The registry was established by the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000, which created the National Recording...
.
Various artists combined to re-record all the original tracks for more than one tribute album
Tribute album
A tribute album is a recorded collection of cover versions of songs or instrumental compositions. Its concept may be either various artists making a tribute to a single artist, a single artist making a tribute to various artists, or a single artist making a tribute to another single artist.There...
; the first, released in 1995, entitled Tapestry Revisited: A Tribute to Carole King
Tapestry Revisited: A Tribute to Carole King
Tapestry Revisited: A Tribute to Carole King is a 1995 tribute album honoring American singer, songwriter, and pianist Carole King. It features a diverse lineup of artists including Celine Dion, Rod Stewart, Bee Gees and Aretha Franklin...
, which was certified gold, and the second, released in 2003, entitled A New Tapestry — Carole King Tribute.
Cover art
The picture used for the cover of Tapestry was taken in the living room of Carole King's house at 8815 Appian Way in Laurel Canyon, California. It shows her sitting near old Indian print curtains and holding a tapestry she hand stitched herself. Also in the picture is her cat Telemachus.Track listing
All songs by Carole King except where noted.Original vinyl
- "I Feel the Earth Move" – 2:58
- "So Far AwaySo Far Away (Carole King song)“So Far Away” is a song written by Carole King and appeared on her 1971 album Tapestry. The recording features James Taylor on acoustic guitar. In the 1995 album Tapestry Revisited, it was covered by Rod Stewart...
" – 3:55 - "It's Too Late" (lyrics by Toni Stern) – 3:53
- "Home Again" – 2:29
- "Beautiful" – 3:08
- "Way Over Yonder" – 4:44
- "You've Got a FriendYou've Got a Friend"You've Got a Friend" is a song from 1971, originally written and performed by Carole King. It was included in her album Tapestry of 1971, but was made famous by James Taylor's cover version the same year...
" – 5:09 - "Where You LeadWhere You Lead"Where You Lead" is a song written in 1970 by Carole King and Toni Stern.It first appeared on King's bestselling Tapestry album in January 1971. The song was inspired from the Book of Ruth, where it says: "Where thou lead, I shall follow"....
" (lyrics by Toni Stern) – 3:20 - "Will You Love Me TomorrowWill You Love Me Tomorrow"Will You Love Me Tomorrow", also known as "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow", is a song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King and originally recorded by The Shirelles. It has been recorded by many artists and was ranked among Rolling Stone 's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time at #125...
?" (Gerry GoffinGerry GoffinGerry Goffin is an American lyricist. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 with former songwriting partner and first wife, Carole King. he has co-written six Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers.-Career:Goffin enlisted with the Marine Corps Reserve after graduating from...
, King) – 4:12 - "Smackwater JackSmackwater JackSmackwater Jack is a 1971 studio album by Quincy Jones. Tracks include the theme music to Ironside and The Bill Cosby Show.-Track listing:# "Smackwater Jack" – 3:31...
" (Goffin, King) – 3:41 - "Tapestry" – 3:13
- "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman(You Make Me Feel like) a Natural Woman" A Natural Woman" is a 1967 single released by American soul singer Aretha Franklin on the Atlantic label. The record was a big hit for Franklin, reaching number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, and became a standard song for her...
" (Goffin, King, Jerry WexlerJerry WexlerGerald "Jerry" Wexler was a music journalist turned music producer, and was regarded as one of the major record industry players behind music from the 1950s through the 1980s...
) – 3:49
1980 Half-Speed Audiophile
Released on the CBS Mastersound label, cut at half-speed and pressed on virgin vinyl; the track listing was identical to that of the original release.
Epic 82308
Reissues
CD reissueThe album was reissued in 1999 onto CD, with two previously unreleased bonus tracks.
- "I Feel the Earth Move" – 2:58
- "So Far Away" – 3:55
- "It's Too Late" – 3:53
- "Home Again" – 2:29
- "Beautiful" – 3:08
- "Way Over Yonder" – 4:44
- "You've Got a Friend" – 5:09
- "Where You Lead" – 3:20
- "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?" – 4:12
- "Smackwater Jack" – 3:41
- "Tapestry" – 3:13
- "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" – 3:49
- "Out in the Cold" (bonus track) – 2:44
- "Smackwater Jack" (Live) (bonus track) – 3:21
Legacy Edition
On April 22, 2008, Sony/BMG, Epic
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
, and Ode
Ode Records
Ode Records was a record label, started by Lou Adler in 1967 after he sold Dunhill Records to ABC Records. It was distributed by CBS Records until 1969. Between 1970 and 1976 the label was distributed by A&M Records, from 1976 onward it was again distributed by CBS Records.Adler deactivated the...
released the 2-disc Legacy Edition of Tapestry, featuring the original album fully remastered, and a bonus disc of live vocal/piano renditions of 11 of the 12 songs on the album recorded between 1973 (in Boston, Massachusetts; Columbia, Maryland
Columbia, Maryland
Columbia is a planned community that consists of ten self-contained villages, located in Howard County, Maryland, United States. It began with the idea that a city could enhance its residents' quality of life. Creator and developer James W. Rouse saw the new community in terms of human values, not...
; and Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
, New York City, New York) and in 1976 (at the San Francisco Opera House, San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
). This deluxe edition also comes with an expansive booklet featuring extended liner notes and photos.
The Legacy Edition of Tapestry does not contain a live version of "Where You Lead
Where You Lead
"Where You Lead" is a song written in 1970 by Carole King and Toni Stern.It first appeared on King's bestselling Tapestry album in January 1971. The song was inspired from the Book of Ruth, where it says: "Where thou lead, I shall follow"....
." King smilingly said on her Welcome to My Living Room
Welcome to My Living Room
Welcome to My Living Room is a ballad written and sung by Carole King. It is featured on her 2005 album The Living Room Tour. Aside from being a song, Welcome to My Living Room is the title to one of Carole King's concert DVDs...
DVD that during the time she wrote the song with Toni Stern (in 1970), "we women didn't need to follow our men anymore" and therefore she did not feel comfortable performing the song live. However, when the television series Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls is an American family comedy-drama series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, starring Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel. On October 5, 2000, the series debuted on The WB and was cancelled in its seventh season, ending on May 15, 2007 on The CW...
used the song as the show's theme song, the song "got a new lease on life" and that she [Carole King] no longer minded doing live performances of the song. Hank Cicalo recorded the live concerts that make up this album, and he remixed the performances for this release.
Bonus disc track listing
- "I Feel the Earth Move" (Live) - 3:07
- "So Far Away" (Live) - 3:34
- "It's Too Late" (Live) - 3:56
- "Home Again" (Live) - 2:23
- "Beautiful" (Live) - 2:29
- "Way Over Yonder" (Live) - 4:25
- "You've Got a Friend" (Live) - 4:50
- "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?" (Live) - 3:21
- "Smackwater Jack" (Live) - 3:08
- "Tapestry" (Live) - 3:03
- "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (Live) - 4:01
Personnel
- Carole King – Piano, Keyboards, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, background vocals - Curtis AmyCurtis AmyCurtis Amy was an American West Coast jazz musician known for his work on tenor saxophone. He also explored many mediums, including soul jazz and hard bop.-Biography:...
– fluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, baritone saxophoneBaritone saxophoneThe baritone saxophone, often called "bari sax" , is one of the largest and lowest pitched members of the saxophone family. It was invented by Adolphe Sax. The baritone is distinguished from smaller sizes of saxophone by the extra loop near its mouthpiece...
, soprano saxophoneSoprano saxophoneThe soprano saxophone is a variety of the saxophone, a woodwind instrument, invented in 1840. The soprano is the third smallest member of the saxophone family, which consists of the soprillo, sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, contrabass and tubax.A transposing instrument pitched in...
, tenor saxophoneTenor saxophoneThe tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
, string quartet - Steve Barzyk – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- David Campbell – celloCelloThe cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
, violaViolaThe viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average... - Merry ClaytonMerry ClaytonMerry Clayton is an American soul and gospel singer , and an actress...
– background vocals - Terry King – cello, tenor saxophone, string quartet
- Danny "Kootch" KortchmarDanny KortchmarDanny "Kootch" Kortchmar is a guitarist, session musician, and songwriter. Kortchmar's work with singer-songwriters such as David Crosby, Carole King, Graham Nash, Carly Simon and James Taylor helped define the signature sound of the singer-songwriter era of the 1970s...
– acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
, congaCongaThe conga, or more properly the tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed Cuban drum with African antecedents. It is thought to be derived from the Makuta drums or similar drums associated with Afro-Cubans of Central African descent. A person who plays conga is called a conguero...
, electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, vocals - Russ KunkelRuss KunkelRussell Kunkel , also known as Russ Kunkel, is an American drummer and producer who has worked as a session musician with a number of well-known artists.Kunkel was born in Pittsburgh, PA...
– drums - Charles Larkey – electric bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, string bass, string quartet - Joni MitchellJoni MitchellJoni Mitchell, CC is a Canadian musician, singer songwriter, and painter. Mitchell began singing in small nightclubs in her native Saskatchewan and Western Canada and then busking in the streets and dives of Toronto...
– background vocals - Joel O'Brien – drums
- Michael Pultand
- Ralph Schuckett – electric pianoElectric pianoAn electric piano is an electric musical instrument.Electric pianos produce sounds mechanically and the sounds are turned into electrical signals by pickups. Unlike a synthesizer, the electric piano is not an electronic instrument, but electro-mechanical. The earliest electric pianos were invented...
- Barry Socher – violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, tenor saxophone, viola, string quartet - Perry Steinberg – bass, violin, tenor saxophone, string bass
- "The Mitchell/Taylor Boy and Girl Choir" (Joni MitchellJoni MitchellJoni Mitchell, CC is a Canadian musician, singer songwriter, and painter. Mitchell began singing in small nightclubs in her native Saskatchewan and Western Canada and then busking in the streets and dives of Toronto...
and James Taylor) – background vocals - James TaylorJames TaylorJames Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000....
– acoustic guitar, granfalloonGranfalloonA granfalloon, in the fictional religion of Bokononism , is defined as a "false karass." That is, it is a group of people who outwardly choose or claim to have a shared identity or purpose, but whose mutual association is actually meaningless.-Examples:The most commonly purported granfalloons are... - Julia Tillman – background vocals
Production
- Producer: Lou AdlerLou AdlerLou Adler is an American record producer, manager, and director.-Life and career:Adler was born in Chicago, Illinois in December 1933, and raised in East Los Angeles. In 1964, Adler founded and co-owned Dunhill Records. He was President of the label as well as the chief record producer from 1964...
- Engineer: Hank CicaloHank CicaloHank Cicalo is an American recording engineer, most notable for his work in the 1960s and 1970s. Among the artists Cicalo recorded are The Monkees, Carole King and George Harrison.-The Monkees:...
; 1971 LP was recorded in Studio B @ A&M Records - A&R: Steven Berkowitz
- Mixing: Hank Cicalo
- Mastering: 1971 LP: Bernie Grundman @ A&M Mastering; Vic Anesini, Steve Hall
- Surround mix: Paul Klingberg
- Product manager: Jessica Sowin
- Project manager: Jessica Sowin
- Project director: Howard Frank
- Preparation: Bob Irwin
- Art direction: Roland Young
- Design: Chuck Beeson
- Reissue design: Smay Vision
- Photography: Jim McCraryJim McCraryJim McCrary is a photographer known for his 1970s album covers, most notably Carole King's Tapestry, Sérgio Mendes's País Tropical & Crystal Illusions and Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs and Englishmen.-External links:*...
- Liner notes: James Taylor
Charts
Album charts| Year | Country/Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | US Pop albums | 1 |
| 1971 | Australia Goset | 1 |
| 1971 | United Kingdom | 3 |
| 1971 | Norway | 8 |
| 1971 | Japan | 29 |
| 1971 | New Zealand | 13 |
| 2000 | US Top Internet albums | 13 |
Singles charts
| Singles - Billboard (U.S.) | |||
| Year | Single | Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | "I Feel the Earth Move" | Pop Singles | 1 |
| 1971 | "It's Too Late" | Adult Contemporary | 1 |
| 1971 | "It's Too Late" | Pop Singles | 1 |
| 1971 | "Smackwater Jack" | Pop Singles | 14 |
| 1971 | "So Far Away" | Adult Contemporary | 3 |
| 1971 | "So Far Away" | Pop Singles | 14 |
Hits from Tapestry
In total, eight of the twelve songs from Tapestry were or became hits, four of which became hits by Carole King.| Year | Artist | Song | Chart Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | The Shirelles | "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" |
1 | |
| 1967 | Aretha Franklin | "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" | 8 | |
| 1971 | Carole King | "It's Too Late" | 1 | |
| 1971 | Carole King | "I Feel the Earth Move" | 1 | With "It's Too Late" |
| 1971 | Carole King | "So Far Away" | 14 | |
| 1971 | Carole King | "Smackwater Jack" | 14 | With "So Far Away" |
| 1971 | James Taylor | "You've Got a Friend" | 1 | |
| 1971 | Barbra Streisand | "Where You Lead" | 40 | |
| 1972 | Barbra Streisand | "Where You Lead" | 37 | Barbra Streisand released a live version of the song in 1972 along with "Sweet Inspiration" |
Sales
| Country | Sales/Shipments |
|---|---|
| United States | 11,000,000+ |
| United Kingdom | 1,000,000+ |
| Japan | 400,000+ |
| Spain | 300,000+ |
Awards and honors
Awards| Grammy Awards | ||
| Year | Winner | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | "It's Too Late" | Record Of The Year Grammy Award for Record of the Year The Record of the Year is one of the four most prestigious Grammy Awards presented annually. It has been awarded since 1959.-History:The honorees through its history have been:*1959-1965: Artist only.*1966-1998: Artist and producer.... |
| 1971 | Tapestry | Album Of The Year Grammy Award for Album of the Year The Grammy Award for Album of the Year is the most prestigious award category at the Grammys. It has been awarded since 1959 and though it was originally presented to the artist alone, the award is now presented to the artist, the producer, the engineer and/or mixer and the mastering engineer... |
| 1971 | Tapestry | Best Female Pop Vocal Performance Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance The Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance is the latest in a series of awards recognizing superior vocal performance by a female in the pop category, the first of which was presented in 1959. The award goes to the artist... |
| 1971 | "You've Got a Friend" | Song Of The Year Grammy Award for Song of the Year The Song of the Year is one of the four most prestigious awards in the Grammy Awards ceremony, if not in all of the American music industry. It has been awarded since 1959 and unlike the Record of the Year award, which goes to the performer and production team of a single song, Song of the Year... |
Honors
In 2003 Tapestry was one of 50 recordings chosen to be added to the National Recording Registry
National Recording Registry
The National Recording Registry is a list of sound recordings that "are culturally, historically, or aesthetically important, and/or inform or reflect life in the United States." The registry was established by the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000, which created the National Recording...
. Recordings added to the National Recording Registry are picked to be preserved in the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
, the largest library in the world, as they are "culturally, historically, or aesthetically important."
| Rankings | ||
| Organization awarded by | List | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Rolling Stone Magazine Rolling Stone Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J... |
The RS 500 Greatest Albums of All Time | 36 |
| VH1 VH1 VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly... |
100 Greatest Albums of Rock & Roll | 39 |