Music - CAROLE KING***

Brother Brother/Its Going To Take Some Time/Sweet Seasons/Some Kind Of Wonderful/Surely/Carry You Load/ Music/Song Of Long Ago/Brighter/Growing Away From Me/Too Much Rain/Back To California

Music was the quick follow up album from singer songwriter Carole King. Unfortunately the creative spark behind the top selling Tapestry was largely absent in the new LP. (US:1 UK:18)

“The first five tracks are as spellbinding and captivating as anything from the classic Tapestry. It definitely lags after that, with inferior filler songs making up much of the album’s lacklustre second side, including ill-advised stabs at country-rock.”

“Carole King released Music less than a year after Tapestry. Since its release, for better or worse, it has always been associated with her greatest work. When put in that context, it comes up a little short. When taken on its own merits, it was a brilliant album in its own right.”

“It is an intimate album that exudes warmth. Her vocals are passionate and soulful. The music is simple and the lyrics have intelligence about them. It’s not really a cohesive album as the material covers a number of musical styles and directions, but most of the songs, when taken individually, have a simple elegance.”

“Music is overshadowed and underappreciated but it remains a minor classic. If you have only been exposed to Carole King through Tapestry or one of her compilation albums, then this is a good place to begin to know her a little better.”

“Carole King's Music remains one of the most underrated seventies singer/songwriter albums. Tapestry was an almost impossible act to follow, but this is an outstanding collection of more great songs and winning performances. While it may not hit the peaks that Tapestry did, it is solid and consistent, with, to my ears, no filler. Sweet Seasons was a hit, and there are other highlights. The whole album projects the combination of warmth and intelligence that is the hallmark of Carole's best music.”

“With Music, King experiments with some new sounds and styles, such as the R & B track Brother Brother which opens the album. The title track is a truly uplifting jazz waltz with an incredible sax improvisation as the centrepiece. Throughout, she utilizes effectively a pair of strong female backup vocalists who strengthen King's own delivery and bring a richness and soulfulness to several tunes.”