Carole King Tapestry: Live in Hyde Park 2016

Carole King Tapestry: Live in Hyde Park 2016, available through Youtube.

This is a performance of a classic album.  The album Tapestry was released in 1971.  It marked a turning point for King who had been a song writer for some time, and now was a solo artist.  Carole King is a classic artist and has been making music since the late 50s when she wrote "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow."  This album is the pinnacle of her career.  It includes classics like "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow," And "You've Got a Friend."  It includes the song made famous by Aretha Franklin, "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman."  Another anthem is "I Feel the Earth Move."  "Where you Lead" was written as a show of support from a woman to a man, then the women's lib movement hit so she hesitated singing it.  However it was reworked for the Gilmore Girls as a daughter and mother singing it together.  Her own daughter, Louise Goffin, joined her in singing it.  It is uncanny how closely she resembles her mother of 40 years ago.  King played the guitar for the rock song "Smackwater Jack."

She also performed other songs, including a medley of songs she wrote for other artists.  There was "Go Away Little Girl" sung by Donny Osmond.  They performed Jazzman with Jamie Talbot joining them on saxophone.   

King also sang many encore numbers including "Up on the roof" which is the "when this old world starts to getting you down song."  Another encore song was "locomotion" and then "Tumbling Down."  The cast from Beautiful, The Carole King Musical  joined for a song.  She then concluded with another arrangement of "You've Got a Friend."  It is amazing to me how youthful King looked.  She was in her 70s for this concert.

 

Music Review: James Taylor: Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon

 This was James aylor's third album and his most successful.  It rose to number two on the pop 100 chart thanks in part to the strength of the song, "You've Got a Friend," which when released as a single is the only James Taylor song to reach num er one.  This song was written by Carole King.  Her album released the same year including the same song reached number one and kept the Taylor album from. claiming this spot.  King wrote the song as a response to James Taylor's song, "Fire and Rain" from his previous album in which he sings, "I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend."  Both these songs are two of my favorite of all time.  

The other song which mas ade a siungle from this album was "Long Ago and Far Away."  This song has a sad theme, dreams not turning out theme, which is a general feel of this album.  "Where do your golden rainbows end?  Why is this song I sing so sad?  Dreaming the dreams I dream, my friend. Loving the love I love to love to love to love.  Joni Mitchell provides backup vocals and Carole King plays piano.

The "Highway Song" was also made a single.  It is a traveling song, the life of a singer.  "You Can Close Your Eyes" is just James Taylor, his guitar and his song, with minimal back up.  It is the b-side of "Highway Song."  It is a lullaby where he is singing to his lover.  Taylor considered it a secular hymn.

James Taylor has a distinctive voice, and his own style of writing songs.  I enjoy the easy listening.

Music Review: Celine Dion: Lets Talk About Love

 Celine Dion: Lets Talk About Love, Sony Music, 1997.

This is Celine Dion at her best.  It includes her signature song, "My Heart Will Go On" from "Titanic."  This at the time was the highest grossing singe from a female artist.  It is really beautiful.  Her wistful and emotional singing in this song makes it one of the greatest.  

She collaborates with the Bee Gees and they sing backup for their song, "Immortality."  This is another classic moment.  She also sings a Carole King song, "The Reason."  She sings a duet with Barbra Streisand, "Tell Him."  This is another special moment.  They sing well together.  Dion nicely covers the song, "When I Need You."  She sings a duet with Luciano Pavarotti, "I Hate You Then I Love You.  The duet version is very nice.  "You make me laugh then you make me cry."