When my father bought a radiogram in the early 1970s, my sister and I were able to buy records for the very first time. Not that we could buy many, as we had little money. But I remember quite clearly our first prized LPs, mostly released in 1970 and 1971 — such wonderful years for music: John Lennon's Imagine, Carole King's Tapestry, Sweet Baby James by James Taylor, Relics by Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin III, Emerson, Lake and Palmer's eponymous first album, Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits (1967). We played them over and over again on what was a ridiculously poor sound system. Radiograms were meant as furniture, not hi-fi, and the whole fake-teak structure vibrated alarmingly even at moderate volume. I could have chosen any of these records, but I've picked Tapestry, which is for me one of the most iconic pieces of vinyl ever — perfect voice, perfect songs, perfect arrangements, perfect piano, perfect production, perfect cover design. This album is emblematic of an era.
8 comments:
Great song by a great artist and songwriter.
Oh yes! I bought that record in 1974 or maybe 1973, spent all my hard earned money on it. Thanks for the memories.
Indeed, George. She has been much lauded and honoured, and rightly so. Her influence on popular music was immense.
Well, I was going to mention Joni, but I see you did.
It's a classic, isn't it, Sabine - like Joni Mitchell's 'Blue' and Neil Young's 'Harvest'.
Like you I bought the Tapestry Album way back when it came out. I listened to Carole King’s songs again and again until I knew all the words to the songs, and still remember most of them such as: “I feel the earth move under my feet, I feel the sky tumbling down, I feel my heart start to trembling, Whenever you're around ….Ouh, baby, when I see your face, Mellow as the month of May, Oh, darling, I can't stand it, When you look at me that way, away… and on and on. She would say “tumbeling” and “trembeling” and I sang it that way too. Glorious songs! Another emotional music journey.
Oh yes! Definitely brings back memories from 1971 for me. Thank you!
You've probably heard this. Aretha singing. Carole King in the audience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHsnZT7Z2yQ
Thanks for commenting, everyone, and thanks for the link, Amanda.
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