Carole King, one of the greatest singers and composers of all time

grahamg

grahamg

Old codger
Location
South of Manchester, UK
This week I watching a repeat showing of a tribute to the late Dusty Springfield, one of the UK's best female singers, and I noticed one of the songs making her famous was written by Carole King, before Carole started performing her own songs so beautifully, (sorry cant remember the song Dusty sang).

This made me listen again to one of Carole greatest albums on CD in my car, and listen to the words of some of the songs, and this one stood out as being particularly relevant in current times, (though they're all wonderfully written, (not all written or composed by Carole King alone of course):

 

Simple and beautiful lyrics to the above "Home Again" track:

"Sometimes I wonder if I'm never gonna make it home again
It's so far and out of sight
I really need someone to talk to
And nobody else knows how to comfort me tonight
Snow is cold, rain is wet
Chills my soul right to the marrow
I won't be happy 'til I see you alone again
'Til I'm home again and feelin' right
Snow is cold, rain is wet
Chills my soul right to the marrow…"
 
I pretty much love all releases by Carole King.

Here is a favourite of mine from her, and as with the selection you chose, Graham, I feel mine is equally relevant for the times.

 

Lyrics to Carly Simon's song above, (bit sad though!):

All those crazy nights when I cried myself to sleep .
Now melodrama never makes me weep anymore
'Cause I haven't got time for the pain
I haven't got room for the pain
I haven't the need for the pain
Not since I've known you

You showed me how, how to leave myself behind
How to turn down the noise in my mind
Now I haven't got time for the pain
I haven't got room for the pain

I haven't the need for the pain

Not since I've known you
I haven't got time for the pain (the pain)
I haven't got room for the pain (the pain)

I haven't the need for the pain

Suffering was the only thing
That made me feel I was alive
Thought that's just how much it cost
To survive in this world
'Til you showed me how,
How to fill my heart with love
How to open up and drink
In all that white…
 
grahamg said:
This week I watching a repeat showing of a tribute to the late Dusty Springfield, one of the UK's best female singers, and I noticed one of the songs making her famous was written by Carole King, before Carole started performing her own songs so beautifully, (sorry cant remember the song Dusty sang).
Click to expand...
Wishin' and Hoping was Dusty's song

And didn't she do The Wayward Wind also? not sure
 
These lyrics from another track on the Tapestry album fit the times dont they too:

"So far away
Doesn't anybody stay in one place anymore?
It would be so fine to see your face at my door
Doesn't help to know
You're just time away

Long ago, I reached for you and there you stood
Holding you again could only do me good
How I wish I could
But you're so far away

One more song about movin' along the highway
Can't say much of anything that's new
If I could only work this life out my way
I'd rather spend it bein' close to you

But, you're so far away
Doesn't anybody stay in one place anymore?
It would be so fine to see your face at my door
Doesn't help to know
You're so far away

Yeah, you're so far away
Traveling around sure gets me down and lonely
Nothing else to do but close my mind
I sure hope the road don't come to own me
There's so many dreams I've yet to find
But you're so far away
Doesn't anybody stay in one place anymore?
It would be so fine to see your face at my door
And it doesn't help to know
You're so far away
Yeah, you're so far away
Hey, you're so far away"

 
Graham. My apologies, I just seen I posted a video of Carly Simon. What was I thinking?

Note to self, before fully waking in the morning, DO NOT post videos, Marg.

Trying this again.

Not relevant as to what all is going on today, but a superb selection nonetheless.

 
Aunt Marg said:
Graham. My apologies, I just seen I posted a video of Carly Simon. What was I thinking?
Note to self, before fully waking in the morning, DO NOT post videos, Marg.
Trying this again.
Not relevant as to what all is going on today, but a superb selection nonetheless.

Click to expand...

No probs, btw the Jazzman track on your US version of Tapestry doesn't appear on my UK released version, "hows that for a bit of trivia for you!"

One last thing, I haven't posted the "(You Make Me Feel) Like A Natural woman" track here, although it is just about my all time favourite song, (could I have it played at my funeral, not sure its quite right for that purpose unless, well you never know!?). 👩‍👧🤱🤰 .
 
I seem to recall reading somewhere that Carole King started out writing commercial jingles. She is one of my favorite all time female singer/songwriters even though she doesn't have what could be called a "great" (by typical standards) singing voice. Her song writing ability is second to none, though.

She could sing those sensitive ballads like So Far Away, then turn around and just rock out on that piano.

Couple of my favorite rockers of hers....



Shame that they don't write 'em like that anymore.
 
Aunt Marg said:
Graham. My apologies, I just seen I posted a video of Carly Simon. What was I thinking?

Note to self, before fully waking in the morning, DO NOT post videos, Marg.

Trying this again.

Not relevant as to what all is going on today, but a superb selection nonetheless.
Click to expand...
Jazzman is one of my all time favorite songs.

Tom Scott on saxophone.
 
All right, as the thread has gone so well, we'll have the most unsuitable song to be played at a man's funeral now, (better look for another one "before its too late"! ):

"(You Make Me Feel) Like A Natural woman"
Looking out on the morning rain
I used to feel uninspired
And when I knew I had to face another day
Lord, it made me feel so tired
Before the day I met you, life was so unkind
But your love was the key to peace of mind
Cause you make me feel, you make me feel,
You make me feel like a natural woman
When my soul was in the lost-and-found
You came along to claim it
I didn't know just what was wrong with me
Till your kiss helped me name it
Now I'm no longer doubtful of what I'm living for
And if I make you happy I don't need to do more
Cause you make me feel, you make me…

 
I shouldn't have worried, here is one highly suitable for a former local club rugby union player, (who "in practise" managed to drop kick from the corner flag, and swung the ball through the posts at the impossible angle, but for spin/ or swerve, all witnessed by one mate who is no longer with us, and Dai Jones the coach looking totally bemused):

 
This one is haunting and sad but very appropriate and telling lyrics for a funeral I'm sure you'll agree:
"Satisfied Mind" Jeff Buckley

How many times have you heard someone say
If I had money, I would do things my way
But little they know that it's so hard to find
One rich man in ten with a satisfied mind

Money can't buy back, oh, your youth when you're old
A friend when you're lonely, oh, peace to your soul
The wealthiest person is a pauper at times
Compared to the man with a satisfied mind

When my life is over and my time has run out
My friends and my loved ones, I will leave them, no doubt
But one thing's for certain, when it comes my time
I'll leave this old world, oh yeah, ooh yeah, with a satisfied mind

One thing's for certain, when it comes my time, oh yeah
I'll leave this old world oh, with a satisfied mind
Mind, mind, mind, mind, satisfied mind

 
This one would be right up there in all seriousness and the only touble being when I actually popped my clogs!

If ever I would leave you
It wouldn't be in summer.
Seeing you in summer
I never would go.
Your hair streaked with sunlight,
Your lips red as flame,
Your face with a lustre
That puts gold to shame!

But if I'd ever leave you,
It couldn't be in autumn.
How I'd leave in autumn
I never will know.
I've seen how you sparkle
When fall nips the air.
I know you in autumn
And I must be there.

And could I leave you
Running merrily through the snow?
Or on a wintry evening
when you catch the fire's glow?

If ever I would leave you,
How could it be in spring-time?
Knowing how in spring I'm bewitched by you so?
Oh, no! not in spring-time!
Summer, winter or fall!
No, never could I leave you at all!

 
Jim W. said:
I seem to recall reading somewhere that Carole King started out writing commercial jingles. She is one of my favorite all time female singer/songwriters even though she doesn't have what could be called a "great" (by typical standards) singing voice. Her song writing ability is second to none, though.

She could sing those sensitive ballads like So Far Away, then turn around and just rock out on that piano.

Couple of my favorite rockers of hers....



Shame that they don't write 'em like that anymore.
Click to expand...
I Feel The Earth Move... one of my all-time favourites!
 
Lee said:
Wishin' and Hoping was Dusty's song
And didn't she do The Wayward Wind also? not sure
Click to expand...
I'll check and come back to you! 🦸‍♂️

First one a Bacharach and David number

Lyrics
Wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'
Plannin' and dreamin' each night of his charms
That won't get you into his arms
So if you're lookin' to find love you can share
All you gotta do is hold him, and kiss him and love him
And show him that you care

Show him that you care just for him
Do the things he likes to do
Wear your hair just for him, 'cause
You won't get him
Thinkin' and a-prayin', wishin' and a-hopin'

'Cause wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'
Plannin' and dreamin' his kisses will start
That won't get you into his heart
So if you're thinkin' of how great true love is

All you gotta do is hold him, and kiss him and squeeze him and love him
Yeah, just do it
And after you do, you will be his

You gotta show him that you care just for him
Do the things he likes to do
Wear your hair just for him, 'cause
You won't get him
Thinkin' and a-prayin', wishin' and a-hopin'

'Cause wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'
Plannin' and dreamin' his kisses will start
That won't get you into his heart
So if you're thinkin' of how great true love is

All you gotta do is hold him, and kiss him and squeeze him and love him
Yeah, just do it
And after you do, you will be his
You will be his
You will be his

Second one:

The Wayward Wind​

Gogi Grant
The wayward wind is a restless wind
A restless wind that yearns to wander
And he was born the next of kin
The next of kin to the wayward wind

In a lonely shack by a railroad track
He spent his younger days
And I guess the sound of the outward-bound
Made him a slave to his wand'rin' ways

And the wayward wind is a restless wind
A restless wind that yearns to wander
And he was born the next of kin
The next of kin to the wayward wind

Oh, I met him there in a border town
He vowed we'd never part
Though he tried his best to…
 
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One of the best female songwriters few people have ever heard of is Laura Nyro (Nigro)

LauraNyro.jpg


Laura Nyro (/ˈnɪəroʊ/ NEER-oh; born Laura Nigro, October 18, 1947 – April 8, 1997) was an American songwriter, singer, and pianist. She achieved critical acclaim with her own recordings, particularly the albums Eli and the Thirteenth Confession (1968) and New York Tendaberry (1969), and had commercial success with artists such as Barbra Streisand and The 5th Dimension recording her songs. Her style was a hybrid of Brill Building-style New York pop, jazz, rhythm and blues, show tunes, rock, and soul.

She was praised for her strong emotive vocal style and 3-octave mezzo-soprano vocal range.

Between 1968 and 1970, a number of artists had hits with her songs: The 5th Dimension with "Blowing Away", "Wedding Bell Blues", "Stoned Soul Picnic", "Sweet Blindness", and "Save the Country"; Blood, Sweat & Tears and Peter, Paul and Mary, with "And When I Die"; Three Dog Night and Maynard Ferguson, with "Eli's Comin'"; and Barbra Streisand with "Stoney End", "Time and Love", and "Hands off the Man (Flim Flam Man)". Nyro's best-selling single was her recording of Carole King's and Gerry Goffin's "Up on the Roof".

Nyro was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2010, and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.
 
Jim W. said:
One of the best female songwriters few people have ever heard of is Laura Nyro (Nigro)

LauraNyro.jpg


Laura Nyro (/ˈnɪəroʊ/ NEER-oh; born Laura Nigro, October 18, 1947 – April 8, 1997) was an American songwriter, singer, and pianist. She achieved critical acclaim with her own recordings, particularly the albums Eli and the Thirteenth Confession (1968) and New York Tendaberry (1969), and had commercial success with artists such as Barbra Streisand and The 5th Dimension recording her songs. Her style was a hybrid of Brill Building-style New York pop, jazz, rhythm and blues, show tunes, rock, and soul.

She was praised for her strong emotive vocal style and 3-octave mezzo-soprano vocal range.

Between 1968 and 1970, a number of artists had hits with her songs: The 5th Dimension with "Blowing Away", "Wedding Bell Blues", "Stoned Soul Picnic", "Sweet Blindness", and "Save the Country"; Blood, Sweat & Tears and Peter, Paul and Mary, with "And When I Die"; Three Dog Night and Maynard Ferguson, with "Eli's Comin'"; and Barbra Streisand with "Stoney End", "Time and Love", and "Hands off the Man (Flim Flam Man)". Nyro's best-selling single was her recording of Carole King's and Gerry Goffin's "Up on the Roof".

Nyro was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2010, and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.
Click to expand...
This lady:

 
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