This album could arguably be called Carole King’s Greatest Hits. Certainly one of the greatest LPs of its era – or any era – it showcases the former Tin Pan Alley songstress at the peak of her powers. I was hooked from the first throbbing chords of I Feel The Earth Move, which was followed by So Far Away and It’s Too Late. And it doesn’t end there. Home Again, You’ve Got A Friend, Natural Woman – on and on it goes. I could listen to this record over and over agin and never get bored.
King’s career began in the 1960s when she and her first husband, Gerry Goffin, wrote more than two dozen hits for other artists, many of which have become American standards. She has made 25 solo albums in total, the most successful being this one, which for 20 years held the record for the most weeks at number one by a female artist.
The pressing I have is on the Mobile Fidelity label, which is getting harder to find and starting to go up in price as a result. But it’s worth tracking down because it sounds so absolutely beautiful! Warm, spacious … a terrific low end and highs that aren't too bright … really quiet vinyl, too. Honestly, MoFi hit a home run here. I had another copy, on the Music On Vinyl label, but it doesn’t come anywhere near close to this pressing, which is widely considered to be the best sounding (although some people prefer the original release on the Ode label, which I might try to track down later just for fun … it usually sells, used but in good shape, for about $10.00).
There's also a 45 RPM double LP set on ORG, but my MoFi sounds good enough and besides, my Linn doesn't play 45 RPM records. And also, I'd have to get up out of me listening chair too often to flip sides.
And … I collect 33.3 recordings exclusively.
I must admit I was proud and also impressed when my daughter bought this record one day while we were digging through the bins in a record store somewhere together. I didn't tell her about it. She already knew about it. I must have raised her right!
The MoFi costs about $100 on the secondary market as I write this. If you see it, grab it. It will only get more expensive over time and you'll kick yourself for not acting sooner. No collection is complete without this record. It's a home run for Mobile Fidelity, especially given some recent foul balls. If you don’t have this LP in you collection you’ve got a glaring omission that you need to correct. Definitely …
This album could arguably be called Carole King’s Greatest Hits. Certainly one of the greatest LPs of its era – or any era – it showcases the former Tin Pan Alley songstress at the peak of her powers. I was hooked from the first throbbing chords of I Feel The Earth Move, which was followed by So Far Away and It’s Too Late. And it doesn’t end there. Home Again, You’ve Got A Friend, Natural Woman – on and on it goes. I could listen to this record over and over agin and never get bored.
King’s career began in the 1960s when she and her first husband, Gerry Goffin, wrote more than two dozen hits for other artists, many of which have become American standards. She has made 25 solo albums in total, the most successful being this one, which for 20 years held the record for the most weeks at number one by a female artist.
The pressing I have is on the Mobile Fidelity label, which is getting harder to find and starting to go up in price as a result. But it’s worth tracking down because it sounds so absolutely beautiful! Warm, spacious … a terrific low end and highs that aren't too bright … really quiet vinyl, too. Honestly, MoFi hit a home run here. I had another copy, on the Music On Vinyl label, but it doesn’t come anywhere near close to this pressing, which is widely considered to be the best sounding (although some people prefer the original release on the Ode label, which I might try to track down later just for fun … it usually sells, used but in good shape, for about $10.00).
There's also a 45 RPM double LP set on ORG, but my MoFi sounds good enough and besides, my Linn doesn't play 45 RPM records. And also, I'd have to get up out of me listening chair too often to flip sides.
And … I collect 33.3 recordings exclusively.
I must admit I was proud and also impressed when my daughter bought this record one day while we were digging through the bins in a record store somewhere together. I didn't tell her about it. She already knew about it. I must have raised her right!
The MoFi costs about $100 on the secondary market as I write this. If you see it, grab it. It will only get more expensive over time and you'll kick yourself for not acting sooner. No collection is complete without this record. It's a home run for Mobile Fidelity, especially given some recent foul balls. If you don’t have this LP in you collection you’ve got a glaring omission that you need to correct. Definitely …
BONUS TRACK
I've also got Tapestry Live In Hyde Park, which was put out by the Music On Vinyl (MOV) label. I've got mixed feelings about MOV. Some of their releases sound good, some not so much. The live recording of Tapestry falls somewhere in the middle, but I had to have it because I love Tapestry so much. It's a digital recording - it has to be - so I don't know why I didn't just buy the CD.
Oh, well.
UPDATE: I got rid of Live and all the other Music On Vinyl records in my collection.
I've also got Tapestry Live In Hyde Park, which was put out by the Music On Vinyl (MOV) label. I've got mixed feelings about MOV. Some of their releases sound good, some not so much. The live recording of Tapestry falls somewhere in the middle, but I had to have it because I love Tapestry so much. It's a digital recording - it has to be - so I don't know why I didn't just buy the CD.
Oh, well.
UPDATE: I got rid of Live and all the other Music On Vinyl records in my collection.
