Simple Things (1977)
Welcome Home (1978)
Touch The Sky (1979)
Pearls: Songs of Goffin and King (1980)
Release Date: February 28, 2102
Review Date: February 26, 2012
For years, baby boomers the world over have, as a demographic, has been almost solely for continued great sales of many an artist’s catalog from the late 50’s through the early 80’s. How? By purchasing the CD versions of the vinyl albums that brought us many hours listening pleasure and memories. One of the biggest heartaches, though, has been on those occasions when there wasn’t, or isn’t, a CD release of a cherished album.
For Carol King fans, this has especially been the case for those who have wanted to flesh out their collection of albums from this prolific songwriter and performer. I mean, c’mon! We’re talking CAROLE KING, for gosh sakes! We’re talking about the woman who wrote songs for other hit makers for nearly ten years before launching her own history making solo career.
Did I already say that we’re talking about CAROLE KING, for gosh sakes? Well, we are and if you’ve been bemoaning the fact that some of her albums, Simple Things (1977), Welcome Home a(1978), and Touch The Sky (1979) haven’t been released on CD here in the states or that you haven’t seen Pearls: Songs of Goffin and King (1980), in quite a while, you can now commence with de-moaning. Those great volumes of Ms. King’s songwriting and performing mastery are now being made available.
Released on Carole’s own Rockingale Records and Concord Music Group, each cherished release includes the original photography and album notes. How cool is that?
Here’s the run down on these great re-releases:
Simple Things
Ms. King’s first release on the Capitol label, and featured her legendary band, Navarro, which included Rob McEntee, Mark Hallman, Rob Galloway, Michael Wooten, Miguel Rivera and Richard Hardy. The album earned Ms. King yet another gold record and introduced Rick Evers, her songwriting husband. Evers died tragically within a year of the album’s release and while King’s next album, Welcome Home, was in the preparation for release. Songs of note: In the Name of Love, Hard Rock Café, One and To Know That I Love You.
Welcome Home
Described as “eclectic and exploratory”, this album broadened the boundaries of Carole’s songwriting prowess and highlighted her willingness to embrace a wide range of genres and to take risks. Songs of note: Disco Tech and Venusian Diamond.
Touch The Sky
For this album, some of the members of Jerry Jeff Walker’s band joined some of the members of King’s band to craft this wonderful blend of country and folk on the foundation of Carole’s songwriting mastery. In addition to playing piano on You Still Want Her, Time Gone By, and Crazy, King played acoustic guitar on these notable tunes: Passing of the Days, Dreamlike I Wander and Walk With Me.
Pearls: Songs of Goffin and King
One of Carole King’s best records of her career (second only to Tapestry, of course!), Pearls is a collection of King’s work with her former husband, Gerry Goffin. The album features tunes that King and Goffin had written that others recorded and are known by. Songs on note: Hey Girl, The Loco-Motion , and Hi De Ho (Blood, Sweat and Tears).
These four albums are must-haves for Carole King fans and musicologists, alike.
Written by Randy Patterson
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