Sneakeater Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 The Girl Group festival put on by Ponderosa Stomp at Lincoln Center last Saturday was supposed to operate as a tribute to the great Ellie Greenwich. But what it actually served to reveal is that Carole King was the supreme American pop songwriter of the second half of the Twentieth Century. (Disclosure: I bailed in favor of a chamber music concert before the last segment of the show, the explicit Ellie Greenwich tribute.) The first segment of the show was a Revue, in which various girl-group singers performed two or three of their hits. Almost every one of the songs was catchy, tuneful, and full of good spirit. But simply as compositions, the songs composed by Carole King towered over the rest, in a really noticeable way. Solidly crafted compositions with distinctive melodies that don't go exactly where you expect them to, but resolve satisfyingly: she's got all that in spades. So now we know that King was the George Gershwin of the second half of the Twentieth Century. It's too bad none of her lyricists were in the same universe as Ira Gershwin -- that's why her songs might not last as long -- but still, it's nice to know. It's a real trick to be vastly famous and yet still highly underrated. Carole King has pulled it off. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
johnnyd Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 She played the cello part in the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations". Sooooo cool! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sneakeater Posted August 1, 2011 Author Share Posted August 1, 2011 Are you sure that wasn't Carol Kaye? When did Carole King learn to play cello? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wilfrid Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 I was looking at her work for the four album run list. Amazing song book. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sneakeater Posted August 1, 2011 Author Share Posted August 1, 2011 As a solo singer, she has only two good albums (you can make it a three-album run if you tag on the album she made as a member of The City before her first solo album -- but let's face it, the City album and Writer aren't as spectacular as Tapestry). But the real point is that her own recordings aren't even the half of it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Anthony Bonner Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 As a solo singer, she has only two good albums (you can make it a three-album run if you tag on the album she made as a member of The City before her first solo album -- but let's face it, the City album and Writer aren't as spectacular as Tapestry). But the real point is that her own recordings aren't even the half of it. As a result of my childhood I'm almost positive I could sing the entirety Tapestry from memory. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eatmywords Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 Me too, big sis was a huge fan. I remember the Tapestry poster on her wall (Good Humor on another). She’d play that album over and over while she tended to her ‘magical secret plants’ growing outside her window on the roof off to the side. To this day whenever I see or hear CK’s name Will You Love Me Tomorrow or So Far Away go off in my head. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sneakeater Posted August 1, 2011 Author Share Posted August 1, 2011 But again, Tapestry isn't the half of it -- maybe not even an eighth of it. The songs she wrote for others at the Brill Building (OK, "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" is one): what a spectacular body of work!!!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Priscilla Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 Years ago, a guy who was sort of credible on the subject told me that it was Carole herself singing on "The Loco-Motion" and not Little Eva, alleged Goffin/King babysitter. Since then, so since like 1978, I've heard it that way. I've also always esp. liked "Pleasant Valley Sunday," and the one-two punch, so to speak, of the Cookies' "Chains" and the Crystals' "He Hit Me (and it Felt Like a Kiss)" for their sneaky, good-natured subversiveness. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sneakeater Posted August 1, 2011 Author Share Posted August 1, 2011 I always figured Little Eva learned the song off Carole King's demo and so she sang it like Carole. But this could really be the truth. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Priscilla Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 But see you can hear the Carole in there! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sneakeater Posted August 1, 2011 Author Share Posted August 1, 2011 Yeah totally. (You don't know Dan Igram, do you?) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Priscilla Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 No I do not although Yahoo suggests a Dan Ingram was an important DJ. Izzat the guy? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sneakeater Posted August 1, 2011 Author Share Posted August 1, 2011 A super-important NY DJ. To whom Wikipedia ascribes the theory that it was really Carole King singing on "The Locomotion." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eatmywords Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 But again, Tapestry isn't the half of it -- maybe not even an eighth of it. The songs she wrote for others at the Brill Building (OK, "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" is one): what a spectacular body of work!!!!!! I know but my sister was too stoned to play anything else besides Barnabe Bye and the Alessi Brothers. (I have a feeling you know these guys too). I feel privileged that I got to see her sing and act in Blood Brothers 15 (damn,is it that long ago?) yrs ago Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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