Carole King “Tapestry”

It’s funny that just after vowing my new, concise, “one paragraph” approach, the random arrow points to this one—a record you could write books about, and I’m sure people have—there must be one of those 33 1/3 books about this 1971 record, right? —that may be the one I’ll read next, because I do love this album. A record with this many great songs—I mean, not only the hits (in itself, kind of crazy) but individual songs that are different enough from each other to be whole worlds—but fit together, as well. What do I love about this album? For one thing—the way that first song, “I Feel the Earth Move,” sounds on an actual turntable, vinyl record—entirely different than the digital version—same with the big hit, “It’s Too Late”—I don’t know why this record exhibits such a stark contrast between analog and digital, but it does. Maybe it’s just this day—the air, the humidity—it sounds better than any other record. This one holds a special place in my heart as well—a secret maybe only one person will be in on with me—and I’m not going to elaborate, sorry. See my “memoirs” for that—I mean, someday, from a long time ago, and so far away, in the future. And a big maybe, no guarantees, you know that. The album cover, of course, is one of the best ever in our brief, lucky-to-live-during-it, 12-inch vinyl record era covers. There’s probably another book just on the album cover. A chapter for the cat. The back cover is wall-to-wall words, lyrics—though you can understand them, too—and credits—some fine musicians, and songwriters—you know who one of them is? Carole King. It opens up to reveal a concept I have no concept of—someday someone will explain it to me (something to look forward to). Every song is great, did I say that? And I even love them all (or, say, ten of them, let’s be real). What was going on that day at “Ode Records” when someone in charge of eventual-dollars okayed such an unlikely album cover? There is no evidence whatsoever of a plan—and you have to believe that a single magic photographic frame was exposed—and that was that. Carole King and the cat have the exact same expression—which is unreadable (as a cat).

9.5.25