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Elly Roberts reviews
Rockingale/Concord/Hear
- Released: August 2005
- Rating: 10/10
- Format: 2-CD set
- Catalogue number : RCD2-6201-2
One-time girlfriend of Neil Sedaka,sixty-two-year-old Carole Klein, akaCarole King, finally emerges from the shadows on a superb live double disc.
Caught gigging at three venues in the States, the Auditorium TheatreChicago, Greek Theatre LA, and Cape Cod Melody Tent Hyannis Massachusetts,the sixties icon develops an idea which she’s successfully deployed overseveral years. Playing private gigs, which is now part of the super-richshowboating weapon in the USA, King extends the intimate formula onto thebigger stage.
Stripping down to the basics, and sitting at her piano for most of the time,the years are rolled back as she thrills the highly expectant audiences withsnippets from her memorable back-catalogue. King is joined by guests RudyGuess, Louise and Sherry Goffin and Gary Burr on various tracks; though it’sher solo work which impresses the most as she handles the keys like a goodfitting glove.
Delving into songs that haven’t been heard live for many a year, she’s outto prove that her music is as relevant to day as it was in her heyday of theearly sixties and seventies – and it is.
Starting in 1962 in the UK with the single It Might As Well Rain UntilSeptember then It’s Too Late nine years later, she faded away in the UK,though three successive timeless albums Tapestry (1971), Music and Rhymesand Reasons (both 1972) they ensured her cult status around the globe. Otherclassic songs, some solo efforts and co-writers ex-husband Gerry Goffin andToni Stern, they were covered by numerous artists such as Little Eva (TheLocomotion), Herman’s Hermits (I’m Into Something Good)
Songs one to six are pure brilliance as she gently saunters through herforte – melodic balladeering, with Lay Down My Life taking top prize foremotionally charged lyrics, which are quite profound. Jazzman and SmackwaterJack lifts the atmosphere to the crowd’s delight as they provide theclapping. Rounding off disc one, she embarks on a seven song medley (seetracklisting above) in an attempt to cram-in as many songs as possible.
Disc two opens with a stunner – Loving You Forever, surely the ‘new’ weddingsong as Gary Burr perfectly compliments the songbird – the harmonies aredivine. The remainder is as superb as disc one.
It’s Too Late is as good if not better than the original, as are Friend, IFeel The Earth Move, and achingly beautiful Natural Woman. Semi-a-capellaChains bring the crowd out of its shell once more, proving to be one of themany highlights.
Locomotion brings the house down on a glorious night. The songs, lyrics andmelodies are a very powerful reminder that this artist was arguably thefirst female singer-songwriter in the world.
King has pulled off a master stroke, so let’s hope she does it all overagain here in the UK – I’ll be first in the queue. Or, maybe she’d like toplay in my living room, though it might cost an arm and a leg!
Weblink:Carole King.com
The full list of tracks included are :
Disc 1:
1. Welcome To My Living Room
2. Peace In The Valley
3. Love makes The World
4. Now And Forever
5. Where you lead I Will Follow
6. Lay Down My Life
7. Jazzman
8. Smackwater Jack
9. Wishful Thinking
10. (medley) Take Good Care of My Baby
It Might As Well Rain Until September
Go Away Little Girl
I’m Into Something Good
Hey Girl
One Fine Day
Will You Love me Tomorrow
Disc 2:
1. Loving You Forever
2. It’s Too Late
3. So Far Away
4. Sweet Seasons
5. Chains
6. Pleasant Valley Sunday
7. Being At War With Each Other
8. I Feel The Earth Move
9. ( You Make Me Feel Like A ) Natural Woman
10. You’ve Got A Friend
11. Locomotion
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.