Elly Roberts reviews
Carole King: The Living Room Tour
Distributed by
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, aka
Carole King, finally emerges from the shadows on a superb live double disc.
Caught gigging at three venues in the States, the Auditorium Theatre
Chicago, Greek Theatre LA, and Cape Cod Melody Tent Hyannis Massachusetts,
the sixties icon develops an idea which she's successfully deployed over
several years. Playing private gigs, which is now part of the super-rich
showboating weapon in the USA, King extends the intimate formula onto the
bigger 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 with
snippets from her memorable back-catalogue. King is joined by guests Rudy
Guess, Louise and Sherry Goffin and Gary Burr on various tracks; though it's
her solo work which impresses the most as she handles the keys like a good
fitting glove.
Delving into songs that haven't been heard live for many a year, she's out
to prove that her music is as relevant to day as it was in her heyday of the
early sixties and seventies - and it is.
Starting in 1962 in the UK with the single It Might As Well Rain Until
September then It's Too Late nine years later, she faded away in the UK,
though three successive timeless albums Tapestry (1971), Music and Rhymes
and Reasons (both 1972) they ensured her cult status around the globe. Other
classic songs, some solo efforts and co-writers ex-husband Gerry Goffin and
Toni Stern, they were covered by numerous artists such as Little Eva (The
Locomotion), Herman's Hermits (I'm Into Something Good)
Songs one to six are pure brilliance as she gently saunters through her
forte - melodic balladeering, with Lay Down My Life taking top prize for
emotionally charged lyrics, which are quite profound. Jazzman and Smackwater
Jack lifts the atmosphere to the crowd's delight as they provide the
clapping. Rounding off disc one, she embarks on a seven song medley (see
tracklisting above) in an attempt to cram-in as many songs as possible.
Disc two opens with a stunner - Loving You Forever, surely the 'new' wedding
song as Gary Burr perfectly compliments the songbird - the harmonies are
divine. The remainder is as superb as disc one.
It's Too Late is as good if not better than the original, as are Friend, I
Feel The Earth Move, and achingly beautiful Natural Woman. Semi-a-capella
Chains bring the crowd out of its shell once more, proving to be one of the
many highlights.
Locomotion brings the house down on a glorious night. The songs, lyrics and
melodies are a very powerful reminder that this artist was arguably the
first female singer-songwriter in the world.
King has pulled off a master stroke, so let's hope she does it all over
again here in the UK - I'll be first in the queue. Or, maybe she'd like to
play in my living room, though it might cost an arm and a leg!
Weblink:
Carole King.com
The full list of tracks included are :
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.