Carole King

Carole King in A&M Studios during recording of Tapestry.
Photo by A&M Chief Photographer Jim McCrary.
This is a custom print signed by Carole and Jim. 

"When Lou signed her, it was first with a group called The City, and then she went on her own with the album “Writer,” which barely made the Billboard charts, and then the historic record-setting “Tapestry.” ....It took some time — a lot of work, the right songs and the right producer at the right time."--Marshall Blonstein, Goldmine Magazine, November 16, 2016

"'Tapestry' was recorded in A&M's studio. Lou [Adler] had a great concept: he wanted the album to let you hear a great songwriter in an honest way. At that time, a bunch of singer-songwriters were dominating charts – James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, our own Cat Stevens. Those people could write and perform songs on record in a stylish way: laid back and interesting. 'Tapestry' came out of this trend. I remember going to a radio station with the album. The DJ played not one, but three tracks in a row! I saw that and thought, 'This is going to be amazing.' That's how quickly it was accepted."--Herb Alpert

"[Carole King] played me some of what ultimately became Tapestry. That was the album that excited me enough to want to go back into the studio. Tapestry maybe cost $15,000, but I doubt it was that much. I remember the first ad, 'Honesty Is Back.' The album stayed at Number 1 for fifteen weeks. The timing was right. Suddenly, the singer-songwriter was in."--Lou Adler as told to Joe Smith

CAROLE KING CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Carole King: Writer sold only 8,000 copies although it was critically acclaimed.

Tapestry produced four #1 Billboard Pop singles.

By May 1973, Tapestry sold 5,500,000 copies in the United States.

Tapestry spent 302 weeks on the Billboard Pop Album Chart--almost six years.

Recording Industry Association of America began issuing platinum certifications because of the high sales of Carole King's Tapestry album.

In 1972 Carole King was the first woman to receive the top four Grammy Awards for Song of the Year(You've Got a Friend), Record of the Year (It's Too Late), Album of the Year (Tapestry), and Best Pop Vocal Performance Female. She also won a Billboard Trendsetter award "for bringing personal statement songs into a pre-eminent position within the mainstream markets."

Tapestry was ranked #36 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Music shipped gold in 1971. By May 1973 it sold 1.2 million copies.

In 1972, Ode Visual began developing "The Carole King TV Special." It was to be sold to a network. The project became a motion picture feature now titled 'Carole King: 10 Years of Music" and was bought by Columbia Pictures.

A U.S. tour was planned for 1973. In May she played 13 cities. In June, her Free Concert in Central Park was filmed with the thought of using it as a television special.

Continue to Carole King Biography

OFFICIAL PROMOTION FOR CAROLE KING

Carole King On Ode Records
Thoroughbred New Music On Ode Records

Official autobiography: A Natural Woman: A Memoir