Carole King’s “Tapestry” is one of those albums that will be repackaged and reissued for as long as human beings enjoy music.Back in April, Sony released a two-disc “Legacy Edition” of “Tapestry,” including a disc of previously unreleased live tracks from the 1970s.
Below are some tasty cover versions of songs from “Tapestry.” Click the titles to hear them on my Vox blog.
1. “You’ve Got a Friend” – Dusty Springfield
2. “Smackwater Jack” – Buffy Sainte-Marie
3. “So Far Away” – Marlena Shaw
4. “I Feel the Earth Move” – Lizz Wright
5. “It’s Too Late” – The Isley Brothers
I downloaded this a couple of months ago. I remember it from way back when but for some reason it didn't resonate. Maybe I was too young to get it. Now, I get it!
ReplyDeleteI love "I Feel the Earth Move." It hasn't left my mp3 player since I first put it on.
btw, are the Isley Brothers the kings of cover songs, or what?
^ I remember black folks were all over this album when it first came out. At least those with any pretense at all of being musically hip.
ReplyDeleteWe definitely were rocking this album when it came out. In fact, I remember rocking the 45 of "Been To Canaan", which may still be my favorite song of hers, although that's a hard thing to pick.
ReplyDeleteTo me, one of the tests of good songwriting is how well they hold up in covers. This cross section of songs proves how hardy these tunes are.
To me, one of the tests of good songwriting is how well they hold up in covers.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely right, dude.
And since you brought that up... that's one thing I always noticed with Prince. Most of his songs don't stand up as covers, IMO. Prince songs are great reflections of his own musical personality, but they are not necessarily great stand-alone songs like Carole King's songs, or like Smokey's.
Reading this post made me realize how much I miss this album. I played the death out of it on vinyl. When I moved overseas, my brother got custody of it, along with all of my other albums. Goodness knows where it is now. Sounds like something that needs to go on my Christmas list.
ReplyDeleteBklyn6 I agree with you: The Isleys could cover a great song and make it even better.
^ "Summer Breeze"!
ReplyDeleteThe Isleys could cover a great song and make it even better.
ReplyDeleteYou know that's right geneva girl!
UBM took the words right out my mouth. Their version of "Summer Breeze" is so sexy to me.
I remember black folks were all over [Tapestry] when it first came out.
I didn't hear this one in Bed-Stuy. Guess that explains it. :-(
^ I should do a post about "White Albums That Black People Love." Especially as a '70s phenomenon.
ReplyDeleteLet's see... The Bee Gees' "Children of the World"... Steely Dan's "Gaucho"...
^ I should do a post about "White Albums That Black People Love." Especially as a '70s phenomenon.
ReplyDeleteLet's see... The Bee Gees' "Children of the World"... Steely Dan's "Gaucho"...
And "Silk Degrees." Although that one's so clearly based on black musical styles, and by someone who'd been immersed in them for years, that it's a little less surprising.
But here's an idea off at a tangent from that one, UBM: how about geeky white bands that gain at least some black following -- for example, Devo? I know that one of the members of the Jackson Five (Jermaine maybe?) was a huge fan.
I should do a post about "White Albums That Black People Love." Especially as a '70s phenomenon.
ReplyDeleteI can't come up with too many examples from the '70s. Well, my younger sister LOVED the Electric Light Orchestra's "Out of the Blue." Walter Murphy's "A Fifth of Beethoven"; and Average White Band's* "AWB", maybe?
*There's a technicality: the one black guy.
I like estiv's idea. :-)
I know that one of the members of the Jackson Five (Jermaine maybe?) was a huge fan.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Devo backed up Jermaine on "Let Me Tickle Your Fancy."
how about geeky white bands that gain at least some black following...
ReplyDeleteKraftwerk! Black folks were seriously into "Trans-Europe Express."