"New York has given me such an awful lot - stimulus, ideas, feelings to write - the concert is just a small way of giving something back" - Carole King
On Saturday May 26th, 1973 before 100,000 plus fans on the Great Lawn of Central Park in New York City, a generational talent singer-songwriter at the undeniable top of her game enjoyed a humbling homecoming a mere 14 miles from the house in Brooklyn where she grew up. The historic event highlighted the earth-moving power she’d unleashed with her watershed Tapestry (already being touted as one of the highest selling albums in history a mere two years after its release), all the way through her soon-to-be released song-cycle album Fantasy, (her fourth consecutive Lou Adler-produced album to land in Billboard’s Top Ten), Carole King’s performance that day was, according to Jack Nicholson, one of only two current events “proper” to be seen at in public.
Kicking off the show solo by expressing gratitude that a threatening storm had held off, the first portion of the performance highlights recent songs that were nigh-canonical at this point...from “Beautiful” to “Smackwater Jack” to “It’s Too Late” Carole’s deft piano and voice accompaniment is both enrapturing and riveting.
Later joined by her 11 piece band, all bedecked in customized St. Louis Blues hockey jerseys (“the musical note logo looked cool and they were cheaper than suits” said Adler of the sartorial decision) the second half of the gig was resplendent and lush, highlighting the bulk of the songs from Fantasy, and overall, the epitome of a crack band gelling on the material and connecting with the audience. Closing out the evening with “You’ve Got a Friend” dedicated to dear friend James Taylor, the overall feeling conveyed here is simple: joy.
Produced by Lou Adler and released in conjunction with Ode Records and Sony Music, Carole King Home Again is a previously unreleased concert recording and a stunning document of one of the greatest contributors to the American songbook. Presented on two LPs of brick-colored vinyl with one side dedicated to a graphic etching of the Fantasy tour logo. The gatefold jacket and printed inner sleeves feature stellar photos from the performance while the audio here is crisp and beautiful.
Additionally, the professionally filmed performance is presented here in its entirety in pristine quality on DVD. Helmed by the award-winning creatives behind the Coda Collection, the visual tableaux of the concert absolutely shines.
Exclusive to this set is a 7-inch single highlighting the inestimable talents of Lucy Dacus. A long-time fan of Carole King, Dacus recorded transformative covers of “Home Again” and “It’s Too Late” specifically to be included as part of this complete package. Both versions are pure, shining examples of why Lucy Dacus is one of the best singer-songwriters of this generation.
Carole King
Home Again
Produced by Lou Adler
2xLP/DVD tracklist:
1. Beautiful
2. Been To Canaan
3. Way Over Yonder
4. Smackwater Jack
5. Home Again
6. Sweet Seasons
7. It’s Too Late
8. Fantasy Beginning
9. You’ve Been Around Too Long
10. Being At War With Each Other
11. That’s How Things Go Down
12. Haywood
13. A Quiet Place To Live
14. You Light Up My Life
15. Corazón
16. Believe In Humanity
17. Fantasy End
18. You’ve Got A Friend
Lucy Dacus 7-inch tracklist:
1. Home Again
2. It’s Too Late
Lucy Dacus 7-inch tracklist:
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Home Again
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It’s Too Late
Have to say that I totally agree with Toby S. comments. Too many people get complacent with their music. Life is more fun when you get out of your comfort zone. Vault package 51 was my first. I wasn’t too sure about it when it was announced. However, having listened to it last night, I’ve got to say that it’s fantastic. I love the energy of a live show. What an amazing performance, sounds like a studio album, and then you hear the cheering crowd and it’s all the more impressive. I love being exposed to music I likely never would have picked for myself. Looking forward to #52 with Sleep.
I love the people who are like “JW/WS fans don’t want this Carole King crap. I’m canceling!” You sure showed ‘em. Ha! I think they truly believe certain genres of music exist in a single lane never to be influenced by any others. It’s so narrow-minded, patently false, and just dumb. Musicians influence other musicians. It’s always been that way and thank God it has because that is what makes music of all genres great! In a recent Stern interview, Elton John just talked about how great Metallica is and Metallica said they love Elton John. That probably blows the minds of these “rock exists in its own bubble” morons. SO good riddance to these idiots. Take your money and stupidity elsewhere.
This will pair nicely with my Loretta Lynn and Johnny Cash vault releases. Yeap, all three, sitting pretty, right there in the NEVER EVER LISTEN TO AGAIN pile… I’ll be un-subscribing once my yearly renewal has expired. I don’t mind new (or old) and different artists. But JW/WS are ROCK bands. This is what we signed up for. Not this puke.
More non-Stripes/White releases, we have enough already, let’s have a variety, there’s more than enough out there.
I wish TMR would just go back to records. Give us a dope gatefold sleeve, a double LP with a cool 7inch or a Triple LP without it. Save the bullshit flags and coins and DVD’s and send it Media Mail to keep the cost at $60 or right around. This $75 for a record is weak.
This is what I think a great vault package is all about, jack and white stripes are awesome but glad you guys are going off the grid with packages like this from a classic time in music.
Always a surprise to look forward to with these vault packages so keep up the great work, jack is and always will be ahead of the curve, really looking forward to this and many more.
I had been looking forward to sharing the Tapestry songs with my kids so really grateful that this is coming. So looking forward to this—Carole King was extraordinary.
Tried to cancel as soon as they announced this package and they said I was too late don’t want it terrible value for money dont really like Carole so really don’t want a crappy live album have now unsubscribed
Just what every JW fan wants, a Carole King album for $65! Blows.
I actually appreciate these non-white stripes/Jack White related releases. And the DVDs. Not sure what all the whining is about.