"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:
-
Home Again
-
It’s Too Late
Oops sorry and Lucy Dacus wow !
It’s an incredible package, I came late many years ago to Carole King, what an artist. Any doubts play the vinyl I think that’s the point. Listen and learn and respect to all.
Why chose DVD over Blu-ray? Not even asking ofr 4K but there’s definitely a quelity step between DVDs and BluRays unless the original material can not be transfered properly (sound and vision wise).
as for the package’s artist, I am not that familiar with C.King but this looks like a very good introduction to her music. So, no unsubcribing for me :)
Nice post, Gerardo L. Thanks for giving her props.
When I saw this I immediately knew this is being gifted to my mother. I’m I disappointed that it’s not something I’m into l, sure, but the opportunity to give surprise someone with this set when it arrives makes it just as special and unique as the other releases!!
Another vote to continue with DVDs, and Blu-ray when available.
People complaining about a fun, wild card subscription service need to remember they made it easy to cancel and resubscribe with every new package.
Maybe I’ve just been lucky, but was already a fan of Sleep, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Pearl Jam, Captain Beefheart, and Carole King, so I’ve loved every not-directly-related to TMR/Jack release.
Looking forward to this one. Looks incredible!
Folks on this thread need to stop poo-poo’ing on Carole King. Seriously. She’s been inducted TWICE into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, is a Kennedy Center Honors inductee, a Gershwin Price recipient, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner, and has a ton of other accolades— including over 100+ songs that she wrote/co-wrote that have charted. She has literally given shape to Rock and Roll since she began writing music in the 1960s. I believe King is certainly worthy of being recognized with her own Vault Package and applaud the good folks at TMR for recognizing one of the greatest female musical artists of all time.
I’ll get mine on the Bay for $25 like usual. Hopefully next quarter is better, but I bet TMR releases JW’s other record in the Vault Store during this Vault period so people are forced into subscribing.
I really don’t need this one, even though I just might learn something by giving it a spin. But still, Carole King means absolutely nothing to me, and I don’t expect she will after getting this one. Is there a way to drop this vault package only, and still be a subscriber? Or do I have to unscribe and then re-subscribe for future vaults (seems kind of stupid though)?