10代の頃初めてこれを聴いた時、前作の"Tapestry"と比べて何かどうもつまんないなぁ、ウエットでないどこか吹っ切れた部分が好きになれなかった。でも今50を越えたオヤジの耳で聞くととっても良いと感じる。非常にエモーションナルで心に残った"Tapestry"よりぐっと前向きで作品の内容もぐっと充実している。前作では歌手というより、ソングライターが自己の内面を歌った捨て身のデモテープというか私家盤のようなアットホーム感があった。ここでは歌手としても自信を持って歌っている。一曲目の"Brother Brother"が好きだ。60年代の公民権闘争を勝ち抜いたアフロアメリカン達を暖かい目でキャロルが見守る。"It's Going to Take Some Time", "Sweet Seasons","Some Kind Of Wonderful","Song of Long Ago"と好い曲が目白押しだ。歌手としても自信をもって歌っている。James TaylorとのDuettの"Song Of Long Ago"は今聴いてもため息が出るほど美しい。あの世に行くときに是非もって行きたい一枚だ。
懐かしいアルバムだ。いったい何回聴いたことだろう。「Song of Long Ago」ではジェームス・テーラーのパートをよくご唱和したものだ。 確かキャロル・キングは妊娠中で、ジャケットの写真はピアノで腹を隠しているという話があったと記憶する。「Tapestry」の大成功、私生活の充実、人生最良の時間を謳歌するキャロルの歌声には自信が漲っている。 春を待つ冬の日だまりのような前作に対して、夏を間近にした晩春の木漏れ日のような作品といえばいいのか。「Tapestry」に劣らず佳曲が多いにもかかわらず、人気では一枚落ちるのは、明るく幸せあふれる雰囲気がわざわいしたのだろう。 しかし、それこそ好きずき。ここにはキャロルの魅力が寿司詰めなのだ。私のお気に入りは「It’s Going to Some Time」「Surely」「Song of Long Ago」など。どちらかというと作曲の評価が高いキャロルだが、これらは歌詞もなかなかどうして素晴らしい。 「幸せでない誰かのために泣こう。そして泣けるほど感じることができたことを喜ぼう」(「Song of Long Ago」)。 私にとっては、このアルバムは「Tapestry」と並ぶキャロル・キングの2枚看板であり、遠い10代の日の忘れがたい思い出と結びついている。
1972年の大ヒットアルバムですが、前年のミリオンセラーTapestryに比べるとあまり聞かないと思います。7曲目のMusicはどこかで聞いたことがあるかもしれませんが、ジャズっぽいきれいな曲。他には、6曲目Carry your load、9曲目Brighterはシンガーソングライターファンの方には是非聞いてもらいたいいい曲です。
In the early-to-mid 70's, Carole King set the standard for the mellow singer-songwriter genre. She released 4 albums in a row that were achievements anyone would be proud of, and then 2 more that weren't bad at all. This album, her second, was pretty much overshadowed by the giant "Tapestry", her first. But the passage of time allows us to see that it is a valid artistic accomplishment in its own right, not a pale follow-up to "Tapestry". Carole's trademark piano and soft percussion are applied to a variety of impressive songs. "Brother, Brother" is a good strong opener, with its tremolo effect and bongos backing up Carole's vocal about keeping a caring eye on someone she is fond of. "It's Going To Take Some Time" is softer, but still serious, about someone picking up the pieces after a hard fall. "Sweet Seasons" brings us back into the sun again, with its terrific piano hook and lyrics describing the joys of "...a life in the open, a life in the country..." "Surely" is my favorite on the album. It is slow and deliberate and shows quiet power as Carole tries to convince her lover of her loyalty. I especially like the lyric "How does the turtle go? Slowly, surely. That's how my love grows..." The title cut to some extent echoes the jazzy feel of "It's Too Late", but it makes a more positive statement and, accordingly, it is more upbeat. "Song Of Long Ago" is a compact, delicate, folklike song with added vocals by James Taylor. The message of this song is that no matter what's happening to you, the important thing is to FEEL. "Too Much Rain" is slow and deliberate like "Surely", with a less happy ending. And just in case all this mellowness has lulled you to sleep, the final cut, "Back To California", will wake you up. It is very reminiscent of The Beatles' "Get Back", with its thumping bass, constant drumming, keyboard solos and even similar chord changes.
Because of its variety, this album is difficult to sum up in a few words. While it looks back to "Tapestry" for inspiration, it also predicts the growth that occurred in "Rhymes & Reasons" and "Fantasy", the 2 albums that followed it.
This CD couldn't be more of a contrast to "Tapestry", which came out earlier in the same year. It has a very definate studio sound in the background musicians, guest vocals and even fade-outs in some of the songs! On the other hand it does have some great songs. My favorite is "Too Much Rain". Carole's range of styles and ability to move her audience is a rare talent. This CD is worth including in your collection.
5つ星のうち2.0"growing away from me" is lousy quality recording
2004年7月13日にアメリカ合衆国でレビュー済み
Amazonで購入
don't buy this cd for "growing away from me" as the recording sounds like it was burned from an old album, lots of pops and crackling. surely they could have found a better source tape or cleaned it up.