Tapestry: Live in Hyde Park

by Carole King

Overview

There have been many reissues of Carole King's iconic 1971 album Tapestry, and rightfully so. Perfectly conceived, produced, and executed, it continues to resonate with virtually anyone who hears it. It became one of the defining (and best-selling) records in the history of pop. This recording documents, if the press materials are to be believed, the first-ever concert performance of Tapestry in its entirety in London's Hyde Park in front of some 60,000 people. King is decades older for one, which might have proved daunting -- especially when considering the caliber of musicians who played on the LP sessions: saxophonist Curtis Amy, guitarists Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar and James Taylor, bassist Charles Larkey, and vocalist Merry Clayton, among others. This audio/video document more than satisfies. Kortchmar is still an integral part of the band and, save for veteran Zev Katz on bass and King, are the only baby boomers on-stage. King has continued to perform with few breaks and remains vital, every bit the athletic pianist and resonant, expressive vocalist -- there's a tiny bit of grain during the first few numbers, but they add, not detract; when she warms up, you'd never know she was her mid-seventies. It's worth taking in the video portion at least the first time through. (The CD and DVD are identical in song presentation and both are offered in pristine sound.) First there are a series of tributes on the big screen before she takes the stage: Narration by Tom Hanks, and comments by Tapestry producer Lou Adler (who says it took three weeks and cost $22,000!), David Crosby, Graham Nash, Kortchmar, Taylor, songwriters Barry Mann & Cynthia Weill, and Elton John, who credits King with his entire songwriting career. When the band takes the stage, they dig right in and go for broke on "I Feel the Earth Move." "So Far Away" is offered with a lifetime of regret, sorrow, and acceptance with stills of the session team on the big screen behind the band. King offers short reminiscences between songs, but the performances are far from nostalgic; they are technically solid, and energetically loose enough for a live stage. The video projections, interspersed with shots of a multi-generational audiences, underscore the emotional impact of these songs. King's daughter Louise Goffin joins the band for "Where You Lead" and "Will You Love Me Tomorrow," which are given a new poignancy in this presentation. King even straps on a Stratocaster for "Smackwater Jack." When she and the band finish the album, she takes the stage solo for a Goffin/King medley to offer a wider view of her career; they are snippets, but she pulls them off with finesse. The band rejoins for "Jazzman," "Up on the Roof," and "Locomotion" before the cast of Beautiful: A Carole King Musical joins the band for a send-off with a reprise of "You've Got a Friend." Audio, video, or both, this is a fantastic version of a bona fide classic. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	03/24/2023
Label:	Music On Vinyl
UPC:	8719262028296
Rank:	72824

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Carole King   Primary Artist
Louise Goffin   Primary Artist,Geige,Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Robbie Kondor   Piano,Keyboards,Music Direction
Michelle John   Vocals (Background)
Zev Katz   Bass
Danny Kortchmar   Guitar
Jamie Talbot   Sax (Tenor)
Shawn Pelton   Drums
Marcus Viner   Director
Dillon Kondor   Guitar
Bryan Leitch   Director
Shar White   Vocals (Background)
Beautiful: the Carole King Musical Cast Ensemble   Featured Artist

Technical Credits

Sherry Kondor   Producer
Kevin Elson   Audio Engineer
Gretchen Brennison   Production Director
Carole King   Composer
John Vanderslice   Production Manager
Dave Reitzas   Post Production Mix
Rob Santos   A&R
Jerry Wexler   Composer
Chris Wilson   Audio Post-Production
Toni Stern   Composer
Gerry Goffin   Composer
Jack Richards   Editing
Dave Palmer   Composer
Jim McCrary   Still Pictures
Amy James   Producer
Brian Rasic   Photography
Rolland Ryan   Monitor Engineer
Mike Nack   Authoring
Ed Shea   Backline Technician
Russell Tate   Camera Operator
Eugene O'Connor   Photography Director
Barrie Dodd   Camera Operator
Ross Lahey   Backline Technician
Federico Ruiz   Design,Art Direction
Elissa Kline   Photography,Creative Director
Jeffrey Schulberg   Photography
Jamie Carroll   Camera Operator
Bryan Leitch   Lighting Design
Bill Lord   Executive Producer
Laurie Soriano   Photography
Richard Alcock   Supervising Producer
Nat Hill   Camera Operator
Alex Dodd   Camera Operator
Reg Wrench   Editing
Tom Colbourne   Producer
Sam Keogh   Camera Operator
Tara Master   Project Manager
Rebecca Mason   Production Manager
Chelsea Lindsay   Assistant
Dan Smith   Technical Manager
Dan Robinson   Video Editor
Francis Clegg   Media Consultant
Sean Harwood   Television Production
Louisa Plumstead   Production Assistant
Keren Greenwell   Music Clearance
Joe Cardosi   Tour Manager,Creative Director
Michael George   Technical Manager
Jim King   Executive Producer