Tapestry is a ground-breaking pop album by singer-songwriter Carole King, released in 1971 (see 1971 in music). The album features King's well-crafted, heartfelt songs sung in her honest, intriguing voice with minimal production by Lou Adler. It has earned a spot as one of the quintessential recordings of the rock era. Tapestry was ranked number 1 for fifteen weeks and remained on the charts for over six years. The album also garnered four Grammy Awards including Album of the Year; Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female; Record of the Year ("It's Too Late"); and Song of the Year ("You've Got a Friend").

King wrote or co-wrote all of the songs on the album, several of which had already been hits for other artists such as Aretha Franklin "Natural Woman" and the Shirelles "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?" James Taylor, who encouraged King to sing her own songs, would have a number 1 hit with "You've Got A Friend."

In December 2003, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Tapestry as the 36th greatest album ever. Also in 2003, the TV network VH1 named it the 39th greatest album ever.

Various artists combined to re-record all the original tracks for a complete tribute album released in 1995 entitled Tapestry Revisited: A Tribute to Carole King.

Track listing

all songs by Carole King, except where noted

1. "I Feel the Earth Move" - 2:58
2. "So Far Away" - 3:55
3. "It's Too Late" (King, Toni Stern ) - 3:53
4. "Home Again" - 2:29
5. "Beautiful" - 3:08
6. "Way Over Yonder" - 4:44
7. "You've Got a Friend" - 5:09
8. "Where You Lead" (King, Stern) - 3:20
9. "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?" (Gerry Goffin, King) - 4:12
10. "Smackwater Jack" (Goffin, King) - 3:41
11. "Tapestry" - 3:13
12. "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (Goffin, King, Jerry Wexler) - 3:49
13. "Out in the Cold" [*] - 2:44
14. "Smackwater Jack" [live][*] (Goffin, King) - 3:21

* previously unreleased bonus tracks on 1999 CD reissue

Personnel

• Carole King - synthesizer, guitar, piano, keyboard, vocals, background vocals
• Curtis Amy - bass, flute, baritone saxophone, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, string quartet
• Steve Barzyk - drums
• David Campbell - cello, viola
• Merry Clayton - vocals, background vocals
• Terry King - cello, tenor saxophone, string quartet
• Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar - guitar, conga, electric guitar, vocals
• Russ Kunkel - drums
• Charles Larkey - bass, electric bass, string bass, string quartet
• Joni Mitchell - background vocals
• Joel O'Brian - drums
• Michael Pultand
• Ralph Schuckett - piano, keyboard, electric piano
• Barry Socher - violin, tenor saxophone, viola, string quartet
• Penn Steinberg - bass
• Perry Steinberg - bass, violin, tenor saxophone, string bass
• Taylor Boy and Girl Choir (Joni Mitchell and James Taylor) - background vocals
• James Taylor - acoustic guitar, guitar, vocals, grandfalloon
• Julia Tillman - vocals, background vocals

Production

• Producer: Lou Adler
• Engineers: Vic Anesini, Hank Cicalo, Bob Irwin, Carole King
• A&R: Steven Berkowitz
• Mixing: Bob Irwin
• Mastering: Vic Anesini, Steve Hall
• Surround mix: Paul Klingberg
• Product manager: Jessica Sowin
• Project manager: Jessica Sowin
• Project director: Howard Frank
• Preparation: Bob Irwin
• Art direction: Roland Young
• Design: Chuck Beeson
• Reissue design: Smay Vision
• Photography: Jim McCrary
• Liner notes: James Taylor

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Awards

Grammy Awards