Great music again!

This is another truly great album. Carole's songwriting ability is incredible. She is and we are very fortunate that once in a while she puts out an album. Carole sings with such feeling and is such a pleasure to listen to. The arrangements are really good. You can tell she puts everythings she has into each song.
"Being at war with each other " is a wonderful song. I really love "Directions" & "A quiet place to live". Some of the songs have horns and bongos and sounds really good. This is music with feeling and a message. I don't think people realize how truly great Carole's music is. It is great stuff. Buy it...... The music is timeless.

My pick for the best of the post-"Tapestry" King albums

"Fantasy" was the Carole King album after "Tapestry" that most broke the mold. Of course, the fact that in 1973 "Tapestry" was till high on the Billboard charts when this album came out. The productions are more polished that before and the tone is more soulful than warm and cozy, which is rather surprising since Lou Alder is still the producer. There is even a touch of the Latin with "Corazon." The two best tracks are "You've Been Around Too Long," which has nice guitar work by David T. Walker, and "Believe in Humanity," which is as overt of a message song as King ever wrote or recorded. Ultimately, because this is the King album least like "Tapestry," it is my second favorite because the comparison is no longer inevitable (and therefore not automatically fatal).

THE REALITY IS..."FANTASY" IS ONE OF KING'S BEST

1973's "Fantasy" is certainly one of Carole King's greatest musical achievements and one of the most innovative albums of the early 1970s. The entire album works as a "sound suite" or "medley" as each song bleeds seamlessly into the next without any pause or interruption. King, of course, wrote, arranged and orchestrated all of the music, taking charge of conducting the string sections as well.

Musically, it is simply brillant. Observe the transitions from "You've Been Around Too Long" into "Being at War With Each Other" or how "Corazon" emerges with its bright Latin beat from the final strings of "You Light Up My Life." Likewise, it is a marvel to hear King launch from "Corazon" into the funky, "soul-train" strains of "Believe In Humanity". She is positively joyous.

Lyrically, "Fantasy" has been attacked by critics throughout the years for being superficial and shallow. I find the lyrics adequate and sometimes even thought-provoking...at the same time very straightforward and uncomplicated in their phrasing (but I have always felt the best ideas are stated simply without pretension and complication.) With that said... "Fantasy" becomes more magical and exciting with each and every listen.