AT THE HEIGHT OF HER EXPRESSIVENESS

"Rhymes & Reasons" is another chapter in a string of songwriting and recording successes by Carole King following her phenominal "Tapestry" album. The songs here are highly confessional, introspective, spiritual at times. Musically, one song weaves into the next so effortlessly (each song so thoughtfully arranged with the same soft, accoustical, textural sound.) It is such a carefully-crafted album project in fact that when King's boxed set "A Natural Woman" was released in the early 90s, one could immediately identify the two songs excerpted from "Rhymes & Reasons" and could recognize that the two tracks belonged originally on this album. King is quite simply at her most prolific here. It doesn't get much better than "Rhymes & Reasons". A brilliant project.

Extra special

I really love all Carole's music but this album is so special. She sings about our lives, feelings, problems and it is so real. The music is moving. "Been to Canaan" is the most familiar song on the album for most people but once you hear the rest you will realize that each one is a treasure. Just sit back and listen- it's incredible. The piano in "My, My She Cries" is wonderful. The medody is sweet and beautiful. In the middle of the song Carole sings the melody with the piano it makes me smile!
"The First Day in August" is another great song with Carole playing that wonderful piano. It also has a great string arrangement. It is a sweet love song. "Bitter with the Sweet" is really upbeat. I think Charlie Larkey is playing bass on this one and it is really good and sounds great with Carole on piano. The horns come in the middle with Carole singing the medody. You just gotta hear it. You will love it. I just love hearing Carole play piano and on this album you can hear her very clearly. It's great. Do yourself a favor and buy it.

Pleasant listening but not a great Carole King album

"Rhymes & Reasons" was the second album Carole King released after the monumentally great "Tapestry." This time only sues one of the songs she co-wrote with Gerry Goffin when they established themselves as one of the premier songwriting teams in music, with songs like "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" and "(You Make Me Feel) Like a Natural Woman." Without almost exclusivley new songs, several of which were written with a new partner, Toni Stern, the result is less than satisfying. But, to be fair, we are talking about a singer-songwriter who put out one of the best selling albums of all time. If there had never been "Tapestry" I do not think that my rating would have changed, but the change in perspective would probably allow me to enjoy the album more. "Been to Canaan" was the biggest success on the album, making it to #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart but only #24 overall. The album made it to #2 on the charts, although this was undoubtedly due more to the large residue of affection from the success of "Tapestry" (when you sell that many albums you can do one-tenth as well and still have a "hit"). Still the Carole King albums before and after this one both hit the top spot. That being said, the key thing is how big of a fan you are of Carole King's work, because while it is not a great album it is still a pretty good one.