Carole King Vinyl Records

Carole King's transition from Brill Building songwriter to confessional artist in her own right produced one of the most consequential albums of the 1970s. Tapestry — her second solo record, released in 1971 — sat in the Billboard 200 for over six years and effectively wrote the template for the singer-songwriter movement that followed.

Her catalogue stretches back further: the songs she co-wrote with Gerry Goffin in the early 1960s were recorded by The Shirelles, Aretha Franklin, James Taylor and many others. The vinyl pressings of Tapestry and its companions deserve the close-listen treatment.

Best Carole King Albums on Vinyl

Tapestry (1971)
— One of the defining albums of the singer-songwriter era. "It's Too Late", "You've Got a Friend", "I Feel the Earth Move". Essential.

Music (1971)
— The follow-up to Tapestry, recorded in the same window with much of the same band. Quieter and less famous but full of strong songs.

Rhymes & Reasons (1972)
— More piano-led and intimate than Tapestry. A consolidation rather than a step forward, but a beautifully made record.

Writer (1970)
— Her solo debut, often overshadowed by Tapestry but worth seeking out. The songwriting craft is already fully formed.

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