The Light Everlasting
Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 01/04/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Carole King is one of my favorite artists. "Simple Things" is probably my favorite of her albums. Thanks to the Japanese, this CD -- so long out of print -- is on CD for the first time. "Simple Things," "In the Name of Love" and "Hard Rock Cafe" appeared on a compilation CD of Carole's middle period titled "Time Gone By." Unfortunately for the consumer, the same cover art from "Simple Things" LP was used; so they can be easily mistaken. This was probably Carole's least successful LP commercially, but has handsome rewards for those who appreciate her excellent songcraft and performance. The CD contains the same 10 tracks from the original LP.
The title track opens with distinctive striking chords. Loving appreciation for the natural world glows with an expansive arrangement, "I want to see the flowers growing wild on the hillside, to see the sun rise in the morning, Sunlight growing filling the skies." "Hold On" follows with a searing lead guitar and an exquisite positive lyric that Carole performs with strength and conviction, "Hold on until we get there, You know when we get there, all the dark forces will be gone." It amazes me that "In the Name of Love" hasn't become a classic with versions by Barbra Streisand, Linda Ronstadt and others. Carole's slow melody is gorgeous and her piano is incredibly fluid as she sounds like the voice of wisdom, "Birth and life and death make a circle we are all part of, To see the light everlasting, live in the name of love." "You're the One Who Knows" is a driving rocker with blistering lead guitar. "God Only Knows" is a turbulent rocker with Carole pounding the ivories as the lyrics work through a kaleidoscope of emotion, "Sometimes I feel like I've given enough, now I want to take." The CD concludes with the exquisite "One," one of my favorite Carole King songs. The track speaks to universal feelings of brotherhood and compassion, "He is one. She is one. A tree is one. The Earth is one. The universe is one. I am one. We are one." Carole's vocals on the track sound like a voice in the wilderness, true and clear. If I had to list my all-time favorite albums, Carole King's "Simple Things" would easily make my top ten. It is underrated and musical ambrosia for the soul. Bravo!
"
Simple Things
L. Huff | Washington, DC | 12/31/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I purchased this CD, which was advertised as having a Bonus Track, which it DOES NOT HAVE...very disappointing considering the price.
The title track to this CD, Simple Things, is one of my favorite Carole King songs. There are other very songs such as To Know That I love You, In The Name of Love, One, and the hit song from the album, Hard Rock Cafe (in a recent interview, Carole King mentioned that the song was not written about the restaurant chain)."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1