Search - Carole King :: Speeding Time

Alabaster Lady

Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 08/04/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Lou Adler managed Carole King and had previously managed The Mamas & the Papas and Jan & Dean. His production mixes King's songs with synthesizers in an attempt to update Carole's sound. It doesn't work overly well since King excels on her own merits. That said, the songs themselves are good and King's vocal performances are consistently strong. She teams with former husband Gerry Goffin on 4 of the tracks. Carole dusts off "Crying In the Rain" that was recorded in 1961 by the Everly Brothers and peaked @ #6 on the charts. The pulsing synth version boasts Danny Kootch on guitar and a blazing sax solo by Plas Johnson. "Sacred Heart of Stone" has Carole on synth with a great vocal, "I think it's time for me to turn away, You invented the world we're living in today; When you inherit the earth and all its gold, it's not my hand you will get to hold." The title track is a pretty melody with a rousing chorus, "But hang in, hold on, There will be relief, Y'gotta try to keep your love alive." "So Ready for Love" puts Carole back on acoustic piano with one of her stunning but lesser-known melodies in a delightful performance, "How many people get the chance to love again?" "Dancing" is a rousing upbeat track that puts a smile on your face as your foot taps uncontrollably. "Alabaster Lady" has Carole's intricate piano and her soaring melody, "You're so very young, Your life is just beginning; Your consciousness begun like a sleepy child awakening." The Goffin/King opener "Computer Eyes" percolates with syth effervescence. "One Small Voice" is another excellent classic King composition that references the children's story "The Emperor's New Clothes." Lou Adler's production experiments with Carole King's sound and does not payoff, but her songs continue to be excellent, her vocals moving and the musicianship first rate. While maybe not her strongest set, this is an overall satisfying listening experience. I have both the import German Atlantic release and the new 2004 Wounded Bird release. Wounded Bird has condensed the booklet into a two-page foldout and updates the engineering a tad. Technically, both CD version releases are on a par. Enjoy!"

Speeding Time......

G. Carter | Temple Hills, maryland United States | 10/07/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Has been unfairly reviewed over the years because of the use of synthesizers on this release..it was 1983 get over it! This is a different sound for Carole but it works. "Speeding Time" is a very good record in the CK catalog, 'Alabaster Lady' is the song that most love on this Lp, strong vocal performance..other highlights are 'Crying in the rain' & 'So Ready For Love'(which could've been a hit). Very good songs that one and only Carole King could deliver!"