Search - Carole King :: Wrap Around Joy

The " Mistress of Melody" At Her Musical Best

Luigi | Cal. U.S. | 10/12/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have much enjoyed Carole's music over the years. Ofcourse "Tapestry" from 1971 seems to overshadow everything else that she has done for some people. That's because it was such a huge success, with 15 weeks at #1 and staying on the charts for 5 - 6 years.Worldwide sales now stand at 24 million! But several of her albums/cds are just as good if you really give them a listen. "Wrap Around Joy" is top-notch from start to finish. More instruments are added into the mix on this one giving it a more polished feel. And musically it all sounds great. The production doesn't take away from the songs in any way. It really only adds to it on this album. Carole has always had a way with a good melody, making the songs easy to remember. The lyrics are meaningful and down to earth. This album too went to #1 and produced 2 top ten singles. "Jazzman" just missed the top spot by making it to #2.Carole received a Grammy 'nomination' for Best Female Pop/Rock Performance for "Jazzman". Next up was "Nightingale" coming in at #9. Actually for me this whole cd plays like a greatest hits collection. Many songs sound like they should have been hit singles."Your Something New", "My Lovin Eyes",and the shoo-bee-do-wah sounds of "You Gentle Me" are just a few of the radio friendly sounding in this bunch. One of the best songs for me is "Change In Mind,Change Of Heart",a slow beautiful ballad sung heartfelt the way Carole knows how to sing a meaningful lyric. Her songs have been done by uncountable other artists, but for me she seems to sings them the best herself in most cases. She captures something very honest and real in her delivery."WRAP AROUND JOY" is a great listen from start to finish. One of her very best.You can also get this as a REMASTERED IMPORT on a 2 cds in one collection if you look on this site. They sound great with the updated sound. "WRAP AROUND JOY" is a very strong and solid album. Also check out "RHYMES & REASONS". Another solid 'melodic' effort from Carole King."