Tapestry

carole king was famous as a writer of girl-group hits in the '60s. in 1971, she became more famous. that's the year tapestry became one of the biggest-selling lps of all time. it's easy to hear why—the music is loose, earthy, l.a. session-pop. king is casual, intimate, and tough; she covers all the emotional ground of the post-liberated woman with ease. she brings adult nuance to "will you still love me tomorrow?" and comes up with hits ("it's too late," "i feel the earth move") whose white-soul realism and maturity put pop hits to shame.