A Natural Woman: The Ode Collection (1968-1976) [Box]

Performer: Carole King
Artist: James Taylor
Engineer: Eric Weinbang; Hank Cicalo
Producer: John Fischbach; Lou Adler
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: Personnel includes: Carole King (vocals, piano). This 2-CD box set contains 36 tracks including 2 previously unreleased songs and 2 previously unreleased live recordings. In addition, the package comes with a 36-page booklet with extensive liner notes and rare photos. Composer: Carole King. Personnel: Carole King (vocals, piano, Fender Rhodes piano, Clavinet, organ, keyboards, background vocals); James Taylor (vocals, acoustic guitar); David T. Walker, Dean Parks (guitar); Danny Kortchmar (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, congas); Red Rhodes (steel guitar); Ken Yerke, Ronald Folsom, Lya Stern, Thomas Buffum, Marci Dicterow, Eliot Chapo, Robert Lipsett, Glen Dicterow, Jay Rosen, Kathleen Lenski, Sheldon Sanov, Barry Socher, Gordon Marron Strings, Miwako Watanabe, Polly Sweeney, Haim Shtrum (violin); Carole Mukogawa, David Campbell , Alan DeVeritch, Paul Polivinick, Denyse Buffum (viola); Dennis Karmazyn, Gottfried Hoogeveen, Jeff Solow, Judith Perett, Terry King, Nathaniel Rosen (cello); Ernie Watts (flute, woodwinds, saxophone); Mike Altschul (woodwinds, saxophone); Plas Johnson , William Green , Buddy Collette (woodwinds); Curtis Amy (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Tom Scott (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Chuck Findley, Robert Bryant, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Al Aarons, Ollie Mitchell (trumpet, flugelhorn); Oscar Brashear (flugelhorn); George Bohannon (trombone, euphonium); Dick Hyde, Charles Loper (trombone); Fred Jackson, Jr. , Gene Goe (horns); Ralph Schuckett (electric piano, organ); John Fischbach (Moog synthesizer); Harvey Mason, Sr. , Joel O'Brien (vibraphone, drums, percussion); Charles Larkey (electric bass); Russ Kunkel (drums, percussion); Jim Gordon (drums); Bobbye Hall (congas, bongos, tambourine); Tessie Calderone (congas); Ralph MacDonald (percussion); Delores Hall, Eddie Kendricks, Abigale Haness, Julia Tillman Waters, Sherry Goffin, Louise Goffin, Merry Clayton (background vocals). Liner Note Author: Stephen K. Peeples. Unknown Contributor Role: James Taylor . Arrangers: David Campbell ; Norman Kurban. The two-disc set A NATURAL WOMAN collects the highlights of Carole King's eight-year tenure at Lou Adler's Ode Records. Of course, of the several albums she released between 1968 and 1976, one stands out above all others; TAPESTRY is an all-time classic, the definitive '70s singer/songwriter album and the epitome of piano rock. A NATURAL WOMAN treats the album with the respect it deserves, including it in its entirety. What's remarkable about this 36-track collection is that as brilliant as songs like "It's Too Late," "Where You Lead" and "So Far Away" are, the rest of the set is nearly up to their level. In fact, listening to the songs from the follow-up RHYMES AND REASONS, it's remarkable that this album didn't match the stratospheric commercial success of its predecessor. The set also includes rarities like the 1972 movie song "Pocket Money" and four unreleased tracks, two live takes including a duet with James Taylor on "You're Got A Friend" and two surprisingly fine outtakes from RHYMES AND REASONS.

Q (1/95, p.269) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...this chronologically presented collation starts well...goes stellar...then gradually, amid the welter of album tracks and the occasional rarity, fritters pleasantly away..."

In the 1960s, Carole King (along with husband and collaborator Gerry Goffin) wrote more classic pop and rock songs than anybody this side of Lennon and McCartney. Working as part of the now-legendary Brill Building songwriters stable, she penned gems for the Monkees, the Byrds, Dusty Springfield, and scores of others. In the early '70s, she pioneered the confessional singer-songwriter genre with her landmark solo album TAPESTRY, in the process inspiring several generations of troubadours.

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