#24 Tapestry by Carole King

The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

2025 Album Rank

24

2011 Album Rank

33

Total Points

1944

Year Released

1971

Billboard 200 Chart Peak

1

Weeks at #1

15

RIAA Sales Certification

14,000,000 (Multi Platinum)

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Tapestry Album Details

Released in February 1971, Tapestry transformed Carole King from a behind-the-scenes hit songwriter into one of the most influential and beloved singer-songwriters of her generation. After years penning hits for others alongside lyricist Gerry Goffin, King stepped into the spotlight with a warm, deeply personal album that fused pop, folk, and soul with a confessional, homey intimacy. Her voice, unpolished yet full of emotional nuance, became the sound of quiet revolution.

The album features a remarkable set of songs, including It's Too Late, I Feel the Earth Move, So Far Away, and reimagined versions of King/Goffin classics like Will You Love Me Tomorrow and (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman. With spare arrangements, tasteful instrumentation, and King's expressive piano at the center, Tapestry connected deeply with listeners and became a cultural phenomenon. It stayed on the charts for more than six years and helped define the singer-songwriter era.

Interesting Facts About Tapestry

• Tapestry spent 15 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard album chart and remained on the chart for over 300 weeks, a record at the time for a female artist.
• Carole King recorded the album in just three weeks at A&M Studios in Hollywood. The studio's relaxed atmosphere helped capture the album's intimate tone.
• You've Got a Friend became a massive hit for both King and James Taylor, who played guitar and sang backing vocals on her version. Taylor's version won the Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 1972, while King won Song of the Year.
• Will You Love Me Tomorrow, originally a No. 1 hit for The Shirelles in 1960, is reinterpreted here as a slow, introspective ballad, reflecting the emotional maturity of King's own voice.
• The iconic cover photo of King sitting by a window with her cat Telemachus was shot by Jim McCrary in King's Laurel Canyon home.
• Beautiful, one of the more upbeat tracks, was later adapted into the title song for the Broadway musical Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, which tells the story of her early career.
• King worked with producer Lou Adler, who had previously produced The Mamas & the Papas. His minimalist production style gave the songs room to breathe.
• The backing band included members of James Taylor's group, such as Danny Kortchmar and Russ Kunkel, contributing to the album's soft rock and folk textures.
• The album won four Grammy Awards in 1972: Album of the Year, Record of the Year (It's Too Late), Song of the Year (You've Got a Friend), and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

Tapestry Track List

1. I Feel the Earth Move - Reached #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart
2. So Far Away - Reached #14 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart
3. It's Too Late - Reached #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart
4. Home Again
5. Beautiful
6. Way Over Yonder
7. You've Got a Friend
8. Where You Lead
9. Will You Love Me Tomorrow?
10. Smackwater Jack - Reached #14 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart
11. Tapestry
12. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman

• Next Album: #23. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars by David Bowie
• Previous Album: #25. Blonde on Blonde by Bob Dylan