Carole King – Tapestry turns 55

Today feels like a good moment to slow down for a bit. On February 10, 1971, Carole King released Tapestry and today this legendary album turns 55 years old.

Tapestry is one of those albums that simply refuses to age. Songs like It’s Too Late, So Far Away, I Feel the Earth Move and You’ve Got a Friend have followed listeners for generations. It still stands as one of the strongest singer songwriter albums ever recorded.

The album was a massive commercial success and for many years held the record as the best selling album by a female artist. It wasn’t until the 1990s that this record was challenged and eventually surpassed, most notably by Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill and Shania Twain’s Come On Over. Even so, Tapestryremains something truly special. It’s not just about sales numbers, but about timeless songwriting, honesty and emotional depth.

Tapestry also won several Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, and marked Carole King’s transition from being a highly successful songwriter behind the scenes to a major artist in her own right. A rare example of quiet, deeply personal music reaching the very top.

As for me, I’m celebrating the anniversary in the best way I know. By playing the album on an 8 track cartridge, just as many people did back in the early 1970s. There’s something special about letting an album like this play through from start to finish, without rushing.

Happy 55th birthday, Tapestry. An album that still feels just as warm, honest and relevant today.