Beautiful (Carole King song)

Last updated
"Beautiful"
Beautiful Carole King single label.jpeg
Scandinavian single with "You've Got a Friend" on the A-side
Song by Carole King
from the album Tapestry
ReleasedFebruary 10, 1971
Genre Soft rock
Length3:08
Label
Songwriter(s) Carole King
Producer(s) Lou Adler

"Beautiful" is a song written by Carole King that was first released on her 1971 award-winning album Tapestry . It has also been covered by other artists, such as Barbra Streisand and Richard Marx, and included on several of King's live albums. It was also used as the title song of the 2014 Broadway musical Beautiful: The Carole King Musical .

Contents

Lyrics and music

According to King, she did not consciously attempt to write "Beautiful" but it came to her spontaneously. [1] It stemmed from her realization while riding the New York City Subway that the way she perceived others reflected how she herself felt. [1] She has also stated that because it came to her spontaneously, she initially didn't realize some of the professional details of the song, such as the lack of rhyme in the refrain, which if she was writing the song consciously she would have included. [1]

Rolling Stone Magazine critic Jon Landau describes "Beautiful" as an "uptempo song." [2] The lyrics reflect themes present throughout the Tapestry album, such as the importance of self-esteem and positive outlook. [3] Within the song, beauty is defined not as an attractive outward appearance but as inner beauty. [3] In the verses of the song, the singer sings about the unhappy people she sees around her. [3] The message is emphasized by setting the verses in a minor key and to a straightforward rhythm and singing at a relatively low pitch. [2] [3] The refrain, describes the need for optimism and self-esteem to be successful, and is reinforced by being set in a major key and to a syncopated rhythm and at a higher pitch. [2] [3]

Instrumentation for "Beautiful" includes King playing piano and synthesizer, Charles Larkey on bass guitar, Joel O'Brien on drums and Danny Kortchmar on conga drums. [3] Author James Perone praises the song as "great sleeper track" but criticizes the use of the synthesizer, which although not prominent he believes sounds synthetic, detracting from the song's emphasis on being real. [3] Rolling Stone Album Guide critic Mark Coleman states that King's performance "rescues 'Beautiful' from the sentimental deep end." [4]

Personnel

Additional musicians

Other releases

A live version of "Beautiful" was included on King's 1994 album In Concert . [5] Another live version, recorded on June 18, 1971, at Carnegie Hall, was released on King's 1996 album Carnegie Hall Concert: June 18, 1971 . [6] Another live version was included on the 2007 album Welcome to My Living Room. [7] The studio version was also included on the 2007 compilation album The Best of Carole King. [8]

Barbra Streisand covered "Beautiful" as the opening track of her 1971 album Barbra Joan Streisand . [9] Anne Murray recorded "Beautiful" for her 1972 album release Annie . Richard Marx covered "Beautiful" on the 1995 tribute album Tapestry Revisited: A Tribute to Carole King . [10] Allmusic critic William Ruhlmann described Marx's version as one of the best covers on the album. [10] "Beautiful" has also been covered by Julie Conant and by The Overtures. [11] [12] And, more recently, by Jonathan Rayson on his 2006 album "Shiny and New".

"Beautiful" is part of the cast recording for the Broadway musical Beautiful: The Carole King Musical . [13] It is sung in Act 2 by the actress portraying Carole King. [13] On its opening night on Broadway, it was sung by Jessie Mueller. [13] The song is also included on the Broadway Cast Album of the musical. [14] [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carole King</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1942)

Carole King Klein is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has been active since 1958. One of the most successful female songwriters of the latter half of the 20th century in the US, she wrote or co-wrote 118 pop hits on the Billboard Hot 100. She also wrote 61 hits that charted in the UK, making her the most successful female songwriter on the UK singles charts between 1962 and 2005.

<i>Tapestry</i> (Carole King album) 1971 studio album by Carole King

Tapestry is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Carole King, released on February 10, 1971 on Ode Records and produced by Lou Adler. The lead singles from the album—"It's Too Late" and "I Feel the Earth Move"—spent five weeks at number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Easy Listening charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You've Got a Friend</span> 1971 single by Carole King

"You've Got a Friend" is a 1971 song written by American singer-songwriter Carole King. It was first recorded by King and included on her second studio album, Tapestry (1971). Another well-known version is by James Taylor from his album Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon. His was released as a single in 1971, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and number four on the UK Singles Chart. The two versions were recorded simultaneously in 1971 with shared musicians.

Daniel "Danny Kootch" Kortchmar is an American guitarist, session musician, producer and songwriter. Kortchmar's work with singer-songwriters such as Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, David Crosby, Carole King, David Cassidy, Graham Nash, Neil Young, Steve Perry, and Carly Simon helped define the signature sound of the singer-songwriter era of the 1970s. Jackson Browne and Don Henley have recorded many songs written or co-written by Kortchmar, and Kortchmar was Henley's songwriting and producing partner in the 1980s.

<i>Writer</i> (album) 1970 studio album by Carole King

Writer is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Carole King, released in May 1970. King already had a successful career as a songwriter, and been a part of The City, a short-lived group she formed after moving to Los Angeles in 1968. Tracks on the album include "Up on the Roof" which was a number 4 hit for the Drifters in 1962, and "Child of Mine", which has been recorded by Billy Joe Royal, among others. The album did not receive much attention upon its release, though it entered the chart following the success of King's next album, Tapestry, in 1971. It was produced by John Fischbach, the co-founder of Crystal Sound studio, in Hollywood, California, where the album was recorded.

<i>Music</i> (Carole King album) 1971 studio album by Carole King

Music is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Carole King. The album was released in December 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's Too Late (Carole King song)</span> 1971 song by Carole King

"It's Too Late" is a song from American singer-songwriter Carole King's second studio album, Tapestry (1971). Toni Stern wrote the lyrics and King wrote the music. It was released as a single in April 1971 and reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts. Sales were later platinum-certified by the RIAA. Billboard ranked "It's Too Late" and its fellow A-side, "I Feel the Earth Move", as the No. 3 record for 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ann Hampton Callaway</span> American singer

Ann Hampton Callaway is an American jazz singer, songwriter, and actress. She wrote and sang the theme song for the TV series The Nanny.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Will You Love Me Tomorrow</span> 1960 single by the Shirelles

"Will You Love Me Tomorrow", sometimes known as "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow", is a song with words by Gerry Goffin and music composed by Carole King. It was recorded in 1960 by the Shirelles at Bell Sound Studios in New York City, and hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The producer was Luther Dixon.The song was the first by an African-American all-girl group to reach number one in the United States. It has since been recorded by many other artists including a 1971 version by co-writer Carole King.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Feel the Earth Move</span> 1971 song written by Carole King

"I Feel the Earth Move" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Carole King, for her second studio album Tapestry. Additionally, the song is one half of the double A-sided single, the flip side of which was "It's Too Late". Together, both "I Feel the Earth Move" and "It's Too Late" became among the biggest mainstream pop hits of 1971.

<i>Barbra Joan Streisand</i> (album) 1971 studio album by Barbra Streisand

Barbra Joan Streisand is the thirteenth studio album by American singer Barbra Streisand, released in August 1971 on Columbia Records. It was her second consecutive album produced by Richard Perry and features backing work by members of the female band Fanny. Like the two previous studio albums, the singer continued to opt for a more contemporary repertoire, this time choosing three songs by Carole King, two by John Lennon, two by Burt Bacharach and Hal David in medley form, and one each by Laura Nyro and the trio Michel LeGrand, Marilyn Bergman and Alan Bergman.

<i>The Way We Were</i> (Barbra Streisand album) 1974 studio album by Barbra Streisand

The Way We Were is the fifteenth studio album recorded by American singer Barbra Streisand. The album was released in January 1974, preceded by the commercial success of its lead single "The Way We Were" first released in September 1973.

<i>Stoney End</i> (Barbra Streisand album) 1971 studio album by Barbra Streisand

Stoney End is the twelfth studio album by American singer Barbra Streisand. Released in 1971, it was a conscious change in direction for Streisand with a more upbeat contemporary pop/rock sound and was produced by Richard Perry. The album included cover versions of many songs by contemporary singer-songwriters of the day including Laura Nyro, Randy Newman and Joni Mitchell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">So Far Away (Carole King song)</span> 1971 single by Carole King

“So Far Away” is a song written by Carole King, which appeared on her 1971 album Tapestry. The recording features James Taylor on acoustic guitar. In addition to Taylor, and King on piano, instruments include Russ Kunkel on drums, Charles Larkey on bass guitar and Curtis Amy on flute.

<i>Live Concert at the Forum</i> 1972 live album by Barbra Streisand

Live Concert at the Forum is the second live album by American singer Barbra Streisand, released physically on October 1, 1972, by Columbia Records. Produced by long-time collaborator Richard Perry, it was recorded at The Forum in Inglewood, part of Greater Los Angeles, on April 15, 1972, during Four for McGovern, a concert held in benefit for George McGovern's 1972 presidential campaign. A CD version of Live Concert at the Forum was released on September 6, 1989.

<i>Till I Loved You</i> (album) 1988 studio album by Barbra Streisand

Till I Loved You is the twenty-fifth studio album by American singer Barbra Streisand, released on October 25, 1988, on Columbia Records. The album was notable for both its thematic structure and its high-budget production, with many guest writers, producers, and musicians: Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager offered three brand new songs to the album, Quincy Jones produced "The Places You Find Love", with Luther Vandross and Dionne Warwick adding backing vocals.

"Where You Lead" is a song written in 1970 by Carole King with lyricist Toni Stern, introduced on King's iconic 1971 album Tapestry. A Top 40 hit for Barbra Streisand in both a studio and a live version — the latter in a medley entitled "Sweet Inspiration/ Where You Lead'" — the song has also served as the main theme song for The WB dramedy series Gilmore Girls in a lyrically revised version recorded by King and Louise Goffin.

<i>Just for the Record...</i> 1991 compilation album by Barbra Streisand

Just for the Record... is a box set by American singer Barbra Streisand. It was released by Columbia Records on September 24, 1991. Streisand and her manager, Martin Erlichman, were credited as the album's executive producers. Just for the Record... includes a variety of performances throughout Streisand's career, including a song taken from her first studio recording session in 1955: a cover of "You'll Never Know". Other tracks were compiled from various live performances, TV specials, and previous albums from her back catalog.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweet Seasons</span> 1972 single by Carole King

“Sweet Seasons” is a song written by Carole King and Toni Stern which appeared on King's 1971 album Music. It was the only charting single from the album, and was her second of four Top 10 hits in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smackwater Jack (song)</span> 1971 single by Carole King

"Smackwater Jack" is a song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. It was first released on King's 1971 album Tapestry and then on the second single from that album, along with "So Far Away", charting at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was subsequently covered by many artists, most famously by Quincy Jones as the title song of his 1971 album Smackwater Jack.

References

  1. 1 2 3 King, C. (2012). A Natural Woman: A Memoir . Grand Central Publishing. pp.  415–416. ISBN   978-1455512614.
  2. 1 2 3 Landau, J. (April 29, 1971). "Tapestry". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2014-05-03.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Perone, J.E. (2006). The Words and Music of Carole King . Praeger. pp.  35–36, 40. ISBN   0275990273.
  4. ↑ Coleman, M. (1992). DeCurtis, A.; Henke, J.; George-Warren, H. (eds.). The Rolling Stone Album Guide (3rd ed.). Straight Arrow Publishers. p. 160. ISBN   0679737294.
  5. ↑ Donovan, C. "In Concert". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-05-03.
  6. ↑ "Concert: June 18, 1971". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-05-03.
  7. ↑ "Welcome to My Living Room". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-05-03.
  8. ↑ Campbell, A. "The Best of Carole King". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-05-03.
  9. ↑ Ruhlmann, W. "Barbra Joan Streisand". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-05-03.
  10. 1 2 Ruhlmann, W. "Tapestry Revisited: A Tribute to Carole King". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-05-03.
  11. ↑ "Beautiful: Julie Conant". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-05-03.
  12. ↑ "Beautiful: Overtures". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-05-03.
  13. 1 2 3 "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2014-05-03.
  14. ↑ Hetrick, A. "Cast Album of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Released Digitally April 1". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2014-05-03. Retrieved 2014-05-03.
  15. ↑ "Original Broadway Cast Recording – Beautiful: the Carole King Musical". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-05-03.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.