Simple Things (Carole King album)

Last updated
Simple Things
Simplethingsking.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 1977
Studio
  • A&M (Hollywood)
  • Sound Labs (Los Angeles)
Genre
Length40:45
Label Avatar / Capitol
Producer Carole King, Norm Kinney
Carole King chronology
Thoroughbred
(1976)
Simple Things
(1977)
Welcome Home
(1978)

Simple Things is the 8th album by American singer-songwriter Carole King, released in 1977. It is her first album on the Avatar / Capitol label.

Contents

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Christgau's Record Guide C− [2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]

Cash Box said of the title song that it "lives up to the philosophy of its title and lyric" and "has a deceptively simple melody that draws the listener in after a few short seconds." [4]

Track listing

All tracks written by Carole King, except as noted below.

Side one
  1. "Simple Things" (King, Rick Evers) – 2:41
  2. "Hold On" (King, Evers) – 4:37
  3. "In the Name of Love" – 3:04
  4. "Labyrinth" – 4:03
  5. "You're the One Who Knows" – 5:05
Side two
  1. "Hard Rock Cafe" – 3:44
  2. "Time Alone" – 2:37
  3. "God Only Knows" – 6:19
  4. "To Know That I Love You" (King, Evers) – 3:31
  5. "One" – 5:04

Personnel

Production notes

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification
United States (RIAA) [8] Gold

Related Research Articles

<i>The Last Waltz</i> (soundtrack) 1978 soundtrack album by the Band

The Last Waltz is the second live album by the Band, released on Warner Bros. Records in 1978, catalogue 3WS 3146. It is the soundtrack to the 1978 film of the same name, and the final album by the original configuration of the Band. It peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard 200.

<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.

<i>Unforgettable... with Love</i> 1991 studio album by Natalie Cole

Unforgettable … with Love, also known as simply Unforgettable, is the twelfth studio album by American singer Natalie Cole. Released on June 11, 1991, the album includes covers of standards previously performed by her father, Nat King Cole. It was also her debut for Elektra Records, after being given her release from EMI Records.

<i>Fantasy</i> (Carole King album) 1973 studio album by Carole King

Fantasy is the fifth album by American singer-songwriter Carole King, released in 1973. At the time of its release, it only reached number six on the US Billboard 200 album chart, but has remained highly regarded by her fans over the ensuing decades. Presented as a sort of song cycle, the album opens and closes with two versions of the title song and the songs on each side segue directly into one another.

<i>Bathhouse Betty</i> 1998 studio album by Bette Midler

Bathhouse Betty is the ninth studio album by the American singer Bette Midler, released in 1998. Bathhouse Betty was Midler's debut album for Warner Bros. Records, after having parted ways with sister label Atlantic Records in 1995 following the moderate commercial success of her later-platinum certified album Bette of Roses. Bathhouse Betty was certified Gold by the RIAA and spawned the Billboard Dance Club chart topper "I'm Beautiful".

<i>Blood, Sweat & Tears 3</i> Album by Blood, Sweat & Tears

Blood, Sweat & Tears 3 is the third album by the band Blood, Sweat & Tears, released in June 1970.

<i>Rhymes & Reasons</i> (Carole King album) 1972 studio album by Carole King

Rhymes & Reasons is the fourth album by American singer-songwriter Carole King. Released in 1972, the album features a single "Been to Canaan", which topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and peaked at number 24 on the Pop chart. The album itself also became a hit, reaching number two on the Billboard 200 chart.

<i>Wrap Around Joy</i> 1974 studio album by Carole King

Wrap Around Joy is the sixth album by American singer and songwriter Carole King, released in 1974. The album peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart in late 1974 and spun off successful singles with "Jazzman", reaching number two on the Pop chart and earning Carole King a nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female in the 17th Grammy Awards. Another song from the album, "Nightingale", reached number nine on the Pop chart and number six on the adult contemporary chart.

<i>Als Big Deal – Unclaimed Freight</i> 1975 compilation album by Al Kooper

Al's Big Deal – Unclaimed Freight is a compilation album by American musician Al Kooper. It was released as a double-LP in 1975.

<i>Christmas</i> (Clay Walker album) 2002 studio album by Clay Walker

Christmas is the first Christmas album by American country music singer Clay Walker. It was released September 10, 2002, on Warner Bros. Records. It features Walker's renditions of various Christmas songs. "Blue Christmas" and "Feliz Navidad" both charted on the Hot Country Songs charts from Christmas airplay.

<i>New Blood</i> (Blood, Sweat & Tears album) 1972 studio album by Blood, Sweat & Tears

New Blood is the fifth album by the band Blood, Sweat & Tears, released in October 1972.

<i>Thoroughbred</i> (album) 1976 studio album by Carole King

Thoroughbred is the seventh album by American singer-songwriter Carole King, released in 1976. Her final release on Ode Records, it was produced by Lou Adler, who had been her collaborator since Tapestry (1971). After Carole King self produced for a number of years on Capitol and Atlantic Records, Lou Adler later rejoined King to produce her 1984 album Speeding Time.

<i>Welcome Home</i> (Carole King album) 1978 studio album by Carole King

Welcome Home is the ninth album by the American singer-songwriter Carole King, released in 1978.

<i>Pearls: Songs of Goffin and King</i> 1980 studio album by Carole King

Pearls: Songs of Goffin and King is an album by the American singer-songwriter Carole King, released in 1980. It produced her last hit to date, "One Fine Day", which reached #12 on the charts.

<i>One to One</i> (Carole King album) 1982 studio album by Carole King

One to One is the twelfth studio album by American singer-songwriter Carole King, released in 1982 by Atlantic Records. It is also the name of the accompanying concert video. The album peaked at number 119 on the Billboard 200.

<i>Dedication</i> (Gary U.S. Bonds album) 1981 studio album by Gary U.S. Bonds

Dedication is a 1981 album by American singer Gary U.S. Bonds.

<i>Blue Gardenia</i> (album) 2001 studio album by Etta James

Blue Gardenia is the twenty-fifth studio album by Etta James, released through the record label Private Music. It was produced by John Snyder, who had worked with James on five of her previous studio albums. Blue Gardenia contains thirteen jazz standards from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. All of the standards were arranged by pianist Cedar Walton, with the exception of "Love Letters", which was arranged by Josh Sklair. Between November 2000 and February 2001, Snyder and Walton assembled musicians to record tracks while James was recovering from a flu; her vocals were added following her recovery. In addition to Walton, artists appearing on the album included Red Holloway on tenor saxophone and Dorothy Hawkins, James' mother, who provided vocals on the title track. Hawkins died in May 2002, less than a year after the album's release.

<i>Heads</i> (Bob James album) 1977 studio album by Bob James

Heads is the fifth album by the jazz musician Bob James, released in October 1977. It was his first album released on his newly formed Tappan Zee label, which was distributed by Columbia Records. All of his Tappan Zee albums are distributed by E1 Music. The album reached number one on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.

<i>Chill Factor</i> (album) 1987 studio album by Merle Haggard

Chill Factor is the forty-fourth studio album by American country music singer Merle Haggard, with backing by the Strangers, released on the Epic label in 1987.

<i>5:01 Blues</i> (album) 1989 studio album by Merle Haggard

5:01 Blues is the forty-sixth studio album by American recording artist Merle Haggard, with backing by The Strangers. It was released in 1989 and was his last studio album on the Epic label. It peaked at number 28 on the Billboard country albums chart. It was co-produced by Mark Yeary, keyboardist of The Strangers.

References

  1. William, Ruhlmann. Simple Things at AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
  2. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: K". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies . Ticknor & Fields. ISBN   089919026X . Retrieved February 28, 2019 via robertchristgau.com.
  3. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 397.
  4. "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. October 22, 1977. p. 23. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
  5. 1 2 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 166/167. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  6. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2011-02-02
  7. Allmusic - Carole King > Simple Things > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums
  8. "American album certifications – Carole King – Simple Things". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 2012-02-07.