Simple Things (Carole King album)

Simple Things
Studio album by Carole King
Released	July 1977
Studio	A&M (Hollywood) Sound Labs (Los Angeles)
Genre	Pop rock
Length	40:45
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.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Christgau's Record Guide	C− [2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[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

• Carole King – piano, vocals, background vocals
• Rick Evers – guitar
• Robert McEntee – guitar, keyboards, background vocals
• Michael Rivera – percussion
• Rob Galloway – bass
• Mark Hallman – guitar, keyboards, background vocals
• Michael Wooten – drums
• Louise Goffin – background vocals
• Sherry Goffin – background vocals
• Nolan Smith – trumpet, flugelhorn
• Maurice Spears – bass trombone
• Terry Harrington – baritone saxophone
• Oscar Brashear – trumpet, flugelhorn
• Ernie Watts – tenor saxophone
• George Bohanon – trombone, horn arrangement
• Robert Dubow – violin
• Charles Veal – violin
• Ken Yerke – violin
• David Campbell – viola
• Dennis Karmazyn – cello

Production notes

• Produced by Carole King and Norm Kinney
• Engineered by Norm Kinney and Milt Calice
• Steve Katz – assistant engineer
• James Tuttle – sound assistance
• Bernie Grundman – mastering
• Roy Reynolds – illustrations and photography
• Rick Evers – label design
• Terry Kruger – label art
• Roy Kohara and Roy Reynolds – art direction

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1977) Position Australia (Kent Music Report) [5] 19 Canadian RPM Albums Chart [6] 27 United States Billboard Pop Albums [7] 17

Year-end charts Chart (1977) Position Australian Albums Chart [5] 88

Certifications

Region	Certification
United States (RIAA) [8]	Gold

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 December 26, 2021.
5. 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 February 7, 2012.

External links

• Carole King discography.