School of Rock
Random article All articles A–Z
2 languages

Writer

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

Writer is Carole King's debut album and was released in May 1970. By then she already had a successful career as a songwriter behind her and had formed the short-lived group The City in Los Angeles. The album was recorded at Crystal Sound in Hollywood and produced by John Fischbach, the studio's co-founder. Gerry Goffin mixed it, and James Taylor plays acoustic guitar.

The album includes her own versions of Up on the Roof, a hit for the Drifters in 1962, and of Child of Mine, a song recorded by Billy Joe Royal, among others. On release the record attracted little attention. Only after the success of Tapestry in 1971 did Writer enter the charts. Critics were positive: AllMusic called it the most underrated of her original albums. In Rolling Stone, Jon Landau found the production weak, but thought the album worth hearing despite its flaws.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Up On the Roof, a song that had earlier been a hit for the Drifters, and notice how it sounds here as a songwriter's version, with the piano and the voice up front.

Track list

  1. 1Spaceship Races3:06Apple Music ↗
  2. 2No Easy Way Down4:34Apple Music ↗
  3. 3Child of Mine4:02Apple Music ↗
  4. 4Goin' Back3:17Apple Music ↗
  5. 5To Love3:36Apple Music ↗
  6. 6What Have You Got to Lose3:30Apple Music ↗
  7. 7Eventually4:58Apple Music ↗
  8. 8Raspberry Jam4:34Apple Music ↗
  9. 9Can't You Be Real2:57Apple Music ↗
  10. 10I Can't Hear You No More2:43Apple Music ↗
  11. 11Sweet Sweetheart2:43Apple Music ↗
  12. 12Up On the Roof3:37Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗

Categories: Albums and songs