STL TODAY – Nostalgia works King and Taylor

By Daniel Durchholz

Sometimes it’s all right to look back.

Saturday’s Carole King/James Taylor concert at Scottrade Center was nostalgic to its very core. Every one of the more than two dozen songs the pair performed over the course of 2½ hours dated from the 1970s, or earlier.

And yet, the show was warm, tuneful and intimate in a way that few performers can manage in an arena.

The tour is a celebration of the 40th anniversary of King and Taylor’s initial meeting at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, a Mecca for singer/songwriters. It was there that he heard her perform her song “You’ve Got a Friend,” which he covered and turned into a No. 1 hit. She was already a successful Brill Building songwriter but was encouraged by him to perform her own material. The result was her landmark “Tapestry” album.

On Saturday, they shared the stage for the show’s entirety, taking turns in the spotlight and backing each other up. In between songs, Taylor played the jocular host, claiming they were trying to recreate their original set list “from 1903” and saying that hirsute bassist Lee Sklar looked “like he wandered out of the woods.”

The songs they played remain so instantly recognizable that applause greeted the first notes of nearly every one. Taylor rolled out favorites like “Carolina in My Mind,” “Sweet Baby James” and “Fire and Rain,” while King offered “So Far Away,” “Smackwater Jack” and “It’s Too Late.”

Some of the songs were creatively paired. As they played her “Song of Long Ago” back to back with his “Long Ago and Far Away,” King noted the similarities in style and substance. Taylor, meanwhile, claimed that he classifies King’s “Beautiful” and his own “Shower the People” as “hymns for agnostics.”

Taylor was the show’s more assured performer, but he constantly deferred to King’s talent as a writer, interjecting the refrain “and then she wrote…” between versions of her songs that were made hits by others, including “Crying in the Rain” (the Everly Brothers) and “Hi-De-Ho” (Blood, Sweat & Tears). And while King’s vocals faltered occasionally, she stole the show with a triumphant take on “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” and an ebullient (and downright aerobic) “I Feel the Earth Move.”

They traded verses on the inevitable set closer, “You’ve Got a Friend,” a reminder that, in their case, the promise of the song came true: King and Taylor have seen successes and setbacks in their lives and careers, but their friendship has lasted this long. The music they made will last even longer.

CLEVELAND.COM – Carole King and James Taylor revisit dawn of singer-songwriter era in concert at The Q

By John Soeder

Consider a yellow-billed oxpecker on the back of a rhino. (Bear with me, please.) The oxpecker gets all the parasites it can eat, and the rhino gets free grooming.

It’s a cozy arrangement, sure. As far as symbiotic relationships go, though, they have nothing on Carole King and James Taylor.

Having played key roles in each other’s careers, especially early on, these quintessential singer-songwriters brought their Troubadour Reunion Tour to Cleveland for a heartwarming double bill Wednesday night at The Q.

It was a throwback to the early 1970s, when King and Taylor first teamed up at the landmark Troubadour club in Los Angeles.

Performing in the round here on a slowly revolving stage, King and Taylor opened with a one-two punch of “Something in the Way She Moves” and “So Far Away.”

Some co-headliners refuse to share a spotlight. Kudos to King and Taylor for accompanying each other throughout the 2½-hour show, with King on piano and Taylor on acoustic guitar.

That said, was it just me, or was it a little unnatural having Taylor sing along on the refrain of King’s “(You Make Me Feel like) a Natural Woman”?

King, 68, and Taylor, 62, embody a turning point in popular music, when Brill Building tunesmiths went from cranking out songs for other artists to performing their own more personal material in the post-Lennon-McCartney era.

King got her start in the Brill Building, and Taylor’s first record deal was with the Beatles’ Apple label.

In concert, King said Taylor’s music inspired her to go the singer-songwriter route, too.
The mutual respect and admiration between them came across loud and clear, and they radiated a genuine warmth.

Multiple standing ovations ensued as King and Taylor delivered spot-on, feel-good renditions of their signature tunes – “It’s Too Late,” “I Feel the Earth Move” and “Jazzman” for her; “Fire and Rain,” “Carolina in My Mind” and “Your Smiling Face” for him.

This trip back in time only underscored the timelessness of these songs.

The most pleasant surprise of the evening came when King and Taylor locked into sublime two-part harmony for a forgotten treasure: “Crying in the Rain,” a King-penned hit for the Everly Brothers.

In another nice touch, the band included the same musicians who backed King and Taylor at the Troubadour: guitarist Danny Kortchmar, bassist Leland Sklar and drummer Russell Kunkel.

Rounding out the supporting cast were multi-instrumentalist Robbie Kondor and backing vocalists Andrea Zonn (who doubled on violin), Kate Markowitz and Cleveland native Arnold McCuller (who brought down the house during “Shower the People”).

And what could beat witnessing King and Taylor in the flesh, trading verses during “You’ve Got a Friend”? (She wrote it; he took it to No. 1.) Next to maybe watching da Vinci paint the Mona Lisa’s smile, not much.

SET LIST:
Something in the Way She Moves
So Far Away
Machine Gun Kelly
Carolina in My Mind
Way Over Yonder
Smackwater Jack
Country Road
Sweet Seasons
Mexico
Song of Long Ago
Long Ago and Far Away
Beautiful
Shower the People
(You Make Me Feel like) A Natural Woman

(intermission)

Copperline
Crying in the Rain
Only Love Is Real
Sweet Baby James
Jazzman
Will You Love Me Tomorrow
Your Smiling Face
It’s Too Late
Fire and Rain
I Feel the Earth Move
You’ve Got a Friend

ENCORE:
Up on the Roof
How Sweet It Is (To be Loved by You)
You Can Close Your Eyes

DESERET NEWS – Carole King, James Taylor bring classics back to life

By Scott Iwasaki

Back in 1970, singer/songwriters Carole King and James Taylor played the legendary Troubadour club in West Hollywood, Calif.

It was what Taylor called, “a big step into the light for both of us.”

After stellar careers that stretched more than 35 years, Taylor and King reunited in 2007 to play the Troubador’s 50th-anniversary celebration.

They were joined by three of their original band members: guitarist Danny “Kootch” Kortchmar, bassist Lee Sklar and drummer Russ Kunkel.

With the success of those performances, the duo took the “Troubadour Reunion Tour” to Australia, Japan and New Zealand.

Earlier this year, the King/Taylor CD/DVD package “Live at the Troubadour” hit the Billboard 200 at No. 4.

The set list on the Hear Music release is impressive. Highlights include Taylor’s “Blossom,” “Carolina in My Mind,” “Country Road,” “Fire and Rain,” “Sweet Baby James” and “You Can Close Your Eyes.” King’s contributions include “Smackwater Jack,” “Up on the Roof” and the Shirelle’s No. 1 hit “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow,” co-written by her former husband Gerry Goffin.

Also included are King’s No. 1 hit “It’s Too Late,” which she wrote with Toni Stern, and “I Feel the Earth Move.”

One of the highlights is the duet of “You’ve Got a Friend,” a hit for Taylor that was written by King.
The duo also sings “Up on the Roof,” another hit for Taylor, which was written by King and Goffin.
Their voices and music still capture the listener as they did back in the ’70s.

The great news is King and Taylor will be appearing at the EnergySolutions Arena next week.
There’s something to be said about these two brilliant songwriters who have survived the decades in the music business.

Their songs have touched people’s lives and have remained staples on the classic-rock radio playlists.

Even though the DVD of “Live at the Troubadour” gives fans a little taste of the chemistry, it will be a whole different experience seeing these two Rock and Roll Hall of Famers in person on one stage.

If you go

What: Carole King, James Taylor

Where: EnergySolutions Arena, 301 W. South Temple

When: July 15, 7:30 p.m.

How much: $35-$125

Phone: 801-467-8499, 800-888-8499

Web: www.smithstix.com

USA TODAY – Final Word: With 10,000 miles behind us, and more to go

By Craig Wilson

Years ago, when The Beatles were young and I was even younger, my parents shuffled off to Buffalo for an evening of Big Band music. I don’t remember whose orchestra it was —Glenn Miller or Jimmy Dorsey maybe — but I do remember I thought their outing was lame.

I mean, it was 1965. Time to move on, folks. World War II was long over, we won, so maybe it was time to do the Twist. Remember the Twist?

They just gave me that someday-you’ll-understand smile as they went out the door.
I thought of my folks the other night when I was listening to James Taylor and Carole King, whose world tour ends July 20 in Anaheim, Calif.

I had bought the tickets months ago, before I got hit by a car, and although my mobility is minimal, I was going to this concert no matter what. My neighbor Meaghan and friend Dan profess to be bigger Taylor fans than I, but they are not.

I still cannot drive from Stockbridge to Boston without bursting into song.

Though the Berkshires seemed dream-like on account of that frosting …

So I hobbled in to spend an evening with two people I’ve spent most of my life with — from my college years to my first-job years to my middle-age years and beyond.

Looking around the concert I saw myself a thousand times. Aging Baby Boomers. Sixtyish. Balding. Gray. A more beautiful sight I’ve never seen.

The fact I arrived on crutches only added to the poignancy of a generation on its way, if not out, en route.

Not that we’re going quietly. I sang along without any hint of embarrassment, as did most everyone else. We can’t remember what we had for lunch, of course, but our muddled minds easily took us back to Carolina.

Can’t you just feel the moonshine …

Nostalgia is a great thing because it lets us remember times more pleasantly than they were. It was a messy world when I first listened to Taylor in the early ’70s. The Vietnam War was raging. The draft loomed. Kraft macaroni-and-cheese was for dinner. Nightly.

But I fondly remember my first spartan apartment where I played his albums, over and over again, on a record player that sat on the floor because I didn’t have a table.

Taylor went through more than we did over the years, though. Drug abuse. Mental illness. Divorce. Breakups. Career ups and downs. He even lost his hair right along with the rest of us.

But there he was down on the stage. Still singing. Still a friend.

Ain’t it good to know …

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY – Apple Records to Release Remastered Albums by James Taylor, Billy Preston and Badfinger

By Clark Collis

The Beatles’ music label Apple is set to release 15 remastered versions of albums by, amongst others, James Taylor (1968′s James Taylor), Billy Preston (1969′s That’s the Way God Planned It, 1970′s Encouraging Words), Badfinger (1970′s Magic Christian Music, the same year’s No Dice, and 1972′s Straight Up), and classical composer John Tavener (1970′s The Whale and 1971′s Celtic Requiem, which will be available on the same CD). Apple are putting out the collections on October 26.

Apple acts didn’t always enjoy the greatest success during their time with the label. But history has proven that, in addition to their other talents, the Beatles’ track record as talent spotters was pretty decent. Welsh rockers Badfinger are now regarded as one of the great, tragic, cult bands and their song “Without You” has been much covered over the decades; John Tavener was twice nominated in the ’90s for the presitigious UK award, the Mercury Prize; and I believe that James Taylor kid found some success in the ’70s. The slate of reissues will also include albums by Mary Hopkin, Jackie Lomax, and the Modern Jazz Quartet. They are the first Apple releases to be available by digital download.

Will you be buying any of the reissues? Do you have a favorite Apple act (who don’t have members called John, Paul, George, and Ringo)? And do you think this is is the first step towards Apple making you-know-who’s albums available to buy digitally? Let us know!

BOSTON.COM – They’ve Got Some Friends

By Mark Shanahan and Meredith Goldstein

It wasn’t quite Woodstock, but Tanglewood was teeming with people over the weekend, as an estimated 75,000 people turned out for James Taylor and Carole King’s three shows at the BSO’s summer home. Each night, the lawn was packed two hours before show time, and cars were wedged every which way in the parking areas. VIPs making the scene included cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who sat in on “Sweet Baby James’’ and “You’ve Got a Friend,’’ actress Laura Linney, actress Idina Menzel and her handsome husband, Taye Diggs, “Rescue Me’’ star Denis Leary and wife Anne, pianist Emanuel Ax and conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, singer Louise Goffin, whose mom is King and dad is Gerry Goffin, and, of course, Taylor’s wife, Kim, who sang back-up on “Mexico.’’ (All proceeds from the July Fourth show went to Tanglewood.) King may want to relocate to Western Mass. The AP reported yesterday that the singer has put her 128-acre ranch in central Idaho on the market with a “reduced’’ asking price of $16 million. The Robinson Bar Ranch compound includes a 7,300-square-foot lodge, a residence, a caretaker’s home, a professional recording studio, guest cabins, and horse barns. King put the ranch up for sale in 2006 for $19 million.

MASSLIVE.COM – James Taylor and Carole King renew a Tanglewood tradition

By Scott Coen

Every summer I’m reminded of how lucky I am to live in Western Massachusetts.

Sunday at Tanglewood I felt especially lucky because I spent the day with my family, and as it turned out, some new found friends, watching and listening James Taylor and Carole King take me for yet another trip down memory lane.

The ‘Troubadour Tour’ made a stop at Tanglewood over the 4th of July weekend, where ‘JT’ and Carole King played to three sell-out shows.

I’ve been a fan of these two iconic music legends since I was in junior high school. That would put me back to 1970, the same year Taylor and King started playing together.

James Taylor and Carole King opened their July 4th Tanglewood show with ‘Blossom’

The video I’ve included isn’t from the July 4th show ‘JT’ and Carole King performed at Tanglewood, but it might as well have been.

And that’s the beauty of these two performers. They’re consistent from start to finish, and in many ways they always have been.

For going on 40 years these two iconic musicians have been playing together. I’ve seen them before at Tanglewood, and am always amazed that no matter how many times we all keep coming back to the little ‘Bandbox in the Berkshires’, they seem to keep sounding better and better.

Like always we arrived at Tanglewood early, coming up the back way and hanging in line just beyond the shed.

But this Sunday we got there just in time to hear Taylor and King rehearse their sound check.
So in essence we were treated to two shows for the price of one.

We all have our memories of going to Tanglewood to see James Taylor. Some make the trip with family, watching our children grow up still willing to sit and listen to “our music”.

It’s become one of those down through the years traditions that only become more meaningful as the years go by.

Summer time in New England is all about our families and our friends.

And one of the best places on earth to enjoy all that family and friends have to offer, is watching James Taylor and Carole King play music at Tanglewood.

Summer time in New England is all about our families and our friends.

And one of the best places on earth to enjoy all that family and friends have to offer, is watching James Taylor and Carole King play music at Tanglewood.

THE DAILY GAZETTE – The Taylor-King phenom at Tanglewood

By Leslie Kandell

Starting where we left off Labor Day, with James Taylor.

Tanglewood can’t be faulted for presenting three non-classical hugely-attended James Taylor/Carole King concerts over the July 4th weekend.

It’s a hard row to hoe selling tickets for even the best classical music; the classical world needs to eat, and Taylor fills the place (reportedly 18,000) time after time. Bambambam.

Taylor and King are touring with their Troubadour Reunion, which was on PBS over and over during pledge week so many people already know what’s on the program.

The concerts were supposedly sold out (until the last few days, when lawn tickets were advertised in the local paper, and Monday’s audience was decidedly less overpowering).

Checking the line of cars turning off Route 7 onto Route 183 Saturday around 4:30, one would guess it would take hours to get in for the 7 o’clock concert.

Never assume: at 6:45 I drove into Lenox, ready to time the traffic action from the thick of it. Not only was there no traffic, there were no cops at intersections, nor even a police podium at the monument on the road to Tanglewood’s main gate. Ghost town! I zoomed down, wandered about the
lawn on a lovely, soft evening.

According to officer William Fuore of the Lenox Police (yes, I rushed to the phone), Tanglewood officials put their heads together with the police and sheriff’s departments of Lenox and Stockbridge, and devised a plan to use more parking areas earlier — not as a last resort.
Sampling the three events revealed that, more than a concert, this is an old-fashioned ritual. It’s the G-rated *** and Jane crowd, having a nice quiet time. The lawn is full, back to the rear hedges.

They’re wearing anything — long dresses, sport slacks, cancer kerchiefs, too-short shorts.
The walk near the Main House is lined with face-painting and tattoo booths. Some folks drift around, others chat or play with their children (the early hour is family-friendly), embrace on blankets or dance quietly. Most eat — maybe under sparkling red, white and blue balloons shaped like hats or fish.

Screens outside the Koussevitzky Shed don’t work till after dark, so most of the lawn crowd sees nothing, but still appears contented. They know exactly where they’re allowed to clap in rhythm, or sing the refrain, which of course they know. Everyone on the premises (and surrounding properties)
 can hear what they can’t see: Amplification was so loud that someone who
 wears a hearing aid replaced it with muffling tissue.

Thinking about strife in this world, and the low annoyance threshhold at classical concerts, it was something, to see a football land in someone’s picnic, and simply get tossed back. No one snapped when I stepped on their blanket. The tranquil atmosphere suggested something more than the
concert, but the atmosphere happened because JT and CK made their particular sound in the gentle twilight.

People who wouldn’t think of going to a class or camp reunion were cooling out on memory lane.
Taylor said in an interview that the concerts on this tour were a spiritual experience. In this place, for this minute, there was peace on earth. As Carly Simon, his ex-wife, might put it, that’s the way I’ve always heard it should be.

THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE – Thousands flock to Tanglewood to see Taylor, King

By Scott Stafford

LENOX — Blue skies, sunshine, green grass, and 18,000 people.

Add James Taylor and Carole King and you’ve got the sold-out show at Tanglewood Saturday.

It was truly a moveable feast when the gates opened at 4 p.m. and the race began. Clumps of people came in quickly — pushing, pulling and carrying enough food and drink to last the night — to find a good spot on the lawn closer to the Shed. Soon it was like a family picnic for thousands.

By 6 p.m., the lawn was packed. Some parties settled for spots so far back on the grass, they couldn’t see the Shed, much less the stage, but they could sure hear the music.

Jessica Voutila, a 24-year-old James Taylor fan from Templeton, said this is her fourth year in a row to come spend the evening with JT at Tanglewood.

Like last year, she brought one of his albums for him to sign. Last year she actually got his autograph.

“I just love James Taylor,” she said. “And this is a great place to see him — it’s so laid back.”

For Heather Belson, of North Andover, the show was her Mother’s Day present.

With her husband and two toddlers, she sat in the shade finishing the picnic and waiting for the show.

She described herself as a James Taylor fan, having already seen him perform four times.
David admitted to not being a Taylor fan.

“I’m not sure I had a choice,” he said smiling. “But it’s a family trip, so I’m here to have some fun.”

At the back of the crowd, closer to the Stockbridge Bowl, six ladies from central Connecticut sat watching the crowd and the many kids playing Whiffle Ball and Frisbee on the lawn.

They arrived by bus, and were plainly enjoying themselves.

“We travel together and we’re always looking for somewhere to go,” said Rosemary Glorioso.

“We keep a suitcase packed at all times.”

They couldn’t see the Shed, but that was OK with them.

“We can hear the music and there’s plenty of room to dance,” said Jill Geissler.

With the sun setting and the shadows growing, the bell began tolling.

Soon after, the spirited strumming of an acoustic guitar began rolling over the crowd.

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE – Folk giants King, Taylor bid Mellon Arena a classy farewell

By Scott Mervis

When people think of the Civic Arena and the legends who made it the beloved landmark it became, James Taylor and Carole King do not spring to mind.

The arena’s historical luminaries have names like Lemieux, Crosby, Springsteen, Diamond, Sinatra, even Presley.

But on what could be its last night full of life and people, the “old girl” as JT called it, deserved a celebration of timeless hits, and the illustrious folk pair were up to the task.

The farewell concert was billed as a long-awaited encore for the reunited troubadours, who hadn’t raised their voices there together since February of 1971.

For you Rush and Aerosmith fans out there snickering, no, this was not a raucous farewell. However, it wasn’t just Mellow Arena either. Mr. Taylor, with that honey-coated voice, only has one or two rock ‘n’ roll bones in his body — and those rare attempts at dancing are a bit awkward, indeed.

What They Played
•    Something in the Way She Moves
•    So Far Away
•    Machine Gun Kelly
•    Carolina in My Mind
•    Way Over Yonder
•    Smackwater Jack
•    Country Road
•    Sweet Seasons
•    Mexico
•    Song of Long Ago
•    Long Ago and Far Away
•    Beautiful
•    Shower The People
•    A Natural Woman

Intermission

•    The Secret of Life
•    Crying in the Rain
•    The Loco-Motion
•    Sweet Baby James
•    Jazzman
•    Will You Love Me Tomorrow
•    Your Smiling Face
•    It’s Too Late
•    Fire and Rain
•    I Feel the Earth Move
•    You’ve Got a Friend

Encore

•    Up on the Roof
•    How Sweet It Is
•    You Can Close Your Eyes

The spunky Ms. King, on the other hand, still has the ability to make the Earth move under her feet.

‘You’re still damn cute, Carole!” one fan hollered. And he’s right. With a girlish figure, a beaming smile and a head full of blonde curls, she’s a pretty hot 68-year-old hippie — to go with songwriting genius.

On a moving carousel, without the ponies, he melted hearts with versions of “Carolina in My Mind,” “Sweet Baby James” and “The Secret of Life” that simply glowed. Helping to provide the most subtle backup possible were the same three guys who were there in the ’70s — guitarist Danny Kortchmar, ace drummer Russ Kunkel and bass guru/”wookie” Leland Sklar, a secret weapon in his own right.

Ms. King had her ballad moments with “So Far Away” and a slower “It’s Too Late,” with a jazzy piano interlude. She also rocked it up with “Smackwater Jack,” a powerful “A Natural Woman,” complete with a sexy showdown with Kootch, and a lights-up stomp through “The Loco-Motion.”
At times, the songs were smartly paired, like “Beautiful” and “Shower the People,” presented as being “in the same category of agnostic hymns,” Mr. Taylor said, and worthy of praise.

For his part, JT never misses a note, either on voice or guitar. She reached for a few that weren’t there, but when they weren’t she compensated by nailing it with spirit and natural soul. She didn’t write these songs to be easy to sing, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” being a perfect example. What she poured into it drew an emotional standing ovation.

He got his on a “Fire and Rain” that couldn’t have sounded any better 39 years ago, a tribute to his stamina and modern acoustics.

The uncomfortable real estate issue was addressed early. “It’s kind of bittersweet. We remember playing here in 1971. They say they’re going to close the old girl down,” he said to a chorus of boos. “I can think of a lot of things they can do in a space like this,” he added to a round of cheers.

The subject came around again on their first duet and the last song of the main set, their shared hit “You’ve Got a Friend.” Ms. King added a last verse wishing good luck to the Penguins in the new arena.

They returned with a tender “Up on the Roof” and a joyful “How Sweet It Is,” which seemed like it might have been the end.

But then they took to the stools for the lullaby “You Can Close Your Eyes.” If that’s the last song ever played in this arena, it was a quiet, sad, humble and hopeful farewell.