Carole King’s landmark album Tapestry arrived on this day in 1971, a release that would reshape the landscape of popular music and define an era of singer‑songwriters. It was only her second studio album, but its impact was immediate and enduring. With more than 25 million copies sold worldwide, Tapestry stands among the best‑selling albums of all time and remains a touchstone for generations of artists and listeners.
The album’s lead single, the double‑sided “It’s Too Late” / “I Feel the Earth Move,” captured King’s blend of emotional honesty and musical ease. The single spent five weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, helping propel the album to record‑breaking success. Its mix of introspective songwriting, warm arrangements, and King’s unmistakable voice created a sound that felt both deeply personal and universally relatable.
Tapestry is also remembered for its iconic cover photograph, taken at King’s Laurel Canyon home. The image shows her seated in a sunlit window frame, holding a hand‑stitched tapestry of her own creation, with her cat Telemachus resting at her feet. The scene captured the spirit of the album—comfortable, intimate, and grounded in everyday life.
More than five decades later, Tapestry continues to resonate as one of the defining works of modern music. Its songs, from “You’ve Got a Friend” to “So Far Away,” remain fixtures of American songwriting, and its influence can be heard across genres and generations. Carole King’s masterpiece endures not only as a commercial triumph but as a cultural milestone that still feels as warm and immediate as the day it was released.
KNCT 
Leave a comment