"You've Got a Friend" by Carole King

06/02/21 • 59 min

1 Listener

Winter, spring, summer, or fall... all you have to do is call, and Strong Songs will be there with an in-depth analysis of one of the most influential songwriters of the 20th century.

This episode takes a deep dive into Carole King's ever enduring, much-covered tribute to friendship, "You've Got a Friend." What starts in Laurel Canyon in the early 70s spread outward to the world, thanks to King's revolutionary 1971 album Tapestry. 50 years later, those songs are still with us, and "You've Got a Friend" remains one of the most meaningful tributes to simple, platonic love.

Written by: Carole King

Album: Tapestry (1971)

Listen/Buy via Album.Link

ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:

"I Feel The Earth Move" and "So Far Away," both by Carole King, and "It's Too Late" by King with lyrics by Toni Stern, from Tapestry, 1971
"You've Got a Friend" as recorded by James Taylor on Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon, 1971
"You've Got a Friend" as recorded by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway on Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway, 1972
"Precious Lord, Take My Hand/You've Got a Friend" as recorded by Aretha Franklin on Amazing Grace, 1972
"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" by Carole King and Gerry Goffen as recorded by Aretha Franklin, 1967
Harvey Kubernik's exceptional chronicling of Tapestry's place in the broader 1970s music scene: https://www.musicconnection.com/kubernik-carole-king-tapestry-50th-anniversary/
Kubernik's book on Laurel Canyon: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/6464198-canyon-of-dreams
"You've Got a Friend" as recorded by Donny Hathaway on Live, 1972

OUTRO SOLOIST: Charles McNeal

Charles McNeal is a killin' Oakland-based sax player who plays all over the bay area. He's also a master jazz transcriber, and has chronicled tons of great solos. You can find him playing out in a variety of bands and settings; the best way to keep up with his music is to subscribe to his YouTube channel or follow him on Instagram @charlesonsax2 - https://www.instagram.com/charlesonsax2

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JUNE 2021 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONS

Rob Bosworth
Josh Pearson
Kyle Cooke
Donald Mackie
Liam Keogh
Melissa Osborne
Per Morten Barstad
Christopher Miller
Tim Byrne
Allison Clift-Jennings
Patrick Funston
Jamie White
Christopher Kupski
Christopher McConnell
Joshua Jarvis
Rick Klaras
Niko
Joe Laska
Laurie Acreman
Ken Hirsh
Jez
Jenness Gardner
Simon Cammell
Guinevere Boostrom
Narelle Horn
Nathaniel Bauernfeind
Bill Rosinger
Anne Britt
David Zahm
Erin
Aidan Coughlan
Jeanneret Manning Family Four
Doug Paton
Robert Paul
Viki Dun
Christer Lindqvist
Sami Samhuri
Craig J Covell
AccessViolation
Ryan Torvik

Winter, spring, summer, or fall... all you have to do is call, and Strong Songs will be there with an in-depth analysis of one of the most influential songwriters of the 20th century.

Written by: Carole King

Album: Tapestry (1971)

Listen/Buy via Album.Link

ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:

"I Feel The Earth Move" and "So Far Away," both by Carole King, and "It's Too Late" by King with lyrics by Toni Stern, from Tapestry, 1971
"You've Got a Friend" as recorded by James Taylor on Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon, 1971
"You've Got a Friend" as recorded by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway on Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway, 1972
"Precious Lord, Take My Hand/You've Got a Friend" as recorded by Aretha Franklin on Amazing Grace, 1972
"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" by Carole King and Gerry Goffen as recorded by Aretha Franklin, 1967
Harvey Kubernik's exceptional chronicling of Tapestry's place in the broader 1970s music scene: https://www.musicconnection.com/kubernik-carole-king-tapestry-50th-anniversary/
Kubernik's book on Laurel Canyon: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/6464198-canyon-of-dreams
"You've Got a Friend" as recorded by Donny Hathaway on Live, 1972

OUTRO SOLOIST: Charles McNeal

----LINKS-----

💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!
Patreon | Paypal

🏠 HOMEPAGE
strongsongspodcast.com

👚 MERCH
strongsongspodcast.com/store

📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTER
newsletter.kirkhamilton.com

📷 SOCIAL MEDIA
Instagram: @Kirk_Hamilton
Bluesky: @kirkhamilton.com

💬 STRONG SONGS DISCORD SERVER
strongsongspodcast.com/discord

🎧 STRONG SONGS PLAYLISTS
Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music

🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS
kirkhamilton.com/gear

🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC
kirkhamilton.com/music

🎨 SHOW ART
Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics

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JUNE 2021 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONS

Previous Episode

"New Born" and "Micro Cuts" by Muse

Link it to the world, link it to yourself, link it to your podcast app, because it's time to talk about Muse.

Kirk takes a deep dive into not one but two songs off of Muse's seminal 2001 album Origin of Symmetry: "New Born," which kicks the album off with a strong pop-rock approach, and "Micro Cuts," a mid-album high point that shows off their more eclectic influences. It's time for some contrapuntal harmony mixed with some good old fashioned blues riffs, and a lot of guitar fuzz on top.

Written by: Matthew Bellamy

Album: Origin of Symmetry (2001)

Listen/Buy via Album.Link

ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:

"Plug In Baby," "Space Dementia," "Bliss," and "Citizen Erased" by Matthew Bellamy from Origin of Symmetry
Manson Guitar Works, makers of Matt Bellamy's futuristic custom guitars: https://www.mansonguitarworks.com/

OUTRO SOLOIST: Galen Clark

This episode's outro soloist is Mr. Galen Clark, who plays keyboard and organ and acts as bandleader for the soul jazz group Trio Subtonic. Galen's also going to be on tour this summer playing keyboards with Sleater-Kinney. Find more information at their website, https://www.triosubtonic.net, and find Sleater-Kinney tour dates at their website, http://www.sleater-kinney.com/

----LINKS-----

💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!
Patreon | Paypal

🏠 HOMEPAGE
strongsongspodcast.com

👚 MERCH
strongsongspodcast.com/store

📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTER
newsletter.kirkhamilton.com

📷 SOCIAL MEDIA
Instagram: @Kirk_Hamilton
Bluesky: @kirkhamilton.com

💬 STRONG SONGS DISCORD SERVER
strongsongspodcast.com/discord

🎧 STRONG SONGS PLAYLISTS
Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music

🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS
kirkhamilton.com/gear

🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC
kirkhamilton.com/music

🎨 SHOW ART
Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics

--------------------

MAY 2021 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONS

Josh Pearson
Kyle Cooke
Donald Mackie
Liam Keogh
Melissa Osborne
Per Morten Barstad
Christopher Miller
Tim Byrne
Allison Clift-Jennings
Patrick Funston
Jamie White
Christopher Kupski
Christopher McConnell
Joshua Jarvis
Rick Klaras
Niko
Joe Laska
Laurie Acreman
Ken Hirsh
Jez
Jenness Gardner
Simon Cammell
Guinevere Boostrom
Narelle Horn
Nathaniel Bauernfeind
Bill Rosinger
Anne Britt
David Zahm
Erin
Aidan Coughlan
Jeanneret Manning Family Four
Doug Paton
Robert Paul
R Watson
Viki Dun
Christer Lindqvist
Sami Samhuri
Craig J Covell
AccessViolation
Ryan Torvik
Merlin Mann
Fraser
Glenn
Andre Bremer
Mark Schechter
Dave Florey
Dan Apczynski

MAY 2021 HALF-NOTE PATRONS

Amy Lynn Thornsen
Adam W
Kelli Brockington
Stephen Rawlings
Ben Machta
Victoria Yu
Kevin Rivers
Gray Dyer
Brad Clark
Christopher
Michael J. Cunningham
Kari Kirk
Mark Boggs
mino capossela
Mary Schoenmaker
Sarah
David Joske
Åshild Margrete Østtveit Odéen
Emma Sklar
Spencer Stanford
Bernard Khoo
Marc
Andrew Shpall
Robert Heuer
Matthew Golden
Brian Meldrum
David Noah
Ben Hunt
Geraldine Butler
Richard Cambier
Madeleine Mader
Andy Smith
will reddell
Fernando Rodriguez
Timothy Dougherty
Jason Pratt
Stewart Oak
Caroline Miller
Abbie Berg
Sam Norton
Nicole Schleicher
Doug Belew
Dermot Crowley
Achint Srivastava
Ryan Rairigh
Michael Berman
stephen matthews
Bridget Lyons
Melody Valdez

Next Episode

Ska Horns & Madonna Melodies

1 Recommendations

Mailbag time! We've got listener questions about Madonna earworms, National piano parts, Breath of the Wild music, online vocal teachers, the French horn, The Lemon Twigs, and much more.

REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:

“Mira, Royal Detective Theme” by Matthew Tishler and Jeannie Luriem 2020
“Open Your Heart” by Madonna from True Blue, 1986
“Fake Empire” by The National from Boxer, 2007
“Wind Waker Theme” by Koji Kondo from The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, 2002
“The Legend of Zelda Theme” by Koji Kondo from The Legend of Zelda, 1986
Ambient audio from Breath of the Wild, soundtrack by Yasuaki Iwata, Hajime Wakai, Manaka Kataoka
Steve Park performing Straus’s Nocturno Op. 7 for horn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ppz-j5aDROo
“AH Vowel Exercise 2” by Ken Tamplin from Ken Tamplin Vocal Academy Vocal Workshop, Volume 2 (Find Ken on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6x5NRBmotXDEvLDDFWlLvA)
“The One” by The Lemon Twigs from Songs for the General Public, 2020
“Nuthin’ But a Good Time” by Poison from Open Up and Say... Ahh!, 1988
“Confrontation with Dooku/Finale” by John Williams from Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, 2002
“Game of Thrones” by Ramin Djawadi, 2011
“The Impression That I Get” by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones from Let’s Face It, 1997
“Hotel California” by The Eagles from Hotel California, 1976
“Dead Man’s Party” by Oingo Boingo from Dead Man’s Party, 1986
“Time” by Pink Floyd from The Dark Side of the Moon, 1973
“November Rain” by Guns N’ Roses from Use Your Illusion, 1991
“Santa Claus is Coming To Town” by Coots/Gillespie from Bill Evans Trio ’64, 1964

Correction 7/16: This episode initially misidentified the rototom on "Dead Man's Party" as a cowbell. It has been updated and now contains less cowbell.

OUTRO SOLOIST: Kyle Molitor

Kyle is a Portland-based trombonist who plays in all sorts of bands, and was also featured on the year three Strong Songs theme msuic. Find him on Instagram @tbonemolitor and check out his latest single here: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/kylemolitor/the-jazz-feat-toranpetto

----LINKS-----

💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!
Patreon | Paypal

🏠 HOMEPAGE
strongsongspodcast.com

👚 MERCH
strongsongspodcast.com/store

📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTER
newsletter.kirkhamilton.com

📷 SOCIAL MEDIA
Instagram: @Kirk_Hamilton
Bluesky: @kirkhamilton.com

💬 STRONG SONGS DISCORD SERVER
strongsongspodcast.com/discord

🎧 STRONG SONGS PLAYLISTS
Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music

🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS
kirkhamilton.com/gear

🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC
kirkhamilton.com/music

🎨 SHOW ART
Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics

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