Simple Things (Carole King album)

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.

Simple Things
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 1977
Studio
  • A&M (Hollywood)
  • Sound Labs (Los Angeles)
Genre
Length40:45
LabelAvatar / Capitol
ProducerCarole King, Norm Kinney
Carole King chronology
Thoroughbred
(1976)
Simple Things
(1977)
Welcome Home
(1978)

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [1]
Christgau's Record GuideC−[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

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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

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  • 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

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Certifications

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Region Certification
United States (RIAA)[8] Gold

References

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  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 2021-12-26.
  5. ^ a b 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 2012-02-07.
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