Carole King

In the opening and title cut of Carole King's first, and I hope last, "conceptual" album, the
format is made crystal clear: "I may step outside myself/And speak as if I were someone
else/ ... In fantasy I can be black or white/A woman or a man." Subsequently we are
treated alternately to a series of dramatic monologues, in some of which Carole King
appears as herself, voicing personal hope and aspiration, but the majority featur... More >

The title means she's decided to step outside herself and write songs about imaginary situations, just like some Brill Building hack. A decision which seems to have brightened her music considerably. As for the situations themselves, well, what hath Walter Lippmann wrought? But the odd thing is that in the context of her junkie and housewife soap operas, her quest for "Directions" and "A Quiet Place to Live" could almost make you "Believe in Humanity." I said almost. (Grade: B)