Legendary singer-songwriters James Taylor and Carole King, friends and collaborators for more than 50 years, are two of the most successful musicians in American musical history.
Taylor’s confessional lyrics, soulful voice and delicate guitar-playing resonated with audiences. King started as a songwriter, making a long list of chart-toppers for other artists that became instant classics. She broke out with her own style in her 1971 album „Tapestry,“ which became a worldwide success, selling more than 25 million copies. Here are some of the duo’s biggest hits and the story behind them. „You’ve Got a Friend“ King composed „You’ve Got a Friend,“ which she said was a song that quickly wrote itself. Taylor heard it the next day and knew the tune was going to be a hit. „As soon as I heard it, I was just like, man, that’s just it. That’s a great, great song,“ recalled Taylor. At the time, King was recording her own album, but she allowed Taylor to have the first crack at it and he released the song as a single on his own album. „It was extraordinary,“ Taylor said of King’s generous act of friendship. „Hearing [Taylor’s] rendition of it for the first time, it was like oh my God. It’s perfect,“ said King. Taylor recorded it and won a Grammy for best pop vocal performance in 1971. The song shot to the No.1 spot on the Billboard 100. During their Troubadour Reunion Tour in 2010, Taylor and King played the song together, King on the piano and Taylor on the guitar. „After I play ‚You’ve Got a Friend,‘ tears are streaming down their faces, and then for that 5 minutes and 12 seconds everybody is getting along,“ said King. „Carolina in My Mind“ While on a trip to an island off the coast of Spain, Taylor was missing his home state of North Carolina. At the time, Taylor was recording his debut album in London on The Beatles‘ record label, Apple Records. „I was homesick at the time. I didn’t have a home, but that doesn’t keep you from being homesick sometimes,“ he joked in 1970. Taylor wrote the tune about southern sunshine, moonshine and old friends. He also mentions a woman named Karen, who was with him on the trip to the Spanish island of Formentera. After the song was written, the challenge was getting the song recorded. „The Beatles took a break. The studio that they were using… when they weren’t there, I was there. I would sort of scamper in there and put down a few of my little tracks and clear out before they came back,“ Taylor told Seth Meyers in 2020. Taylor knew at that moment that „Carolina in My Mind“ was going to be a hit. „I knew it was extraordinary and exceptional,“ Taylor said. The song was on his 1968 album, „James Taylor.
