When the Jazzman's testifyin'
A faithless man believes
He can sing you into paradise
Or bring you to your knees
It's a gospel kind of feelin'
A touch of Georgia slide
A song of pure revival
And a style that's sanctified
Jazzman, take my blues away
Make my pain the same as yours
With every change you play
Carole King, Jazzman, 1974
Does anyone remember the Columbia Record and Tape Club? The organization where you got a record in any one of a previously chosen category unless you specified that you didn't want the selection? Although in some ways a scam, it still had a large selection of music and you could get it in different formats - they even offered reel-to-reel until 1982 - and the hook was you got 10 or 12 or whatever many selections for a penny at the price of a several year membership and a barrage of offers through the mail. In a way, it was the Amazon of its day. So I think that many people during the sixties and seventies pumped up their music collection through Columbia house and their '12 for a penny' offers.
This included my mother. And so, growing up with her and my sister in our modest little apartment, there were a number of eight track tapes (naturally) that we listened to. Billy Joel, Chicago, Blood Sweat and Tears, Fifth Dimension, Helen Reddy, even Jethro Tull. And there was always one singer-songwriter who stood out for me, even as I would grit my teeth when my sister tormented me by repetitively playing Helen Reddy's Greatest Hits. But we did agree on this very musical woman. I even liked her during my teenage heavy metal years, although I sort of kept that to myself.
Now I listen to pretty much whatever I want, and this includes this particular pop star. So when her memoir came out, I had to look at it, and wonder could she write as well as sing and songwrite? Well, yes, she can. So put on some of her tunes and open the page.
Ladies and gentlemen, may I present. . . .Carole King