Carole King: "It's Too Late"

[cking33]

This single was the first release from "Tapestry." It's b-side was "I Feel the Earth Move." This song is in a fight with "You've Got a Friend" as King's most played song today. It was her biggest hit as a songwriter ever, spending 5 weeks at #1 in '71. It propelled "Tapestry" to the top and King to superstar status in the 70s. Carole won Record of the Year for this. "You've Got a Friend" won Song of the Year for King, Male Vocal for James Taylor, "Tapestry" won King Album of the Year and Female Pop Vocal. I believe she is still the only Female to sweep all of the major categories. It's also rare that the same artist wins Record and Song of the Year for different songs. Also in '71, Quincy Jones won a Grammy for best Instrumental with another song from "Tapestry" called "Smackwater Jack." But this was the song that helped make Carole King known to the rest of the world and not just the music industry.

[Deleted]

This is one of a few cases where a single went to #1 and both sides of the single were huge hits in their own right. "It's Too Late" is my favorite Carole King track, from her amazing Tapestry album. Classic.

[cking33]

Yeah, "I Feel the Earth Move" was probably one of the biggest B-Sides ever. It still gets a lot of play. It could've gone to top 10 at least in its own right after "It's Too Late."

[reception]

I like it.

[stevie nice]

I like this, I thing the chorus is a great pop chorus. Tho it pales in comparison to most stuff from this album, my fave CK song is "Jazzman."

[Me. I Am Justin...]

I love it! "So Far Away" is my fav. song on Tapestry though.

[cking33]

jaykool77 said:

I love it! "So Far Away" is my fav. song on Tapestry though.

mine too. :)

[shocker]

Gloria Estefan attempted to do a cover of this song sometime in the '90s, but the original by Carole King was still the best.

[WotUNeed]

shocker said:

Gloria Estefan attempted to do a cover of this song sometime in the '90s, but the original by Carole King was still the best.

That was on her remake album Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me. Not a bad album.

I agree that King's version is great, though.

[colson]

One of many classic songs from the classic 'Tapestry' album. All pop lovers should own this brilliant album. :)

[tico]

Nice song.

[irock]

Colson's right. Every track from the 'Tapestry' album is outstanding. This song is certainly no exception. Great stuff!

[Soulsista]

A bonafide classic.

[Deleted]

Legendary song. I love it!

[HolidayGuy]

Love it. And, agreed on every Tapestry track being pretty darn great.

[someguy]

Love this song, and Tapestry as a whole. This was one of those timeless albums/singles that still sound just as good now as it did 40 years ago.

[Deleted]

Love her, classic song!

[disman00911]

Her best song.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkKxmnrRVHo

performance
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqwLrJ6QWho

[Caviar]

This is incredible.

[thirddegree50123]

I remember hearing just the beginning of the chorus of this song on a commercial for some compilation CD in the 90s....probably something from Time Life lol. I was just a little kid but I remember thinking it sounded like it would be a song I could get into. I never actually heard the whole song until about 5 years ago when I finally listened to Tapestry in full. No surprise, but I loved it and the album is probably my favorite of the 70s now.

[Dreams]

LOVE LOVE LOVE it.

[🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲]

Love it.

#219 on Billboard's 500 Greatest Pop Songs

You Know What It Is: Carole King’s mid-tempo breakup lament, sung and written as only the greatest singer-songwriter of her era could.

These Words: Not a one out of place in “It’s Too Late,” but the hardest-hitters might be the end of the final verse, in which she does something songs about splitting almost never do: expresses bittersweet gratitude for the good times (“Still I’m glad for what we had/ And how I once loved you”).

Gimme More: Tapestry tracklistmate “So Far Away” sounds like “It’s Too Late” after three months and at least four glasses of red wine, King belatedly wailing, “It would be so fine to see your face at my door.”