"You've Got a Friend" by Carole King

Winter, spring, summer, or fall... all you have to do is call, and Strong Songs will be there with an in-depth analysis of one of the most influential songwriters of the 20th century.This episode takes a deep dive into Carole King's ever enduring, much-covered tribute to friendship, "You've Got a Friend." What starts in Laurel Canyon in the early 70s spread outward to the world, thanks to King's revolutionary 1971 album Tapestry. 50 years later, those songs are still with us, and "You've Got a Friend" remains one of the most meaningful tributes to simple, platonic love. Written by: Carole KingAlbum: Tapestry (1971)Listen/Buy via Album.LinkALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:"I Feel The Earth Move" and "So Far Away," both by Carole King, and "It's Too Late" by King with lyrics by Toni Stern, from Tapestry, 1971"You've Got a Friend" as recorded by James Taylor on Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon, 1971"You've Got a Friend" as recorded by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway on Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway, 1972"Precious Lord, Take My Hand/You've Got a Friend" as recorded by Aretha Franklin on Amazing Grace, 1972"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" by Carole King and Gerry Goffen as recorded by Aretha Franklin, 1967Harvey Kubernik's exceptional chronicling of Tapestry's place in the broader 1970s music scene:  https://www.musicconnection.com/kubernik-carole-king-tapestry-50th-anniversary/Kubernik's book on Laurel Canyon: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/6464198-canyon-of-dreams"You've Got a Friend" as recorded by Donny Hathaway on Live, 1972OUTRO SOLOIST: Charles McNealCharles McNeal is a killin' Oakland-based sax player who plays all over the bay area. He's also a master jazz transcriber, and has chronicled tons of great solos. You can find him playing out in a variety of bands and settings; the best way to keep up with his music is to subscribe to his YouTube channel or follow him on Instagram @charlesonsax2 - https://www.instagram.com/charlesonsax2--------------------JUNE 2021 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONSRob Bosworth - Josh Pearson - Kyle Cooke - Donald Mackie - Liam Keogh - Melissa Osborne - Per Morten Barstad - Christopher Miller - Tim Byrne - Allison Clift-Jennings - Patrick Funston - Jamie White - Christopher Kupski - Christopher McConnell - Joshua Jarvis - Rick Klaras - Niko - Joe Laska - Laurie Acreman - Ken Hirsh - Jez - Jenness Gardner - Simon Cammell - Guinevere Boostrom - Narelle Horn - Nathaniel Bauernfeind - Bill Rosinger - Anne Britt - David Zahm - Erin - Aidan Coughlan - Jeanneret - Manning Family Four - Doug Paton - Robert Paul - Viki Dun - Christer Lindqvist - Sami Samhuri - Craig J. Covell - AccessViolation - Ryan Torvik - Merlin Mann - Fraser - Glenn - Andre Bremer - Mark Schechter - Dave Florey - Dan ApczynskiJUNE 2021 HALF-NOTE PATRONSNatalie Mistilis - Josh Singer - Phino DeLeon - Schloss Edward J., MD - Rhyanon Murray - Amy Lynn Thornsen - Adam W - Kelli Brockington - Stephen Rawlings - Ben Machta - Victoria Yu - Kevin Rivers - Gray Dyer - Brad Clark - Christopher - Kari Kirk - Mark Boggs - Mino Capossela - Steve Paquin - Mary Schoenmaker - Sarah - David Joske - Åshild Margrete Østtveit Odéen - Emma Sklar - Spencer Stanford - Bernard Khoo - Marc - Andrew Shpall - Robert Heuer - Matthew Golden - Brian Meldrum - David Noah - Ben Hunt - Geraldine Butler - Richard Cambier - Madeleine Mader - Andy Smith - Fernando Rodriguez - Timothy Dougherty - Jason Pratt - Stewart Oak - Caroline Miller - Abbie Berg - Sam Norton - Nicole Schleicher - Doug Belew - Dermot Crowley - Achint Srivastava - Ryan Rairigh - Michael Berman - Stephen Matthews - Bridget Lyons - Olivia Bishop - Jeremy Schwartz - John Gisselquist - Elaine Martin - Kouroth - Belinda McGrath-Steer - Eoin de Burca - Kevin Potter - M Shane Borders - Pete Simm - Shawn McCarthy - Dallas Hockley - Jana J - Jason Gerry - Rich Roskopf - Melissa Gallo - Nathan Gouwens - Will Dwyer - Alethea Lee - Lauren Reay - Eric Prestemon - Erika L Austin - Cookies250 - Spencer Shirley - Damian Brady - Angela Livingstone - Jeffrey C. Yarnell - David Friedman - Phillip Dalton - Christopher Cudnoski - Sarah Sulan - Diane Hughes - Kenneth Tiong - Jo Sutherland - Michael Casner - Michael York - Barb Courtney - Derek Bender - Jen Small - Don Hutchison - Lowell Meyer - Etele Illes - Stephen Tsoneff - Lorenz Schwarz - Becca Sample - Wen - Jack Sjogren - Aparajit Raghavan - Benedict Pennington - Geoff Golden - Robyn Fraser - Alexander Geddes - Pascal Rueger - Randy Souza - JC - Brendan Jubb - Clare Holberton - Jake Tinsley - Diane Turner - Tom Coleman - Judy Chapple - Mark Perry - Dhu Wik - Mel - Eric Helm - Jake Roberts - Briony Leo - Bill Fuller - Jonathan Daniels - Steven Maron - Michael Flaherty - Jarrod Schindler - Zoe Little - Albukitty - Caro Field - Michael Bochner - Duncan - Dave Sharpe - Brant Brantphillip - David Cushman - Alexander - Jeremy Dawson - Chris K - Gavin Doig - Sam Fenn - Tanner Morton - AJ Schuster - Jennifer Bush - David Stroud - Amanda Furlotti - Andrew Baker - Chris Brown - Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua - Matt Gaskell - Jules Bailey - Eero Wahlstedt - Bill Thornton - Brian Amoebas - Brett Douville - Jeffrey Olson - Matt Betzel - Mueller - Nate from Kalamazoo - Melanie Stivers - Richard Toller - Alexander Polson - Tom Lauer - Earl Lozada - Jon O’Keefe - Justin McElroy - Arjun Sharma - James Johnson - Andrew Lee - Kevin Morrell - Tom Clewer - Kevin Pennyfeather - Nicholas Schechter - Emily Williams --------------------💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺July 11, 2026 | Portland, ORBuy Tickets Here (Livestream Tix Now Available!)----LINKS-----💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!Patreon | One-Time Donation🏠 HOMEPAGE👚 MERCH💬 DISCORD SERVER📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTER🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram | YouTube | Bluesky🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG:Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music🎨 SHOW ART:Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics