"Only Love Is Real" is a song written and performed by

Carole King Carole King Klein (born Carol Joan Klein; February 9, 1942) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who has been active since 1958, initially as one of the staff songwriters at 1650 Broadway and later as a solo artist. Regarded as one ...

. The song was included on her 1976 album, ''

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are c ...

''. The single peaked at No. 28 in the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and was King's fourth and final No. 1 on the

Easy Listening Easy listening (including mood music) is a popular music genre and radio format that was most popular during the 1950s to 1970s. It is related to middle-of-the-road (MOR) music and encompasses instrumental recordings of standards, hit songs, n ...

chart, where it remained for one week in March 1976. It is ranked as the 40th biggest AC/Easy Listening hit of 1976.Top 50 Adult Contemporary Hits of 1976
/ref> ''

Cash Box ''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', was an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...

'' said the song has a "likable tune with a carefully constructed lyric" and that "Like Dylan, Carole King understands the power of a subtle rhyme, and she uses her knowledge in this tune with tremendous effect." ''

Record World ''Record World'' magazine was one of the three main music industry trade magazines in the United States, along with '' Billboard'' and '' Cashbox''. It was founded in 1946 under the name ''Music Vendor'', but in 1964 it was changed to ''Record Wo ...

'' said that "The exceptional songwriting prowess of Carole King continues to manifest itself in quality records such as this."

Personnel

*Carole King - synthesizer, piano, vocals * Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar - guitar * Russ Kunkel - drums * David Crosby - background vocals * Graham Nash - background vocals * Tom Scott - saxophone * Leland Sklar – bass *

J.D. Souther John David "J. D." Souther (born November 2, 1945) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He has written and co-written songs recorded by Linda Ronstadt and the Eagles (band), Eagles. Souther is probably best known for his songwriting ab ...

- background vocals * Waddy Wachtel - guitar

Chart performance

References

1976 singles Carole King songs Songs written by Carole King Ode Records singles Song recordings produced by Lou Adler 1976 songs {{1970s-pop-song-stub

Personnel

Chart performance

See also

References