''Writer'' is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Carole King, released in May 1970. King already had a successful career as a songwriter, and been a part of The City, a short-lived group she formed after moving to Los Angeles in 1968. Tracks on the album include " Up on the Roof" which was a number 4 hit for

the Drifters The Drifters are several American doo-wop and R&B/soul vocal groups. They were originally formed as a backing group for Clyde McPhatter, formerly the lead tenor of Billy Ward and his Dominoes in 1953. The second group of Drifters, formed in ...

in 1962, and "Child of Mine", which has been recorded by

Billy Joe Royal Billy Joe Royal (April 3, 1942 – October 6, 2015) was an American country soul singer. His most successful record was " Down in the Boondocks" in 1965. Life and career Born in Valdosta, Georgia, to Clarence and Mary Sue Smith Royal, and rai ...

,Billy Joe Royal, ''The Very Best of Billy Joe Royal: The Columbia Years (1965-1972)''
Retrieved September 23, 2012. among others. The album did not receive much attention upon its release, though it entered the chart following the success of King's next album, ''

Tapestry Tapestry is a form of textile art, traditionally woven by hand on a loom. Tapestry is weft-faced weaving, in which all the warp threads are hidden in the completed work, unlike most woven textiles, where both the warp and the weft threads ma ...

'', in 1971. It was produced by John Fischbach, the co-founder of Crystal Sound studio where the album was recorded. The album received positive reviews from critics, with

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...

noting that it was the "most underrated of all eroriginal albums". And, in a review that also covered ''Tapestry'' in ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...

'',

Jon Landau Jon Landau (born May 14, 1947) is an American music critic, manager, and record producer. He has worked with Bruce Springsteen in all three capacities. He is the head of the nominating committee for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and re ...

wrote, "''Writer'' was a blessing despite its faults" and that though the "production was poor", King herself made the album "very worthwhile".

Track listing

All songs written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King; lyrics for "Raspberry Jam" and "What Have You Got to Lose" by Toni Stern. ;Side one #"Spaceship Races" – 3:09 #"No Easy Way Down" – 4:36 #"Child of Mine" – 4:05 #"

Goin' Back "Goin' Back" (also recorded and released as "Going Back") is a song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King in 1966. It describes the loss of innocence that comes with adulthood, along with an attempt, on the part of the singer, to recapture th ...

" – 3:20 #"To Love" – 3:39 #"What Have You Got to Lose" – 3:33 ;Side two #"Eventually" – 5:01 #"Raspberry Jam" – 4:35 #"Can't You Be Real" – 3:00 #"

I Can't Hear You No More "I Can't Hear You No More" is a composition written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. It was originally recorded as "I Can't Hear You" in 1964 by Betty Everett. The most successful version was the 1976 top 40 single by Helen Reddy. Betty Everett's ...

" – 2:46 #"Sweet Sweetheart" – 2:46 #" Up on the Roof" – 3:37

Personnel

*Carole Kingpiano, vocals, backing vocals, arrangements *

Ralph Schuckett Ralph Schuckett (March 2, 1948 – April 4, 2021) was an American keyboardist, composer and songwriter known as one of the founding members of Todd Rundgren's band Utopia. He composed for film and television, including Pokémon, Sonic X, and A ...

organ *John Fischbach Moog synthesizer *

James Taylor James Vernon Taylor (born March 12, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A six-time Grammy Award winner, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, havi ...

acoustic guitar; backing vocals on "Goin' Back" *

Danny Kortchmar Daniel "Danny Kootch" Kortchmar (born April 6, 1946) is an American guitarist, session musician, producer and songwriter. Kortchmar's work with singer-songwriters such as Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, David Crosby, Carole King, David Cassidy, Gr ...

acoustic guitar, electric guitar, conga *Charles Larkey Fender bass *Joel O'Briendrums, percussion, vibes *Abigale Haness, Delores Hallbacking vocals

Production

*John Fischbachproducer *Andrew Berlinerengineer *Gerry Goffinmixing * Guy Webstercover photograph *Tom Neuwirthliner photographs *

Rod Dyer Rod Dyer (born in South Africa) is an American graphic artist, illustrator, photographer and restaurateur. Career Dyer has been described as a "prominent graphic designer who created many of the album covers for Capitol Records in the 1960s." L ...

, Paul Bruhwilerlayout, design

Charts

References

{{Authority control 1970 debut albums Carole King albums CBS Records albums Ode Records albums