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It's Too Late (Carole King song)

March 07, 2023

"It's Too Late" is a song from American singer-songwriter Carole King's second studio album, Tapestry (1971). Toni Stern wrote the lyrics and King wrote the music. It was released as a single in April 1971 and reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts. Sales were later gold-certified by the RIAA. Billboard ranked "It's Too Late" and its fellow A-side, "I Feel the Earth Move", as the No. 3 record for 1971.

"It's Too Late"
US vinyl single; picture is also used for the "I Feel the Earth Move" side and the parent album Tapestry
Single by Carole King
from the album Tapestry
A-side"I Feel the Earth Move"
ReleasedApril 16, 1971
GenreSoft rock
Length3:51
LabelOde
Songwriter(s)Carole King, Toni Stern
Producer(s)Lou Adler
Carole King singles chronology
"Up on the Roof"
(1970) 		"It's Too Late" / "I Feel the Earth Move"
(1971) 		"So Far Away" / "Smackwater Jack"
(1971)
Official audio
"It's Too Late" on YouTube

Music and lyrics

The lyrics describe the blameless end of a loving relationship.[1] Music critic Dave Marsh saw implicit feminism because the woman left the man.[2] Marsh also remarked on the maturity of the theme.[2] Music critic Robert Christgau wrote that "if there's a truer song about breaking up than 'It's Too Late,' the world (or at least AM radio) isn't ready for it."[3] Marsh described the melody as Tin Pan Alley and the arrangement as a cross between light jazz and "L.A. studio craftsmanship."[2] Rolling Stone remarked that King's "warm, earnest singing" on the song brought out the song's sadness.[4] According to author James Perone, the feel of the song is enhanced by the instrumental work of Danny Kortchmar on guitar, Curtis Amy on saxophone and King on piano.[1] Kortchmar and Amy each have an instrumental solo.[1] Cash Box described the song as "a sensitive ballad with a strong rock under-beat."[5]

Toni Stern told author Sheila Weller that she wrote the lyrics in a single day, after her relationship with James Taylor ended.[6][7] The recording won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1972, and the song is included in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Personnel

Soundtracks

"It's Too Late" has been featured in Hollywood films, including Fandango (1985), The Lake House (2006), and Invincible (2006).[8][9]

Awards and recognition

Charts

Gloria Estefan version

"It's Too Late"
 
Single by Gloria Estefan
from the album Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me
ReleasedMay 9, 1995 (1995-05-09)
Recorded1993–1994
GenrePop
Length3:57
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)
  • Carole King
  • Toni Stern
Producer(s)
Gloria Estefan singles chronology
"Everlasting Love"
(1995) 		"It's Too Late"
(1995) 		"Cherchez La Femme"
(1995)
Music video
"It's Too Late" on YouTube

In 1995, Cuban American singer and songwriter Gloria Estefan released her cover of "It's Too Late" as the third promotional single (in the US), and fourth overall single released from her fourth studio album, Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me (1994).

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Eddie Huffman described Estefan's version as "[a] moment of genuine pathos" in his review of the Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me album.[23] Steve Baltin from Cash Box felt that the singer "does a decent job with the vocals, but this is one of those songs that everybody feels they own. As such, it’s better off being left alone."[24] Chuck Campbell from Knoxville News Sentinel viewed it as a "faithful" remake of Carole King's 1971 hit, "though Tim Mitchell's intrusive electric-guitar solo is an unwelcome addition."[25] Phil Shanklin of ReviewsRevues remarked that King’s voice does possess the same warmth as Estefan's.[26]

Official versions

  1. Album version – 3:57
  2. Piano mix – 3:38
  3. Radio mix – 3:19

Release history

Region Date
US May 9, 1995[27]
Europe June 12, 1995

Charts

Formats and track listings

US promo CD single (ESK 77877)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."It's Too Late" (Radio Mix)Carole King, Toni Stern3:19
2."It's Too Late" (Album Version)Carole King, Toni Stern3:57
3."It's Too Late" (Piano Mix)Carole King, Toni Stern3:58
Europe CD single (EPC 662040 1)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."It's Too Late" (Radio Mix)Carole King, Toni Stern3:19
2."It's Too Late" (Piano Mix)Carole King, Toni Stern3:58
UK CD-maxi single (662044 2) [Cancelled / Unreleased]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."It's Too Late" (Radio Mix)Carole King, Toni Stern3:19
2."It's Too Late" (Piano Mix)Carole King, Toni Stern3:58
3."Cherchez La Femme" (Radio Club Mix)August Darnell, Stony Browder, Jr.3:54
4."Cherchez La Femme" (Album Version)August Darnell, Stony Browder, Jr.4:58
UK promo CD single (XPCD 652)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."It's Too Late" (Radio Mix)Carole King, Toni Stern3:19
Mexico promo CD single #1 (PRCD 96384)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."It's Too Late" (Album Version)Carole King, Toni Stern3:57
2."Cherchez La Femme" (Album Version)August Darnell, Stony Browder, Jr.4:58
Mexico promo CD single #2 (PRCD 96605)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."It's Too Late" (Radio Mix)Carole King, Toni Stern3:19
Australia CD-maxi single (662020 2)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."It's Too Late" (Radio Mix)Carole King, Toni Stern3:19
2."It's Too Late" (Album Version)Carole King, Toni Stern3:57
3."It's Too Late" (Piano Mix)Carole King, Toni Stern3:58
4."Cherchez La Femme" (Doom Dub)August Darnell, Stony Browder, Jr.8:17
5."Cherchez La Femme" (Piano Mix)August Darnell, Stony Browder, Jr.6:41

Other notable versions

The song has been covered by

References

  1. ^ a b c Perone, J.E. (2006). The Words and Music of Carole King. Greenwood Publishing. pp. 34–35. ISBN 9780275990275.
  2. ^ a b c Marsh, D. (1999). The Heart of Rock and Soul. Da Capo Press. pp. 312–313. ISBN 9780306809019.
  3. ^ Christgau, R. "Carole King". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
  4. ^ "500 Greatest Albums of All Time: Tapestry". Rolling Stone. 31 May 2009. Archived from the original on 2013-04-27. Retrieved 2014-04-13.
  5. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. May 1, 1971. p. 24. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  6. ^ Steve Sullivan (2013). Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings, volume 2. Scarecrow Press. pp. 326–327. ISBN 978-0810882959.
  7. ^ Sheila Weller (2009). Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon - and the Journey of a Generation. Washington Square Press. pp. 325–328. ISBN 9780743491488.
  8. ^ "Fandango". imdb.com. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  9. ^ "Toni Stern". imdb.com. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  10. ^ a b Steffen Hung. . Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 2016-06-02. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  11. ^ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  12. ^ "Item: 7739 - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  13. ^ a b c d Hawtin, Steve; et al. "Song title 422 - It's Too Late". tsort.info. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  14. ^ "flavour of new zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  15. ^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles". Cash Box Magazine. 1971-07-17. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  16. ^ Joel Whitburn's Bubbling Under the Billboard Hot 100 1959-2004
  17. ^ . Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2016-11-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1971/Top 100 Songs of 1971". Musicoutfitters.com.
  19. ^ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1971". Cashboxmagazine.com. 1971-12-25. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  20. ^ "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  21. ^ "British single certifications – Carole King – Its Too Late". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  22. ^ "American single certifications – Carole King – It's Too Late". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  23. ^ Huffman, Eddie. "Gloria Estefan - Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me". AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  24. ^ Baltin, Steve (1995-06-17). "Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 7. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
  25. ^ Campbell, Chuck (1994-10-28). "Bedtime' With Madonna Is A Bit Drowsy". Knoxville News Sentinel.
  26. ^ Shanklin, Phil (2015-11-22). "100 Essential CDs – Number 72 –Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me –Gloria Estefan". Reviewsrevues.com. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  27. ^ "Radio & Records" (PDF). Americanradiohistory.com. 1995-05-05. p. 30. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
  28. ^ "Radio & Records" (PDF). Americanradiohistory.com. 1995-07-14. p. 58. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
  29. ^ "Radio & Records" (PDF). Americanradiohistory.com. 1998-07-17. p. 56. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
  30. ^ "Radio & Records" (PDF). Americanradiohistory.com. 1995-12-22. p. 53. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
  31. ^ "Brother, Brother, Brother > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles" at AllMusic. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  32. ^ "Quartz - It's Too Late ft Dina Carroll". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  33. ^ Lucy Dacus releases covers of Carole King's 'Home Again' and 'It's Too Late', retrieved 2022-10-03

External links

  • Carole King - It's Too Late on YouTube
  • Bill Deal & the Rhondels - It's Too Late on YouTube

March 07, 2023
late, carole, king, song, late, song, from, american, singer, songwriter, carole, king, second, studio, album, tapestry, 1971, toni, stern, wrote, lyrics, king, wrote, music, released, single, april, 1971, reached, number, billboard, adult, contemporary, chart. It s Too Late is a song from American singer songwriter Carole King s second studio album Tapestry 1971 Toni Stern wrote the lyrics and King wrote the music It was released as a single in April 1971 and reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts Sales were later gold certified by the RIAA Billboard ranked It s Too Late and its fellow A side I Feel the Earth Move as the No 3 record for 1971 It s Too Late US vinyl single picture is also used for the I Feel the Earth Move side and the parent album TapestrySingle by Carole Kingfrom the album TapestryA side I Feel the Earth Move ReleasedApril 16 1971GenreSoft rockLength3 51LabelOdeSongwriter s Carole King Toni SternProducer s Lou AdlerCarole King singles chronology Up on the Roof 1970 It s Too Late I Feel the Earth Move 1971 So Far Away Smackwater Jack 1971 Official audio It s Too Late on YouTube Contents 1 Music and lyrics 2 Personnel 3 Soundtracks 4 Awards and recognition 5 Charts 5 1 Weekly charts 5 2 Year end charts 5 3 All time charts 5 4 Certifications 6 Gloria Estefan version 6 1 Critical reception 6 2 Official versions 6 3 Release history 6 4 Charts 6 4 1 Weekly charts 6 4 2 Year end charts 6 5 Formats and track listings 7 Other notable versions 8 References 9 External linksMusic and lyrics EditThe lyrics describe the blameless end of a loving relationship 1 Music critic Dave Marsh saw implicit feminism because the woman left the man 2 Marsh also remarked on the maturity of the theme 2 Music critic Robert Christgau wrote that if there s a truer song about breaking up than It s Too Late the world or at least AM radio isn t ready for it 3 Marsh described the melody as Tin Pan Alley and the arrangement as a cross between light jazz and L A studio craftsmanship 2 Rolling Stone remarked that King s warm earnest singing on the song brought out the song s sadness 4 According to author James Perone the feel of the song is enhanced by the instrumental work of Danny Kortchmar on guitar Curtis Amy on saxophone and King on piano 1 Kortchmar and Amy each have an instrumental solo 1 Cash Box described the song as a sensitive ballad with a strong rock under beat 5 Toni Stern told author Sheila Weller that she wrote the lyrics in a single day after her relationship with James Taylor ended 6 7 The recording won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1972 and the song is included in Rolling Stone s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time Personnel EditCarole King piano vocals Curtis Amy soprano saxophone Danny Kootch Kortchmar conga electric guitar Charles Charlie Larkey bass guitar Joel O Brien drums Ralph Schuckett electric pianoSoundtracks Edit It s Too Late has been featured in Hollywood films including Fandango 1985 The Lake House 2006 and Invincible 2006 8 9 Awards and recognition EditKing s version of It s Too Late peaked at No 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts It was on the Hot 100 as a double A side with I Feel the Earth Move King s version of It s Too Late was gold certified by the RIAA It s Too Late won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1972 It s Too Late is ranked No 469 on Rolling Stone s list of the 500 greatest songs of all time It was dropped in the 2010 version but updated to No 310 in the 2021 version Together with its other A side it was named by the RIAA as No 213 of 365 Songs of the Century Charts EditWeekly charts Edit Carole KingChart 1971 PeakpositionAustralia 10 6Canada Top Singles RPM 11 1Canada Adult Contemporary RPM 12 2Ireland 13 8New Zealand Listener 14 6UK 13 6US Billboard Hot 100 13 1US Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks Billboard 13 1US Cash Box Top 100 15 1Bill Deal amp the RhondelsChart 1972 PeakpositionUS Bubbling Under the Hot 100 Billboard 16 108 Year end charts Edit Chart 1971 RankAustralia 10 33Canada Top Singles RPM 17 5US Billboard Hot 100 18 3US Cash Box Top 100 19 2All time charts Edit Chart 1958 2018 PositionUS Billboard Hot 100 20 250Certifications Edit Region Certification Certified units salesUnited Kingdom BPI 21 Silver 200 000 United States RIAA 22 Gold 1 000 000 Shipments figures based on certification alone Sales streaming figures based on certification alone Gloria Estefan version Edit It s Too Late Single by Gloria Estefanfrom the album Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss MeReleasedMay 9 1995 1995 05 09 Recorded1993 1994GenrePopLength3 57LabelEpicSongwriter s Carole King Toni SternProducer s Emilio Estefan Jr Jorge Casas Clay OstwaldGloria Estefan singles chronology Everlasting Love 1995 It s Too Late 1995 Cherchez La Femme 1995 Music video It s Too Late on YouTubeIn 1995 Cuban American singer and songwriter Gloria Estefan released her cover of It s Too Late as the third promotional single in the US and fourth overall single released from her fourth studio album Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me 1994 Critical reception Edit AllMusic editor Eddie Huffman described Estefan s version as a moment of genuine pathos in his review of the Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me album 23 Steve Baltin from Cash Box felt that the singer does a decent job with the vocals but this is one of those songs that everybody feels they own As such it s better off being left alone 24 Chuck Campbell from Knoxville News Sentinel viewed it as a faithful remake of Carole King s 1971 hit though Tim Mitchell s intrusive electric guitar solo is an unwelcome addition 25 Phil Shanklin of ReviewsRevues remarked that King s voice does possess the same warmth as Estefan s 26 Official versions Edit Album version 3 57 Piano mix 3 38 Radio mix 3 19Release history Edit Region DateUS May 9 1995 27 Europe June 12 1995Charts Edit Weekly charts Edit Chart 1995 PeakpositionAustralia ARIA 56US Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks Billboard 31US AC Top 30 R amp R 28 29 13 Year end charts Edit Chart 1995 PositionUS AC Top 30 R amp R 30 46 Formats and track listings Edit US promo CD single ESK 77877 No TitleWriter s Length1 It s Too Late Radio Mix Carole King Toni Stern3 192 It s Too Late Album Version Carole King Toni Stern3 573 It s Too Late Piano Mix Carole King Toni Stern3 58 Europe CD single EPC 662040 1 No TitleWriter s Length1 It s Too Late Radio Mix Carole King Toni Stern3 192 It s Too Late Piano Mix Carole King Toni Stern3 58 UK CD maxi single 662044 2 Cancelled Unreleased No TitleWriter s Length1 It s Too Late Radio Mix Carole King Toni Stern3 192 It s Too Late Piano Mix Carole King Toni Stern3 583 Cherchez La Femme Radio Club Mix August Darnell Stony Browder Jr 3 544 Cherchez La Femme Album Version August Darnell Stony Browder Jr 4 58 UK promo CD single XPCD 652 No TitleWriter s Length1 It s Too Late Radio Mix Carole King Toni Stern3 19 Mexico promo CD single 1 PRCD 96384 No TitleWriter s Length1 It s Too Late Album Version Carole King Toni Stern3 572 Cherchez La Femme Album Version August Darnell Stony Browder Jr 4 58 Mexico promo CD single 2 PRCD 96605 No TitleWriter s Length1 It s Too Late Radio Mix Carole King Toni Stern3 19 Australia CD maxi single 662020 2 No TitleWriter s Length1 It s Too Late Radio Mix Carole King Toni Stern3 192 It s Too Late Album Version Carole King Toni Stern3 573 It s Too Late Piano Mix Carole King Toni Stern3 584 Cherchez La Femme Doom Dub August Darnell Stony Browder Jr 8 175 Cherchez La Femme Piano Mix August Darnell Stony Browder Jr 6 41Other notable versions EditThe song has been covered by 1972 The Isley Brothers on their album Brother Brother Brother reaching No 39 on the R amp B chart 31 1991 Dina Carroll with the duo Quartz earning her first hit it reached No 8 in the UK Singles Chart 32 2022 Lucy Dacus 33 References Edit a b c Perone J E 2006 The Words and Music of Carole King Greenwood Publishing pp 34 35 ISBN 9780275990275 a b c Marsh D 1999 The Heart of Rock and Soul Da Capo Press pp 312 313 ISBN 9780306809019 Christgau R Carole King robertchristgau com Retrieved 2014 04 15 500 Greatest Albums of All Time Tapestry Rolling Stone 31 May 2009 Archived from the original on 2013 04 27 Retrieved 2014 04 13 CashBox Record Reviews PDF Cash Box May 1 1971 p 24 Retrieved 2021 12 10 Steve Sullivan 2013 Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings volume 2 Scarecrow Press pp 326 327 ISBN 978 0810882959 Sheila Weller 2009 Girls Like Us Carole King Joni Mitchell Carly Simon and the Journey of a Generation Washington Square Press pp 325 328 ISBN 9780743491488 Fandango imdb com Retrieved 11 March 2020 Toni Stern imdb com Retrieved 11 March 2020 a b Steffen Hung Forum 1970 ARIA Charts Special Occasion Charts Australian charts com Archived from the original on 2016 06 02 Retrieved 2016 07 27 Image RPM Weekly Library and Archives Canada Bac lac gc ca 17 July 2013 Retrieved 2016 07 27 Item 7739 Library and Archives Canada Bac lac gc ca 17 July 2013 Retrieved 2016 07 27 a b c d Hawtin Steve et al Song title 422 It s Too Late tsort info Retrieved 17 October 2011 flavour of new zealand search listener Flavourofnz co nz Retrieved 2016 07 27 CASH BOX Top 100 Singles Cash Box Magazine 1971 07 17 Retrieved 2 April 2020 Joel Whitburn s Bubbling Under the Billboard Hot 100 1959 2004 Archived copy Archived from the original on 2012 10 20 Retrieved 2016 11 19 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Top 100 Hits of 1971 Top 100 Songs of 1971 Musicoutfitters com Cash Box YE Pop Singles 1971 Cashboxmagazine com 1971 12 25 Retrieved 2016 07 27 Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart Billboard Retrieved 10 December 2018 British single certifications Carole King Its Too Late British Phonographic Industry Retrieved August 20 2021 American single certifications Carole King It s Too Late Recording Industry Association of America Retrieved August 20 2021 Huffman Eddie Gloria Estefan Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me AllMusic Retrieved 2020 02 24 Baltin Steve 1995 06 17 Pop Singles PDF Cash Box p 7 Retrieved 2022 11 07 Campbell Chuck 1994 10 28 Bedtime With Madonna Is A Bit Drowsy Knoxville News Sentinel Shanklin Phil 2015 11 22 100 Essential CDs Number 72 Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Gloria Estefan Reviewsrevues com Retrieved 2020 10 14 Radio amp Records PDF Americanradiohistory com 1995 05 05 p 30 Retrieved 2022 03 22 Radio amp Records PDF Americanradiohistory com 1995 07 14 p 58 Retrieved 2022 03 22 Radio amp Records PDF Americanradiohistory com 1998 07 17 p 56 Retrieved 2022 03 22 Radio amp Records PDF Americanradiohistory com 1995 12 22 p 53 Retrieved 2022 03 22 Brother Brother Brother gt Charts amp Awards gt Billboard Singles at AllMusic Retrieved 17 October 2011 Quartz It s Too Late ft Dina Carroll Official Charts Company Retrieved 17 October 2011 Lucy Dacus releases covers of Carole King s Home Again and It s Too Late retrieved 2022 10 03External links EditCarole King It s Too Late on YouTube Bill Deal amp the Rhondels It s Too Late on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title It 27s Too Late Carole King song amp oldid 1138614490, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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