Carole King SUPER HITS

Carole King's entry in the SUPER HITS series of budget-priced compilations is, as usual, light on liner notes and skimpy on playing time. However, refreshingly, it has an unexpected and interesting track selection. Nearly all other Carole King anthologies are skewed towards 1971's huge-selling TAPESTRY album. SUPER HITS, instead, seems to deliberately steer away from that well-known album; instead of "Where You Lead" or "It's Too Late," SUPER HITS chooses the worthy but underexposed "Smackwater Jack." Only one of the album's big hits is included, "I Feel the Earth Move," and even it's included in a live version from THE CARNEGIE HALL CONCERT 1971 instead of the studio take. The other eight tracks include "Been To Canaan" from 1972's RHYMES AND REASONS and the almost funky "That's How Things Go Down" from 1973's FANTASY. SUPER HITS may have an eccentric selection, but it's a fine one.

• Format: CD
• Genre: Rock