Smackwater Jack

When you dive into Smackwater Jack, you encounter a story that moves away from the personal introspection that usually characterizes Tapestry. Here, the lyrics, written by Gerry Goffin, present a verbal duel between the outlaw Smackwater Jack and Big Jim, the boss. It's a more narrative tale, almost like a western scene, which contrasts with the direct emotiveness of other songs on the album. Musically, it's described as an "uptempo shuffle," a rhythm that invites you to move. The way Carole King's piano integrates with the other instruments, according to author James Perone, is key; it doesn't dominate but fuses. For others, like Jon Landau, the prominence lies with the rhythm section: Charlie Larkey's bass and Joel O'Brien's drums, which give the song a firm pulse.

This piece, composed by Gerry Goffin and Carole King, saw the light of day in January 1971, recorded at A&M Recording Studios, and was released in March of the same year as part of the album Tapestry. It was also one of the album's singles, appearing alongside So Far Away, and reached number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. The collaboration between Goffin and King is evident here: he provides "brilliant and far-reaching" lyrics, while she "subtly embellishes the musical form," according to Landau. Critic Stewart Mason, while considering it a fan favorite with "dry wit and several clever lines," also categorizes it as a "fairly lightweight" piece. Producer Lou Adler was behind this recording, and engineer Hank Cicalo captured the sound. The song has been covered by artists such as Quincy Jones, who gave it his own "taut, funky soul" touch on his 1971 album, and The Manhattan Transfer for a tribute record.