1971 song by Carole King
"It's Too Late " is a song from Carole King 's 1971 album Tapestry . 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 .
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 love affair 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
Weekly charts
Carole King
Bill Deal & the Rhondels
Year-end charts
Chart (1971)
Rank
Australia[10]
33
Canada RPM Top Singles[17]
5
US Billboard Hot 100[18]
3
US Cash Box [19]
2
All-time charts
Certifications
Gloria Estefan version
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 .
Critical reception
AllMusic editor Eddie Huffman described the song as a "moment of genuine pathos" in his review of Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me .[23] Phil Shanklin of ReviewsRevues stated that "King’s voice does possess the same warmth as Estefan’s."[24]
Official versions
Album version – 3:57
Piano mix – 3:38
Radio mix – 3:19
Release history
Region
Date
US
May 9, 1995[25]
Europe
June 12, 1995
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Chart (1995)
Position
US AC Top 30 (R&R )[28]
46
Formats and track listings
US promo CD single (ESK 77877) Title Writer(s) 1. "It's Too Late" (Radio Mix) Carole King, Toni Stern 3:19 2. "It's Too Late" (Album Version) Carole King, Toni Stern 3:57 3. "It's Too Late" (Piano Mix) Carole King, Toni Stern 3:58
Europe CD single (EPC 662040 1) Title Writer(s) 1. "It's Too Late" (Radio Mix) Carole King, Toni Stern 3:19 2. "It's Too Late" (Piano Mix) Carole King, Toni Stern 3:58
UK CD-maxi single (662044 2) [Cancelled / Unreleased] Title Writer(s) 1. "It's Too Late" (Radio Mix) Carole King, Toni Stern 3:19 2. "It's Too Late" (Piano Mix) Carole King, Toni Stern 3:58 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) Title Writer(s) 1. "It's Too Late" (Radio Mix) Carole King, Toni Stern 3:19
Mexico promo CD single #1 (PRCD 96384) Title Writer(s) 1. "It's Too Late" (Album Version) Carole King, Toni Stern 3:57 2. "Cherchez La Femme" (Album Version) August Darnell, Stony Browder, Jr. 4:58
Mexico promo CD single #2 (PRCD 96605) Title Writer(s) 1. "It's Too Late" (Radio Mix) Carole King, Toni Stern 3:19
Australia CD-maxi single (662020 2) Title Writer(s) 1. "It's Too Late" (Radio Mix) Carole King, Toni Stern 3:19 2. "It's Too Late" (Album Version) Carole King, Toni Stern 3:57 3. "It's Too Late" (Piano Mix) Carole King, Toni Stern 3:58 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 versions
The song has been covered by
References
^ 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. 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 .
^ "Item: 7739 - Library and Archives Canada" . Bac-lac.gc.ca . 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-07-27 .
^ "Image : RPM Weekly - 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
^ [1] [dead 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 .
^ 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 & Records" (PDF) . Americanradiohistory.com . 1995-05-05. p. 30. Retrieved 2022-03-22 .
^ "Radio & Records" (PDF) . Americanradiohistory.com . 1995-07-14. p. 58. Retrieved 2022-03-22 .
^ "Radio & Records" (PDF) . Americanradiohistory.com . 1998-07-17. p. 56. Retrieved 2022-03-22 .
^ "Radio & Records" (PDF) . Americanradiohistory.com . 1995-12-22. p. 53. Retrieved 2022-03-22 .
^ "Brother, Brother, Brother > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles" at AllMusic . Retrieved 17 October 2011.
^ "The Stylistics - Round 2" . Discogs .
^ Soldiers on the Moon - David Lasley | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic , retrieved 2022-01-03
^ "Quartz - It's Too Late ft Dina Carroll" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved 17 October 2011 .
^ "Various- 80's Re:Covered - Your Songs With The 80's Sound" . discogs.com. Retrieved 23 December 2015 .
External links
Studio albums Compilations Live albums Other albums Singles Other songs Related articles
Studio albums Live albums Compilation albums Singles Filmography See also
1980s 1990s 2000–2010s Other
Studio albums Compilations Singles
1959−1980
"Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare) " by Domenico Modugno (1959)
"Mack the Knife " by Bobby Darin (1960)
"Theme from A Summer Place " by Percy Faith (1961)
"Moon River " by Henry Mancini (1962)
"I Left My Heart in San Francisco " by Tony Bennett (1963)
"Days of Wine and Roses " by Henry Mancini (1964)
"The Girl from Ipanema " by Astrud Gilberto & Stan Getz (1965)
"A Taste of Honey " by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass (1966)
"Strangers in the Night " by Frank Sinatra (1967)
"Up, Up and Away " by The 5th Dimension (Billy Davis Jr. , Florence LaRue , Marilyn McCoo , Lamonte McLemore , Ron Townson ) (1968)
"Mrs. Robinson " by Simon & Garfunkel (Art Garfunkel , Paul Simon ) (1969)
"Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In " by The 5th Dimension (Billy Davis Jr. , Florence LaRue , Marilyn McCoo , Lamonte McLemore , Ron Townson ) (1970)
"Bridge over Troubled Water " by Simon & Garfunkel (Art Garfunkel , Paul Simon ) (1971)
"It's Too Late " by Carole King (1972)
"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face " by Roberta Flack (1973)
"Killing Me Softly with His Song " by Roberta Flack (1974)
"I Honestly Love You " by Olivia Newton-John (1975)
"Love Will Keep Us Together " by Captain & Tennille (Daryl Dragon , Toni Tennille ) (1976)
"This Masquerade " by George Benson (1977)
"Hotel California " by Eagles (Don Felder , Glenn Frey , Don Henley , Randy Meisner , Joe Walsh ) (1978)
"Just the Way You Are " by Billy Joel (1979)
"What a Fool Believes " by The Doobie Brothers (Jeffrey Baxter , John Hartman , Keith Knudsen , Michael McDonald , Tiran Porter , Patrick Simmons ) (1980)
1981−2000
"Sailing " by Christopher Cross (1981)
"Bette Davis Eyes " by Kim Carnes (1982)
"Rosanna " by Toto (David Hungate , Bobby Kimball , Steve Lukather , David Paich , Jeff Porcaro , Steve Porcaro ) (1983)
"Beat It " by Michael Jackson (1984)
"What's Love Got to Do with It " by Tina Turner (1985)
"We Are the World " by USA for Africa (1986)
"Higher Love " by Steve Winwood (1987)
"Graceland " by Paul Simon (1988)
"Don't Worry, Be Happy " by Bobby McFerrin (1989)
"Wind Beneath My Wings " by Bette Midler (1990)
"Another Day in Paradise " by Phil Collins (1991)
"Unforgettable " by Natalie Cole with Nat King Cole (1992)
"Tears in Heaven " by Eric Clapton (1993)
"I Will Always Love You " by Whitney Houston (1994)
"All I Wanna Do " by Sheryl Crow (1995)
"Kiss from a Rose " by Seal (1996)
"Change the World " by Eric Clapton (1997)
"Sunny Came Home " by Shawn Colvin (1998)
"My Heart Will Go On " by Celine Dion (1999)
"Smooth " by Santana (Rodney Holmes, Tony Lindsay, Karl Perazzo, Raul Rekow, Benny Rietveld, Carlos Santana , Chester Thompson ) featuring Rob Thomas (2000)
2001−2020
"Beautiful Day " by U2 (Bono , Adam Clayton , The Edge , Larry Mullen Jr. ) (2001)
"Walk On " by U2 (Bono , Adam Clayton , The Edge , Larry Mullen Jr. ) (2002)
"Don't Know Why " by Norah Jones (2003)
"Clocks " by Coldplay (Guy Berryman , Jon Buckland , Will Champion , Phil Harvey , Chris Martin ) (2004)
"Here We Go Again " by Ray Charles & Norah Jones (2005)
"Boulevard of Broken Dreams " by Green Day (Billie Joe Armstrong , Mike Dirnt , Frank Edwin Wright III ) (2006)
"Not Ready to Make Nice " by Dixie Chicks (Martie Maguire , Natalie Maines , Emily Robison ) (2007)
"Rehab " by Amy Winehouse (2008)
"Please Read the Letter " by Alison Krauss & Robert Plant (2009)
"Use Somebody " by Kings of Leon (Caleb Followill , Jared Followill , Matthew Followill , Nathan Followill ) (2010)
"Need You Now " by Lady Antebellum (Hillary Scott , Charles Kelley , Dave Haywood ) (2011)
"Rolling in the Deep " by Adele (2012)
"Somebody That I Used to Know " by Gotye featuring Kimbra (2013)
"Get Lucky " by Daft Punk (Thomas Bangalter , Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo ) featuring Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers (2014)
"Stay with Me " (Darkchild version) by Sam Smith (2015)
"Uptown Funk " by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars (2016)
"Hello " by Adele (2017)
"24K Magic " by Bruno Mars (2018)
"This Is America " by Childish Gambino (2019)
"Bad Guy " by Billie Eilish (2020)
2021−present