For historic value, The Legendary Demos is an "A+", a must own. But as music, it is a complete irrelevance. Tracking song after tracking song. This is not a collection of some Carole King's solo and some of Goffin And Kings works in progress, it is not the deams show, how we constructed, what was added or removed, or moved or developed or without the hook: there isn't a lightbulb moment. They are simple the demos Carole gave to other artists who followed them very closely.
How disappointing.
If I was a songsmith, I would listen to these demos, but if I was a songsmith I'd already know what I am listening to. Listen to "Crying In The rain -a hit for the Everly Brothers, Carole double tracks her vocal to show how she would want the harmonies to work. The song is that complete. It is over. The Bobby Vee, the Monkees with background harmonies in place. Even her solo material for Tapestry. They are absolutely finished works.
On the songs for other people, the blandness of her vocals is purposeful. She isn't making a vocal point, she's like a signpost on the road as opposed to the driver turning left. This isn't REALLY a problem. I mean, that's the job description. It just means you are listening to a craftswoman perform the job she was paid for. But it isn't really fun. not oen comes close to the original. I mean, of course not. Why would they? When Bobby Vee or the Righteous Brothers are gonna sing em, leave em to it. But it isn't really fun.
Her own Tapestry demos are sung much better, probably because Carole is using them to remind herself how shewants to sing them. They sound just a bout complete, the originals are better, but it is great to hear Carole's uncluttered piano all over these tracks. Not particularly useful, but what is? It sounds really good and though these songs are pretty much worn out for me, others shoudl enjoy them much more.
It is sophistication to whine too much over an album with unreleased versions of some of the best songs of a generation, I just wish it lived up to the title.
Grade: B+