Genre: pop
Rating: 2 stars **
Title:  The Newborn
Company: Tomorrow
Catalog: TVI 132
Year: 1977
Country/State: US
Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+
Comments: --
Available: 1
Catalog ID: 127
Price: $50.00

It only took me a decade to get my hands on a copy of this tax scam rarity -this was the only album on the Tomorrow discography that I had not heard.  

As is the case for pretty much everything on the Tomorrow label, I can't tell you a great deal about the group. Produced by Nino Caruso (good luck looking up the name), "The Newborn" displayed the typical characteristics associated with a tax scam release - quickie cover art (stolen from New York artists Sonja Eisenberg), spare liner notes, no performance credits, and debatable artistic merit (more about that in a moment). It's nothing more than speculation on my part, by I'm guessing these ten tracks reflected early-1970 studio demos recorded with various New York studio vocalists that Tomorrow management somehow got their hands on and subsequently repackaged with little thought for after-sales. From both a business and artistic stance this set was a little bit different in that it found Tomorrow taking a measured risk by 'borrowing' the work of a known artist. Unlike most tax scam albums which released material by unknown quantities, this collection essentially served as a Carole King tribute. Nine of the ten tracks were King compositions with even of the tracks being remakes of material off of her 1971 "Tapestry" album. At least on the surface, recording an album of King covers would seem to have increased the chances of someone in King's circle learning about the album and seeking royalties, or pursuing legal remedies. Obviously it was a risk Tomorrow was willing to take. Makes you wonder if King knows this album exists ... Regardless, with the exception of a jazzed up take on 'On Broadway' (the lone non-King effort), this album served as a nice tribute to King. Tracks like 'So Far Away', 'It's Too Late' and 'Up On the Roof ' didn't stray too far from the original arrangements (why spend money and time on different arrangements?), 

- Musically 'So Far Away' didn't stray far from the original arrangement, though the lead vocals sounded like Karen Carpenter being multi-tracked, Very MOR-ish arrangement, but the song had such a strong melody, it almost didn't matter. rating: ** stars
- Cut from the same template, 'It's Too Late' stuck with the original arrangement, substituting King's pensive performances with group vocals that sounded like they could have been selling toothpaste. rating: ** stars
- Shame there were no performance credits since the anonymous lead singers on 'You've Got a Friend' deserved recognition. No, this one wasn't about to make you forget James Taylor's version (or King's for that matter). but the singers added a nice soul edge to their cover of the tune. rating: *** stars
- One of my favorite performances on the set, 'Toy Balloon' was given a nifty mid-tempo bluesy arrangement. Easy to picture Dionne Warwick recording this version. rating: *** stars
- It's hard to do something to draw attention to a rock chestnut like this one, but as mentioned earlier, perhaps because it was given a slinky, jazzed up arrangement, the cover of ;On Broadway' was another standout performance. rating: *** stars
- With an arrangement that stuck with the original version 'Up On the Roof' found the album returning to Karen Carpenter-styled ballad mode. rating: ** stars
- I've always thought Smackwater Jack' was one of King's most interesting songs (certainly one of the standout performances on "Tapestry", but this cover managed to reduce the song's 'outlaw' theme to toothpaste commercial status. rating: ** stars
- King may have written 'Natural Woman', but Aretha Franklin owns the song and this cover does nothing to change that ownership. rating: ** stars
- Another "Tapestry" tune, this version of 'Where You Lead' abandoned the original's country-rock flavor for a more pop-friendly take. Nice vocal, but it doesn't come close to King's own version. rating: *** stars
- Yet another "Tapestry" effort, I'll admit I never liked the upbeat and optimistic 'Beautiful' and this Broadway-ish version didn't change those feelings. rating: ** stars

To be truthful, it's hard to give this one a strong rating, but I can see where Carole King fans (I know they're out there), would love this affectionate tribute. Tough one to score !!!

"The Newborn" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) So Far Away (Carole King) - 
2.) It's Too Late (Carole King - Stern) - 
3.) You've Got a Friend (Carole King) - 
4.) Toy Balloon (Gerry Goffin - Carole King) - 
5.) On Broadway (Cynthia Weil - Barry Mann - Stoller - Lieber) - 

(side 2)
1.) Up On the Roof (Gerry Goffin - Carole King) - 
2.) Smackwater Jack (Gerry Goffin - Carole King) - 
3.) Natural Woman (Gerry Goffin - Carole King - Jerry Wexler) - 
4.) Where You Lead (Carole King - Stern) - 
5.) Beautiful (Carole King) -