Carole King: Top 50 Songs

First posted 12/4/2019; updated 2/1/2020

Carole King

Singer/songwriter and pianist born Carole Joan Klein on 2/9/1942 in Manhattan, NY. Married lyricist Gerry Goffin in 1958; they wrote a number of hits together as part of the famous Brill Building team. Divorced in 1968. She recorded her first solo album in 1970 and became a Grammy darling the next year with four awards. Her album, Tapestry, is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Albums of All Time.

Awards:

Top 50 Songs Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists as well as chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards. Songs which hit #1 on various charts are noted. (Click for codes to singles charts.) DMDB Top 1%: 1. It’s Too Late (King, 1971) #1 US, CB, HR, CN 2. The Loco-Motion (Little Eva, 1962) #1 US, CB, HR, RB, CN 3. Will You Love Me Tomorrow (The Shirelles, 1960) #1 US, CB 4. You’ve Got a Friend (James Taylor, 1971) #1 US, CB DMDB Top 5%: 5. You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman (Aretha Franklin, 1967) 6. Up on the Roof (The Drifters, 1962) 7. Take Good Care of My Baby (Bobby Vee, 1961) #1 US, CB, HR, CN 8. I Feel the Earth Move (King, 1971) #1 US, HR 9. One Fine Day (The Chiffons, 1963) 10. Go Away, Little Girl (Steve Lawrence, 1962) #1 US, CB, HR 11. The Loco-Motion (Grand Funk Railroad, 1974) #1 US, CB, HR, RR, CN DMDB Top 10%: 12. Pleasant Valley Sunday (The Monkees, 1967) #1 CN 13. Go Away, Little Girl (Donny Osmond, 1971) #1 US, CB, CN 14. The Loco-Motion (Kylie Minogue, 1987) #1 AU 15. I’m into Something Good (Herman’s Hermits, 1964) #1 UK 16. You’ve Got a Friend (King, 1971) 17. So Far Away (King, 1971) 18. It Might As Well Rain Until September (King, 1962) DMDB Top 20%: 19. Jazzman (King, 1974) #1 CB, HR 20. Up on the Roof (James Taylor, 1979) 21. Don’t Bring Me Down (The Animals, 1966) 22. Just Once in My Life (The Righteous Brothers, 1965) 23. Porpoise Song (The Monkees, 1968) 24. Nightingale (King, 1974) #1 AC 25. Sweet Seasons (King, 1971) 26. Only Love Is Real (King, 1975) #1 AC 27. Hey Girl (Donny Osmond, 1971) 28. Crying in the Rain (The Everly Brothers, 1962) 29. Been to Canaan (King, 1972) #1 AC 30. You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman (King, 1971) 31. Hi-De-Ho (Blood, Sweat & Tears; 1970) 32. One Fine Day (King, 1980) 33. Every Breath I Take (Gene Pitney, 1961) Beyond the DMDB Top 20%: 34. Corazón (King, 1973) 35. Believe in Humanity (King, 1973) 36. Crying in the Rain (aha, 1990) 37. Goin’ Back (The Byrds, 1967) 38. I Feel the Earth Move (Martika, 1989) 39. I Can’t Hear You No More (Helen Reddy, 1976) #1 AC 40. He’s a Bad Boy (King, 1963) 41. Hard Rock Café (King, 1977) 42. You Light Up My Life (King, 1973) 43. Will You Love Me Tomorrow (King, 1971) 44. Will You Love Me Tomorrow (Dave Mason, 1978) 45. Some Kind of Wonderful (The Drifters, 1961) 46. When My Little Girl Is Smiling (The Drifters, 1962) 47. It’s Going to Take Some Time (Carpenters, 1972) 48. Keep Your Hands Off My Baby (Little Eva, 1962) 49. Her Royal Majesty (James Darren, 1962) 50. Halfway to Paradise (Billy Fury, 1961) Resources and Related Links: Carole King’s DMDB Encyclopedia entry