They were in great form, as was the band. Good representative song choices.
In January 1971, there were 2 folk clubs in downtown Edmonton. One Sunday evening, we went to the open stage and I played a few songs. They were sufficiently impressed to invite me back the following week to do a set. During the break, a guy came up to me and requested “Sweet Baby James” and I said “No-o-o.” In fact, I have never mastered a JT song though I came close with “Coppermine” around 1990. His first album remains a big fav with its many classic set pieces. Not surprising he was one of the first to be recorded on The Beatles’ Apple record label. There is obviously only one JT; he is totally unique and uncopiable.
About one year later at a number of winter university gatherings, one would hear Carole’s hot Tapestry album on turntables with songs like “It’s Too Late”, “So Far Away”, “You’ve Got a Friend” (released previously on 45 rpm by friend JT), and “I Feel the Earth Move”. Carole has never equalled that run since then, but that’s fine. She had proved herself a major songwriter at the famous NY Brill Bldg. long before 1970 with teen hits like “It Might as Well Rain Until September”, “The Locomotion”, and “Up on the Roof”.
Incidentally, I did better with Carole, learning “It’s Too Late”; sometimes a song’s relevance makes it worth the mastery.
I have kept in touch with JT more than Carole, notably around 1990 with his memorable Never Die Young and New Moon Shine albums and live videos. But where have the years gone since then? So it was great to see and hear them together again tonight. Their music resonated big time at two key times in my life. I’m glad their band was intact and happy to remember these two special influences all over again.