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Before there was JT “the ‘Dick in a Box’-endorsing Madonna-molester,” there was JT “the methadone-smooth folk-rock lothario.” And from almost the beginning, Carole King was there, too. Taylor first collaborated with singer-songwriter King on his breakthrough album, Sweet Baby James (1970), and her contributions to his career probably can’t be overestimated: She wrote his best-selling single “You’ve Got a Friend” (1971) and provided a calming creative influence during his turbulent pre-Carly Simon, post-crazy years. Meanwhile, King was establishing herself as no less than the most successful female songwriter of the 20th century, writing or co-writing 118 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” and “The Loco-Motion.” (Who else can say they’ve been covered by Marie Osmond and Courtney Love?) Now King and Taylor are hitting the road for a series of shows dubbed The Troubadour Reunion Tour, celebrating the 40th anniversary of their first performance together at The Troubadour music club in Hollywood. And it ain’t no coffee-shop tour: Taylor and King are booked primarily in sports arenas and other big-ticket venues. Talk about your monsters of folk.
