It's Too Late (1971)

"It's Too Late" is a song from Carole King's second studio album, Tapestry (1971). Toni Stern wrote the lyrics and King wrote the music. It was released as a single in April 1971 by Ode Records and reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts. Sales were later platinum-certified by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Billboard ranked "It's Too Late" and its fellow A-side, "I Feel the Earth Move", as the No. 3 record for 1971.

Music and lyrics

The lyrics describe the blameless end of a loving relationship. Music critic Dave Marsh saw implicit feminism because the woman leaves the man. Marsh also remarked on the maturity of the theme. Music critic Robert Christgau wrote that "if there's a truer song about breaking up than 'It's Too Late,' the world (or at least AM radio) isn't ready for it." Marsh described the melody as Tin Pan Alley and the arrangement as a cross between light jazz and "L.A. studio craftsmanship." Rolling Stone remarked that Carole King's "warm, earnest singing" on the song brought out the song's sadness. According to author James Perone, the feel of the song is enhanced by the instrumental work of Danny Kortchmar on guitar, Curtis Amy on saxophone and King on piano. Kortchmar and Amy each have an instrumental solo. Cash Box described the song as "a sensitive ballad with a strong rock under-beat." Record World said that it is "quality contemporary pop."

Lyricist Toni Stern told author Sheila Weller that she wrote the lyrics in a single day, after her relationship with James Taylor ended. (This runs counter to multiple obituaries, including one by her husband of many years until her death, Jerry Rounds.) The recording won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year at the 14th Annual Grammy Awards in 1972, and the song is included in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 2003 the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Personnel

• Carole King – piano, vocals
• Curtis Amy – soprano saxophone
• Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar – congas, electric guitar
• Charles "Charlie" Larkey – bass guitar
• Joel O'Brien – drums
• Ralph Schuckett – electric piano

Soundtracks

"It's Too Late" has been featured in Hollywood films, including Fandango (1985), The Lake House (2006), and Invincible (2006). It was also featured in "Jagged Little Tapestry", a sixth season episode of the television series Glee in 2015, where it was performed by Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer) and Blaine Anderson (Darren Criss).

Awards and recognition

King's version of "It's Too Late" peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts. It was on the Hot 100 as a double A-side with "I Feel the Earth Move".

King's version of "It's Too Late" was gold-certified by the RIAA.

"It's Too Late" won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1972.

"It's Too Late" is ranked No. 469 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. It was dropped in the 2010 version but updated to No. 310 in the 2021 version.

Together with its other A-side, it was named by the RIAA as No. 213 of 365 Songs of the Century.

Quartz version

British dance music production duo Quartz (Ronnie Herel and Dave Rawlings) released their version of "It's Too Late" in 1991 on their album Perfect Timing, introducing British singer-songwriter Dina Carroll. The single, released by Mercury Records, earned Carroll her first hit, reaching number eight on the UK Singles Chart and on the Music Week Dance Singles chart. It was also a top-5 hit in Israel and Luxembourg and a top-30 hit in Austria, peaking at number 21.

Critical reception

James Hamilton from Music Week described the cover as a "gentle Carole King revival" in his weekly Dance column. Anthony James from NME wrote, "'It's Too Late' should see a reversal in their fortunes. Featuring the gutsy vocals of Dina Carroll it's a truly kickin' track but with a commercial edge. Carole King will turn in her rave." Another NME editor, Ian McCann, complimented it as "a genuine hit".

Gloria Estefan version

Cuban American singer and songwriter Gloria Estefan released her cover of "It's Too Late" in 1995 as the third promotional single (in the US), and fourth overall single released from her fourth studio album, Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me (1994). It was produced by Emilio Estefan, Jr., Jorge Casas and Clay Ostwald, and released in May 1995 by Epic Records.