With a definite "Smackwater Jack" feeling and a shotgun, "Goat Annie" tells the story of an old woman who challenges the powers that be that want her land to pay back taxes. She is ultimately left alone to live out her years thanks to the love and kindness of others.

"Life Without Love" and "Someone You Never Met Before" are twin songs with a lot in common. They're both slow tempo waltzes, both the 4th song on their respective album sides, and both encourage being open to falling in love again. And daughter Louise Goffin contributes to both; as a co-songwriter with father Gerry on "Life," and then as backup singer on "Someone." She provides soaring yet beckoning vocals, and there is an additional emphasis on the beat with an irresistible snap to the third count offset by a musical pause.

My personal favorite song on the album, and perhaps of all Carole King songs is "Little Prince." It's a pitying but lovingly delivered regal allegory in the short sonnet tradition of "Tapestry" (the song). Containing only three verses and a bridge, King pulls the closing line out of thin air, breathily but directly singing "You know who you are." It's one of the best King-penned song endings ever, and perfectly illustrates her genius at writing a complete song package from beginning to last note. As the last song on a thoroughly enjoyable musical album, it leaves you with the thought that this woman really is brilliant at what she does.

An album of transition in the life and career of Carole King, One To One retreats from the ecological and communal spiritualism that permeates her most previous efforts. Instead, while looking you straight in the eye, she is saying that first and foremost, she is Carole King the individual, a songwriter and composer whose work and success speak for themselves. Preaching not, she can still turn a note, a word, and a chord while persuading you to open up and fall in love.