1971 song by Carole King
"It's Too Late " is a song from American singer-songwriter 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 and reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts. Sales were later platinum-certified by the RIAA.[4] 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.Cash Box described the song as "a sensitive ballad with a strong rock under-beat."
[9] Record World said that it is "quality contemporary pop."
[10]
Toni Stern told author Sheila Weller that she wrote the lyrics in a single day, after her relationship with
Personnel
Soundtracks
"It's Too Late" has been featured in Hollywood films, including
Glee
.
Awards and recognition
Charts
Weekly charts
Carole King
Bill Deal & the Rhondels
Chart (1972)
Peak position
US
108
Year-end charts
Chart (1971)
Rank
Australia[16]
33
Canada Top Singles (RPM )[23]
5
US Billboard Hot 100[24]
3
US Cash Box Top 100[25]
2
All-time charts
Certifications
Quartz version
British
It was also a top 30 hit in Austria, peaking at number 21.
Critical reception
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."
[30] Another editor, Ian McCann, complimented it as "a genuine hit".
[31]
Track listing
A. "It's Too Late"
B. "Obsession"
A. "It's Too Late" (Overnight Mix)
B1. "It's Too Late" (Overnight Dub)
B2. "Obsession"
CD single, UK & Europe (1991)
"It's Too Late" (Overnight Mix) – 9:37
"It's Too Late" (Overnight Dub) – 6:46
"Obsession" 3:17
A1. "It's Too Late"
A2. "Obsession"
B1. "It's Too Late"
B2. "Obsession"
Charts
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).
Critical reception
AllMusic editor Eddie Huffman described Estefan's version as "[a] moment of genuine pathos" in his review of the Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me album.[36] Steve Baltin from Cash Box felt that the singer "does a decent job with the vocals, but this
is one of those songs that everybody feels they own. As such, it’s better off being left alone."[37] Chuck Campbell from Knoxville News Sentinel viewed it as a "faithful" remake of Carole King's 1971 hit, "though Tim Mitchell 's intrusive electric-guitar solo is an unwelcome addition."[38] Phil Shanklin of ReviewsRevues remarked that King’s voice does possess the same warmth as Estefan's.[39]
Official versions
Album version – 3:57
Piano mix – 3:38
Radio mix – 3:19
Release history
Region
Date
US
May 9, 1995[40]
Europe
June 12, 1995
Charts
Weekly charts
Chart (1995)
Peak position
Australia (ARIA )
56
US )
31
US AC Top 30 (R&R )[41] [42]
13
Year-end charts
Chart (1995)
Position
US AC Top 30 (R&R )[43]
46
Formats and track listings
US promo CD single (ESK 77877) Title Writer(s) 1. "It's Too Late" (Radio Mix) Carole King, Toni Stern 3:19 2. "It's Too Late" (Album Version) Carole King, Toni Stern 3:57 3. "It's Too Late" (Piano Mix) Carole King, Toni Stern 3:58
Europe CD single (EPC 662040 1) Title Writer(s) 1. "It's Too Late" (Radio Mix) Carole King, Toni Stern 3:19 2. "It's Too Late" (Piano Mix) Carole King, Toni Stern 3:58
UK CD-maxi single (662044 2) [Cancelled / Unreleased] Title Writer(s) 1. "It's Too Late" (Radio Mix) Carole King, Toni Stern 3:19 2. "It's Too Late" (Piano Mix) Carole King, Toni Stern 3:58 3. "Cherchez La Femme " (Radio Club Mix) August Darnell, Stony Browder, Jr. 3:54 4. "Cherchez La Femme" (Album Version) August Darnell, Stony Browder, Jr. 4:58
UK promo CD single (XPCD 652) Title Writer(s) 1. "It's Too Late" (Radio Mix) Carole King, Toni Stern 3:19
Mexico promo CD single #1 (PRCD 96384) Title Writer(s) 1. "It's Too Late" (Album Version) Carole King, Toni Stern 3:57 2. "Cherchez La Femme" (Album Version) August Darnell, Stony Browder, Jr. 4:58
Mexico promo CD single #2 (PRCD 96605) Title Writer(s) 1. "It's Too Late" (Radio Mix) Carole King, Toni Stern 3:19
Australia CD-maxi single (662020 2) Title Writer(s) 1. "It's Too Late" (Radio Mix) Carole King, Toni Stern 3:19 2. "It's Too Late" (Album Version) Carole King, Toni Stern 3:57 3. "It's Too Late" (Piano Mix) Carole King, Toni Stern 3:58 4. "Cherchez La Femme" (Doom Dub) August Darnell, Stony Browder, Jr. 8:17 5. "Cherchez La Femme" (Piano Mix) August Darnell, Stony Browder, Jr. 6:41
Other notable versions
The song has been covered by
References
^ Breihan, Tom (January 31, 2019). "The Number Ones: Carole King's "It's Too Late" " . Stereogum . Retrieved June 16, 2023 . "It's Too Late," the album's one dominant hit, represents a whole different form of pop music...
^ "Carole King: It's too late… to write new songs" . Philippine Daily Inquirer . May 12, 2012.
^ Harrison, James (2015). "Carole King - "It's Too Late". In Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die . New York: Universe . p. 289. "...over a gently laid-back, percussion-driven jazz samba [King] plays a string of figures...the verse-chorus segues nicely into some cool jazz-guitar grooves...
^ a b "American single certifications – Carole King – It's Too Late" . Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved March 7, 2024 .
^ .
^ .
^ Christgau, R. "Carole King" . robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 2014-04-15 .
^ "500 Greatest Albums of All Time: Tapestry" . Rolling Stone . 31 May 2009. Archived from the original on 2013-04-27. Retrieved 2014-04-13 .
^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF) . Cash Box . May 1, 1971. p. 24. Retrieved 2021-12-10 .
^ "Picks of the Week" (PDF) . Record World . May 1, 1971. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-04-22 .
.
.
^ "GRAMMY Hall Of Fame | Hall of Fame Artists | GRAMMY.com" . grammy.com .
^ "Fandango" . imdb.com . Retrieved 11 March 2020 .
^ "Toni Stern" . imdb.com . Retrieved 11 March 2020 .
^ a b Steffen Hung. "Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)" . Australian-charts.com . Archived from the original on 2016-06-02. Retrieved 2016-07-27 .
^ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada" . Bac-lac.gc.ca . 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-07-27 .
^ "Item: 7739 - Library and Archives Canada" . Bac-lac.gc.ca . 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-07-27 .
^ a b c d Hawtin, Steve; et al. "Song title 422 - It's Too Late" . tsort.info. Retrieved 17 October 2011 .
^ "flavour of new zealand - search listener" . Flavourofnz.co.nz . Retrieved 2016-07-27 .
^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles" . Cash Box Magazine . 1971-07-17. Retrieved 2 April 2020 .
^ Joel Whitburn's Bubbling Under the Billboard Hot 100 1959-2004
^ "Archived copy" . Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2016-11-19 .{{cite web }}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link )
^ "Top 100 Hits of 1971/Top 100 Songs of 1971" . Musicoutfitters.com .
^ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1971" . Cashboxmagazine.com . 1971-12-25. Retrieved 2016-07-27 .
^ "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart" . Billboard . Retrieved 10 December 2018 .
^ "British single certifications – Carole King – Its Too Late" . British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved August 20, 2021 .
^ "Quartz - It's Too Late ft Dina Carroll" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved 17 October 2011 .
^ Hamilton, James (26 January 1991). "Dance" (PDF) . Music Week . p. 16. Retrieved 6 April 2023 .
NME
. p. 24. Retrieved 6 April 2023 .
NME
. p. 30. Retrieved 29 April 2023 .
^ "Quartz – It's Too Late" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40 . Retrieved 6 April 2023.
^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF) . Music & Media . 30 March 1991. p. 27. Retrieved 6 April 2023 .
^ "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF) . Music Week . 23 March 1991. p. 26. Retrieved 6 April 2023 .
^ "The Club Chart" . Record Mirror . 7 February 1991. p. 47. Retrieved 6 April 2023 .
^ Huffman, Eddie. "Gloria Estefan - Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me" . AllMusic . Retrieved 2020-02-24 .
^ Baltin, Steve (1995-06-17). "Pop Singles" (PDF) . Cash Box . p. 7. Retrieved 2022-11-07 .
^ Campbell, Chuck (1994-10-28). "Bedtime' With Madonna Is A Bit Drowsy". Knoxville News Sentinel .
^ Shanklin, Phil (2015-11-22). "100 Essential CDs – Number 72 –Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me –Gloria Estefan" . Reviewsrevues.com . Retrieved 2020-10-14 .
^ "Radio & Records" (PDF) . Americanradiohistory.com . 1995-05-05. p. 30. Retrieved 2022-03-22 .
^ "Radio & Records" (PDF) . Americanradiohistory.com . 1995-07-14. p. 58. Retrieved 2022-03-22 .
^ "Radio & Records" (PDF) . Americanradiohistory.com . 1998-07-17. p. 56. Retrieved 2022-03-22 .
^ "Radio & Records" (PDF) . Americanradiohistory.com . 1995-12-22. p. 53. Retrieved 2022-03-22 .
AllMusic
. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
^ Lucy Dacus releases covers of Carole King's 'Home Again' and 'It's Too Late' , 30 September 2022, retrieved 2022-10-03
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