It's Too Late (Carole King song)

"It's Too Late"
US vinyl single; picture is also used for the "I Feel the Earth Move" side and the parent album Tapestry
Single by Carole King
from the album Tapestry
A-side	"I Feel the Earth Move"
Released	April 16, 1971
Genre	Pop[1] soft rock[2] jazz[3]
Length	3:51
Label	Ode
Composer(s)	Carole King
Lyricist(s)	Toni Stern
Producer(s)	Lou Adler
Carole King singles chronology
"Up on the Roof" (1970) "It's Too Late" / "I Feel the Earth Move" (1971) "So Far Away" / "Smackwater Jack" (1971)
Official audio
"It's Too Late" on YouTube

"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.^[5] Music critic Dave Marsh saw implicit feminism because the woman left the man.^[6] Marsh also remarked on the maturity of the theme.^[6] 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."^[7] Marsh described the melody as Tin Pan Alley and the arrangement as a cross between light jazz and "L.A. studio craftsmanship."^[6] Rolling Stone remarked that King's "warm, earnest singing" on the song brought out the song's sadness.^[8] 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.^[5] Kortchmar and Amy each have an instrumental solo.^[5] 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 James Taylor ended.^[11][12] The recording won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year 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.^[13]

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).^[14][15] Also in the sixth season of the television series Glee.

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.

Charts

Weekly charts Carole King Chart (1971) Peak position Australia[16] 6 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[17] 1 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[18] 2 Ireland[19] 8 New Zealand (Listener)[20] 6 UK[19] 6 US Billboard Hot 100[19] 1 US Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks (Billboard)[19] 1 US Cash Box Top 100[21] 1 Bill Deal & the Rhondels Chart (1972) Peak position US Bubbling Under the Hot 100 (Billboard)[22] 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 Chart (1958-2018) Position US Billboard Hot 100[26] 250

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[27]	Silver	200,000^‡
United States (RIAA)[4]	Platinum	1,000,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Quartz version

"It's Too Late"
Single by Quartz introducing Dina Carroll
from the album Perfect Timing
Released	1991
Genre	Dance
Length	9:37 (Overnight Mix) 6:46 (Overnight Dub)
Label	Mercury
Songwriter(s)	Carole King Toni Stern
Producer(s)	Quartz
Quartz introducing Dina Carroll singles chronology
"Let's Get Busy (Pump It Up)" (1990) "It's Too Late" (1991) "Naked Love (Just Say You Want Me)" (1991)
Dina Carroll singles chronology
"It's Too Late" (1991) "Ain't No Man" (1992)
Music video
"It's Too Late" on YouTube

British dance music production duo Quartz (Ronnie Herel and Dave Rawlings) released their version of "It's Too Late" in 1991, introducing British singer-songwriter Dina Carroll. The song earned Carroll her first hit, reaching number eight on the UK Singles Chart.^[28] It was also 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".^[29] 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."^[30] Another editor, Ian McCann, complimented it as "a genuine hit".^[31]

Track listing

• 7", UK (1991)

A. "It's Too Late"

B. "Obsession"

• 12", UK (1991)

A. "It's Too Late" (Overnight Mix)

B1. "It's Too Late" (Overnight Dub)

B2. "Obsession"

• CD single, UK & Europe (1991)

1. "It's Too Late" (Overnight Mix) – 9:37
2. "It's Too Late" (Overnight Dub) – 6:46
3. "Obsession" 3:17

• Cassette, UK (1991)

A1. "It's Too Late"

A2. "Obsession"

B1. "It's Too Late"

B2. "Obsession"

Charts

Chart (1991)	Peak position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[32]	21
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[33]	17
UK Singles (OCC)	8
UK Dance (Music Week)[34]	8
UK Club Chart (Record Mirror)[35]	6

Gloria Estefan version

"It's Too Late"
Single by Gloria Estefan
from the album Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me
Released	May 9, 1995 (1995-05-09)
Recorded	1993–1994
Genre	Pop
Length	3:57
Label	Epic
Songwriter(s)	Carole King Toni Stern
Producer(s)	Emilio Estefan, Jr. Jorge Casas Clay Ostwald
Gloria Estefan singles chronology
"Everlasting Love" (1995) "It's Too Late" (1995) "Cherchez La Femme" (1995)
Music video
"It's Too Late" on YouTube

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

1. Album version – 3:57
2. Piano mix – 3:38
3. 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 Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks (Billboard) 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)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
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)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
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]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
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)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"It's Too Late" (Radio Mix)	Carole King, Toni Stern	3:19

Mexico promo CD single #1 (PRCD 96384)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
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)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"It's Too Late" (Radio Mix)	Carole King, Toni Stern	3:19

Australia CD-maxi single (662020 2)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
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

• 1972: The Isley Brothers on their album Brother, Brother, Brother; reaching No. 39 on the R&B chart^[44]
• 2022: Lucy Dacus^[45]
• John Paul Young covered the song on the album, The Singer (1981).

References

1. 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...
2. "Carole King: It's too late… to write new songs". Philippine Daily Inquirer. May 12, 2012.
3. 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...
4. "American single certifications – Carole King – It's Too Late". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
5. Perone, J.E. (2006). The Words and Music of Carole King. Greenwood Publishing. pp. 34–35. ISBN 9780275990275.
6. Marsh, D. (1999). The Heart of Rock and Soul. Da Capo Press. pp. 312–313. ISBN 9780306809019.
7. Christgau, R. "Carole King". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
8. "500 Greatest Albums of All Time: Tapestry". Rolling Stone. 31 May 2009. Archived from the original on 2013-04-27. Retrieved 2014-04-13.
9. "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. May 1, 1971. p. 24. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
10. "Picks of the Week" (PDF). Record World. May 1, 1971. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
11. Steve Sullivan (2013). Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings, volume 2. Scarecrow Press. pp. 326–327. ISBN 978-0810882959.
12. Sheila Weller (2009). Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon - and the Journey of a Generation. Washington Square Press. pp. 325–328. ISBN 9780743491488.
13. "GRAMMY Hall Of Fame | Hall of Fame Artists | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com.
14. "Fandango". imdb.com. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
15. "Toni Stern". imdb.com. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
16. Steffen Hung. "Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 2016-06-02. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
17. "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
18. "Item: 7739 - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
19. Hawtin, Steve; et al. "Song title 422 - It's Too Late". tsort.info. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
20. "flavour of new zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
21. "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles". Cash Box Magazine. 1971-07-17. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
22. Joel Whitburn's Bubbling Under the Billboard Hot 100 1959-2004
23. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2016-11-19.
24. "Top 100 Hits of 1971/Top 100 Songs of 1971". Musicoutfitters.com.
25. "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1971". Cashboxmagazine.com. 1971-12-25. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
26. "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
27. "British single certifications – Carole King – Its Too Late". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
28. "Quartz - It's Too Late ft Dina Carroll". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
29. Hamilton, James (26 January 1991). "Dance" (PDF). Music Week. p. 16. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
30. Anthony, James (16 February 1991). "Quartz 'A' All". NME. p. 24. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
31. McCann, Ian (27 July 1991). "Short Circuit". NME. p. 30. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
32. "Quartz – It's Too Late" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
33. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 30 March 1991. p. 27. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
34. "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 23 March 1991. p. 26. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
35. "The Club Chart". Record Mirror. 7 February 1991. p. 47. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
36. Huffman, Eddie. "Gloria Estefan - Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me". AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
37. Baltin, Steve (1995-06-17). "Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 7. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
38. Campbell, Chuck (1994-10-28). "Bedtime' With Madonna Is A Bit Drowsy". Knoxville News Sentinel.
39. Shanklin, Phil (2015-11-22). "100 Essential CDs – Number 72 –Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me –Gloria Estefan". Reviewsrevues.com. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
40. "Radio & Records" (PDF). Americanradiohistory.com. 1995-05-05. p. 30. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
41. "Radio & Records" (PDF). Americanradiohistory.com. 1995-07-14. p. 58. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
42. "Radio & Records" (PDF). Americanradiohistory.com. 1998-07-17. p. 56. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
43. "Radio & Records" (PDF). Americanradiohistory.com. 1995-12-22. p. 53. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
44. "Brother, Brother, Brother > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles" at AllMusic. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
45. Lucy Dacus releases covers of Carole King's 'Home Again' and 'It's Too Late', 30 September 2022, retrieved 2022-10-03

External links

• Carole King - It's Too Late on YouTube
• Bill Deal & the Rhondels - It's Too Late on YouTube