The Newborn

As is the case for pretty much everything on the Tomorrow label, I can't tell you a great deal about the group. Produced by Nino Caruso (good luck looking up the name), "The Newborn" displayed the typical characteristics associated with a tax scam release - quickie cover art (stolen from New York artists Sonja Eisenberg), spare liner notes, no performance credits, and debatable artistic merit (more about that in a moment). It's nothing more than speculation on my part, by I'm guessing these ten tracks reflected early-1970 studio demos recorded with various New York studio vocalists that Tomorrow management somehow got their hands on and subsequently repackaged with little thought for after-sales. From both a business and artistic stance this set was a little bit different in that it found Tomorrow taking a measured risk by 'borrowing' the work of a known artist. Unlike most tax scam albums which released material by unknown quantities, this collection essentially served as a Carole King tribute. Nine of the ten tracks were King compositions with many of the tracks being remakes of material off of her 1971 "Tapestry" album. At least on the surface, recording an album of King covers would seem to have increased the chances of someone in King's circle learning about the album and seeking royalties, or pursuing legal remedies. Obviously it was a risk Tomorrow was willing to take. Makes you wonder if King knows this album exists...