"Thoroughbred" is a studio album by American singer-songwriter Carole King. Released in January 1976, this album was her seventh album after Tapestry but is significant as it is the last of her collaborations with long-time partner, lyricist Gerry Goffin. The album contains nine tracks in total, with a mix of up-tempo songs and touching ballads.
As the title suggests, King described "Thoroughbred" as an organic, fresh, and spontaneous album. It features various performances by high-profile artists such as J.D. Souther, David Crosby, Graham Nash, and her former husband and lyricist Gerry Goffin. The collaboration made a significant contribution to establishing Thoroughbred's distinctive sound.
The album also marked a transitional phase in King's musical career. It is characterized by her exploration of different musical styles, reaching beyond the pop and soft-rock domain into more country, jazz, and blues-oriented music. Despite the different explorations, the lyrics still resonate with King's personal life experiences and emotions.
Though it didn't quite reach the heights of commercial success that Carole King saw with her previous albums, Thoroughbred was received favorably among critics for its raw emotion and powerful storytelling. The album also performed respectably in the charts, reaching the top 10 on the Billboard Pop Album Chart.
The standout tracks on the album are the lead single, "Only Love is Real," which topped the Adult Contemporary chart and made the Top 30 Pop, and "High Out of Time," which also charted well.
