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Aretha Franklin singing Natural Woman brought me to tears.It was the beautiful moment at Lincoln Center with the perfect song and the perfect woman singing it for us. Then I had to go watch the entire Lincoln Center night. What joy! All can be right with the world.

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True, and Carole King seemed to be surprised Aretha was even there--seems unlikely but perhaps so.

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Allison Anders's *Grace of My Heart* (even if very fictionalized) gave me a whole new appreciation for Carole King's trajectory through a thankless industry that exploited young women and discarded them like sugar-coated donuts at yesterday's coffee bar. I didn't see the film until long after it came out, but I think it merits a second--or first--look: It has some great acting, a terrific soundtrack, and a number of really lovely moments. Anders as director is really under-appreciated (*Gas Food Lodging* has finally gotten a proper DVD release) and Illeana Douglas does a great job with the role. https://variety.com/1996/film/reviews/grace-of-my-heart-1200446987/

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Illeanna is niece or some such of Helen Gahagan Douglas, co-subject of my "Tricky Dick and the Pink Lady" book....

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