It was a vintage year, a vintage decade, I doubt we will ever see another time with so much musical exploration happening. Perhaps its atmosphere led you into being a musician.
I never listened much to Carole King, at that time I thought her music too soft-centred for me. Listening now to that track what strikes me is how beautifully constructed it is. I find it very difficult to learn - or even hear! - the lyrics of any song because I listen very vertically, hearing the thread, the voice of every instrument individually as well as the overall structure. That is a disadvantage since I have to read the lyrics to get the full intention of the track.
Tom, an aside: for virtuoistic bass playing, have you seen Dream Theatre’s Dance of Destiny, see it on the “Breaking the Fourth Wall” video.