(March 5, 2026) Back in 1971, noted songwriter Carole King – a part of the famed Brill Building cadre of writers who helped establish Rock & Roll more than a decade earlier – became a solo singing star with Tapestry, an album that dominated the charts for two years and shepherded in an era of singer-songwriters on the radio.
For my money, the greatest cut on that greatest of albums was “So Far Away,” a touching song of longing that was relatable for anyone who has ached from missing someone they love:
You’re so far away
Doesn’t anybody stay in one place anymore?
It would be so fine to see your face at my door
Doesn’t help to know you’re so far away.
Now, more than a half century later, SoulTracks Readers’ Choice Award nominee Castella revisits that classic song in a collaboration with noted saxman Tom Braxton. Their cover takes a notably different approach than the original: If King’s version was passively wistful, Braxton and Castella approach the longing more aggressively, with both a bigger, jazzier arrangement and Castella’s muscular vocals. She is not silently weeping for her absent love; her emotion has risen to a more fevered level of mourning. The new version both captures the beauty of this timeless composition and gives listeners a view through a different prism.
As Castella tells us about the collaboration, “Tom is a veteran in the business, having worked with amazing artists like Wayman Tisdale, Jeff Lorber & Bob James. Of all the singers out there, he chose me to sing this very special song in dedication to his father. I am simply humbled, honored and grateful to be on this record with Tom.“
Check out “So Far Away” below.
By Chris Rizik
