"YEAH, YEAH, we're striking a blow for women's lib,'.' shouted Carole King, after introducing Bobbye Hall, a striking black percussion drummer.

She is actually a member of the David T. Walker Band, which provided superb back-up music on King's current European tour.

Despite her dedication to the feminist movement in the music world, King is completely feminine. She is also devoted to her husband, musician Charles Larkey, and her three daughters, Sherry and Lulu Goffin, and Molly Norah Larkey.

At her Frankfurt concert, she arrived on stage in pale blue bellbottoms, white peasant blouse, and hooped earrings jutting out from her curled hair.

Her opener, "I Feel The Earth Move," drew a thunderous storm of applause, following which she worked her way through "Shelter," "Up On The Roof" and the mandatory "It's Too Late" and "You've Got a Friend."

A sharp saleswoman, the singer-pianist wisely performed several "cuts" from her latest LP. Most of the numbers on "Fantasy" are concerned with the underdog, meaning women and blacks.

Of the album songs, "Light Up My Life" looms as the brightest contender for hit status. However, the Tin Pan Alley poetess has produced a strong, dramatic selection in "Haywood," a warning about the dangers of drugs.

"My next song, `So Far Away,' is for any American who might be in the audience," the trim vocalist called out.

She seemed startled at the overwhelming response, which indicated that some 75 per cent of the less-than-capacity crowd were indeed countrymen.

Her act is not visual and her voice is not particularly powerful, but she has a good range. Occasionally, her sincerity and raspy tones seem reminiscent of the late Janis Joplin.

While her Frankfurt audience may not have been especially large, it seemed to be devoted to the rock queen, and accorded her three standing ovations before she made her final exit.

The two-hour-plus show started with an exciting warm-up session by Walker and his seven-piece band. A recording artist in his own right, Walker's 35-minute set included fine renditions of "Superstition," "Oh, Happy Days" and "Lay, Lady, Lay."

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