Here's probably the best song the late Gerry Goffin ever wrote

Here&#039;s probably the best song the late Gerry Goffin ever wrote — (Image credit: CC by: Steve)

You may not know Gerry Goffin's name, but you know his lyrics. Carole King's songwriting partner in the 1960s (and ex-husband), Goffin died Thursday in Los Angeles at age 75.

Their catalog of songs includes "Up on the Roof" (the Drifters), "The Loco-Motion" (Little Eva), "Pleasant Valley Sunday" (the Monkees), "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (Aretha Franklin), and "One Fine Day" (the Chiffons). King wrote the music, Goffin the lyrics. "His words expressed what so many people were feeling but didn't know how to say," King said Thursday.

Goffin and King divorced in 1968 and kept collaborating for a few years after that, The New York Times reports. And Goffin had a few more successes after that, notably the Whitney Houston hit "Saving All My Love for You," written with Michael Masser. But his best song was probably this, his first No. 1 hit with King, recorded by the Shirelles in 1960. --Peter Weber

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.