Carly Simon (album)

Carly Simon is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Elektra Records, on February 9, 1971.

Carly Simon
Studio album by
Carly Simon
ReleasedFebruary 9, 1971
Recorded1970–1971
StudioElectric Lady Studios, New York City
Genre
Length38:26
LabelElektra
ProducerEddie Kramer
Carly Simon chronology
Carly Simon
(1971)		 Anticipation
(1971)
Singles from Carly Simon

The album was produced by Eddie Kramer, who had previously worked with Joe Cocker and Jimi Hendrix, and included Simon's first Top 10 hit, "That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be", which earned her a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1972.[1] A somber ballad centered on a woman pondering marriage with a sense of both inevitability and entrapment; the song was written by Simon and frequent collaborator Jacob Brackman.[2] The album also earned Simon the Grammy Award for Best New Artist at the same ceremony.[1]

The album features material written by Simon, with additional writing by Brackman, Kramer, and Freddy Gardner, as well as covers of songs by Mark Klingman and Buzzy Linhart.

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Christgau's Record GuideC−[4]

The album was mostly well received by music critics upon release. Timothy Crouse, writing in Rolling Stone, stated "Carly's voice perfectly matches her material" and her "superbly controlled voice is complemented by deft arrangements."[5] Robert Christgau, writing for The Village Voice, was less impressed; "I suppose it makes sense not only for the privileged to inflict their sensibilities on us, but for many of us to dig it."[6] In more recent years, William Ruhlmann, writing for AllMusic, rated the album 31⁄2-stars-out-of-5, and listed the tracks "That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be" and "Dan, My Fling" as stand-outs.[3]

In a retrospective assessment, music scholar Kim Simpson deemed "That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be" an "early soft rock masterpiece."[7]

Simon stated in the Ask Carly section on her website that "Reunions" was her mother's—Andrea Simon—favorite song of hers.

Awards
Grammy Awards
Year Work Award Recipient Result Ref
1972 Carly Simon Best New Artist Carly Simon Won [1]
"That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be" Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female Nominated

Track listing

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[8]

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be"
4:15
2."Alone"Simon3:36
3."One More Time"Simon3:32
4."The Best Thing"Simon4:14
5."Just a Sinner"Moogy Klingman3:10
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Dan, My Fling"
5:28
2."Another Door"Simon3:16
3."Reunions"
3:06
4."Rolling Down the Hills"Simon3:35
5."The Love's Still Growing"Buzzy Linhart4:14
Total length:38:26

Personnel

Musicians

Production
  • Producer – Eddie Kramer
  • Engineered and Mixed by Eddie Kramer and Dave Palmer
  • Art Direction and Design – Robert L. Heimall
  • Cover Photography and Poster – Peter Simon
  • Back Cover Photography – Joel Brodsky

Charts

Album – Billboard (United States)[9]

Year Chart Position
1971 Billboard 200 30

Album – International

Year Country Position
1971 Australia[10] 55
Canada[11] 17

Singles – Billboard (United States)[9]

Year Single Chart Position
1971 "That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be" Adult Contemporary 6
Hot 100 10

References
  1. "Carly Simon". The Recording Academy. Archived from the original on March 20, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  2. "That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be lyrics". Carlysimon.com. Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
  3. Ruhlmann, William. "Carly Simon". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 21, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2007.
  4. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: S". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 12, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  5. Crouse, Timothy (April 1, 1971). "Carly Simon review". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
  6. Christgau, Robert (August 19, 1971). "Consumer Guide: Carly Simon". The Village Voice. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
  7. Simpson, Kim (July 21, 2011). Early '70s Radio: The American Format Revolution. A&C Black. p. 89. ISBN 978-1-441-15758-4.
  8. Carly Simon (1971). Carly Simon (booklet). Elektra.
  9. "Carly Simon – Chart history". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 21, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
  10. Kent, David (1993). Australian Charts Book 1970—1992. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  11. "CAN Charts > Carly Simon". RPM. Archived from the original on January 4, 2015. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
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