Released 9 February 1971 Genre Folk, rock | Recorded 1970–1971 Length 38:26 | |
Studio Electric Lady Studios, New York City | ||
Carly Simon is singer-songwriter Carly Simon's self-titled debut/studio album, released in February 1971. The album was released by Elektra Records and produced by Eddie Kramer, who had previously worked with Joe Cocker and Jimi Hendrix.
Contents
The album included her first big hit, "That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be", a somber ballad centered on a woman pondering marriage with a sense of both inevitability and entrapment. Simon wrote the music and her friend and frequent collaborator Jacob Brackman wrote the lyrics.
Reception
Carly Simon was mostly well received by critics when released. Timothy Crouse, writing in Rolling Stone, stated "Carly's voice perfectly matches her material" and her "...superbly controlled voice is complemented by deft arrangements." Robert Christgau was not as pleased. Grading the album a C-, he wrote "I suppose it makes sense not only for the privileged to inflict their sensibilities on us, but for many of us to dig it." In more recent years, William Ruhlmann, writing for Allmusic, gave the album a three and a half star rating out of a possible five, and stated "That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be" and "Dan, My Fling", were the stand-out tracks.
Simon stated in the Ask Carly section on her website that "Reunions" was her mother's—Andrea Simon—favorite song of hers.
Awards
14th Annual Grammy Awards
Track listing
All songs written by Carly Simon except where indicated.
- "That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be" (Simon, Jacob Brackman) – 4:15
- "Alone" – 3:36
- "One More Time" – 3:32
- "The Best Thing" – 4:14
- "Just A Sinner" (Mark "Moogy" Klingman) – 3:10
- "Dan, My Fling" (Jacob Brackman, Freddy Gardner) – 5:28
- "Another Door" – 3:16
- "Reunions" (Simon; additional music & lyrics by Bill Mernit, Eddie Kramer) – 3:06
- "Rolling Down The Hills" – 3:35
- "The Love's Still Growing" (Buzzy Linhart) – 4:14
Personnel
Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)
Album - International
Singles - Billboard (North America)