Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Playing Possum

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Released
  
21 April 1975

Artist
  
Producer
  
Genre
  
Rock music

Length
  
34:48

Release date
  
21 April 1975

Label
  
Rhino/Elektra

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Recorded
  
1975 at Sound Labs, Sunset Sound Recorders, Crystal Sound, A&M Studios and Burbank Studios, California

Playing Possum(1975)
  
The Best of Carly Simon(1975)

Similar
  
Carly Simon albums, Rock music albums

Carly simon after the storm


Playing Possum is singer-songwriter Carly Simon's fifth studio album, released in April 1975. It was her third consecutive album to reach the top ten on the Billboard Pop albums chart, peaking at #10 in June 1975. The lead single from the album, "Attitude Dancing", which featured Carole King on backing vocals, was also a success, peaking at #21 on Billboard Pop singles chart, and #18 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. A second single, "Waterfall," which featured prominent backing vocals by Simon's then-husband James Taylor, didn't fare as well, reaching no higher than #78 on the Pop singles chart. It fared much better on the AC chart, entering the Top 40 and peaking at #21. The album's third and final single "More and More" was co-written by New Orleans pianist Dr. John, who also played piano on the track, along with Ringo Starr on drums, but it peaked no higher than #94 on the Pop singles chart.

Contents

Today, Playing Possum may best be remembered for its controversial cover photograph, which shows the singer wearing only a black negligee, sheer-to-waist pantyhose, and knee-high black boots. The photographer was Norman Seeff. It was nominated for Best Album Package at the 18th Annual Grammy Awards. In 1991, it ranked at #20 on the Rolling Stone's list of the 100 greatest album covers.

Simon chose to include further photographs from the session in the booklets accompanying her three-CD boxed set, Clouds in My Coffee (1995), and her two-CD collection, Anthology (2003). The singles "Attitude Dancing" and "Waterfall" were included on the Anthology set as well.

Carly simon rita coolidge slave playing possum wmv


Awards

18th Annual Grammy Awards

Track listing

All tracks composed by Carly Simon; except where indicated

Side one

  1. "After the Storm" – 2:47
  2. "Love Out in the Street" – 3:40
  3. "Look Me in the Eyes" – 3:34
  4. "More and More" (Mac Rebennack, Alvin Robinson) – 4:02
  5. "Slave" (Simon, Jacob Brackman) – 3:54

Side two

  1. "Attitude Dancing" (Simon, Jacob Brackman) – 3:52
  2. "Sons of Summer" (Bill Mernit) – 3:05
  3. "Waterfall" – 3:31
  4. "Are You Ticklish" – 2:26
  5. "Playing Possum" – 3:57

Personnel

  • Carly Simon — Acoustic guitar, guitar, piano, arrangements, vocals, background vocals
  • Jeff Baxter — Guitar (track 4)
  • Eddie Bongo — Conga (track 6)
  • Rita Coolidge — Vocals, background vocals (track 2; 5)
  • Irving Cottler — Drums (track 9)
  • Dr. John — Guitar, piano, keyboards (track 4)
  • Alan Estes — Percussion (track 1; 3)
  • Andrew Gold — Guitar, drums, tambourine (track 1; 2; 6; 10)
  • Jim Gordon — Drums (track 6)
  • Abigale Haness — Vocals, background vocals (track 6)
  • James Newton Howard — Arp Synthesizer, keyboards, electric piano (track 3)
  • Carole King — Vocals, background vocals (track 6)
  • Clydie King — Vocals, background vocals (track 2; 5)
  • Sneaky Pete Kleinow — Pedal steel guitar (track 10)
  • Russ Kunkel — Drums (track 5; 8)
  • Trevor Lawrence — Saxophone, alto saxophone (track 1)
  • Billy Mernit — Piano (track 2;7)
  • Joe Mondragon — Bass (track 9)
  • Ken Moore — Vocals, background vocals (track 6)
  • Tommy Morgan — Harmonica (track 10)
  • Andy Newmark — Percussion, drums (track 2)
  • Richard Perry — Tambourine (track 4)
  • Vini Poncia — Vocals, background vocals (track 3)
  • Emil Richards — Percussion (track 2)
  • Rodney Richmond — Vocals, background vocals (track 2)
  • Lee Ritenour — Guitar, mandolin, electric guitar (track 1; 5; 8)
  • Alvin Robinson — Guitar (track 4)
  • Leland Sklar — Bass, drums (track 5; 8)
  • Fred Staehle — Percussion (track 4)
  • Ringo Starr — Drums (track 4)
  • Liza Strike — Vocals
  • James Taylor — Acoustic guitar, guitar, vocals, background vocals (track 3; 5; 8; 10)
  • Julia Tillman Waters — Vocals, background vocals (track 4)
  • Derrek Van Eaton — Fiddle, flute (track 8)
  • Lon Van Eaton — Clarinet, flute, sitar (track 8; 10)
  • Klaus Voormann — Bass (track 1; 4)
  • Willie Weeks — Bass (track 2; 6; 10)
  • Maxine Willard — Background vocals (track 4)
  • Carolyn Willis — Vocals, background vocals (track 4)
  • Charts

    Album - Billboard (North America)

    Album - International

    Singles - Billboard (North America)

    Songs

    1After the Storm2:49
    2Love out in the Street3:43
    3Look Me in the Eyes3:36

    References

    Playing Possum Wikipedia