Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Earthy, Soulful Delight, July 9, 2000
Like a lot of fans, my first Carly album was this wonderful recording. I was familiar with her hits to that point, but it had never occurred to me she might have an entire album's worth of memorable songs. "Boys In The Trees" made a very deep first impression on me....I played this album continuously for three solid months; these days the CD version sits prominently in my "heavy rotation" rack.Why the abject fanaticism? Put simply, this album "connected" with me like no other that Carly has released, with the possible exception of "Anticipation." Her original lyrics are a mix of searching poetry and plain-spoken observation. And while the production is typical of soft rock for the period, Carly's music here is flawless: melodic, hook-filled and dynamic Pop that anyone could appreciate. It's also a very personal recording, free of the pretensions and affectations that tend to color most "confessional" material. Former Village Voice critic Robert Christgau once remarked that this album is where Carly first became adept at soulful vocalizing, and I couldn't agree more. She sounds completely natural and at ease, and her voice confidently navigates these songs with grace and undeniable passion. The eleven tunes on this album run the gamut from introspective to extroverted, and Carly never fails to rise to the challenge this kind of emotional depth requires. "You Belong To Me" is a classic single she co-wrote with the Doobie Brothers' Michael McDonald. The soulful "flavor" of this tune is echoed in "Back Down To Earth," "Devoted To You," "You're The One" and "One Man Woman." Though some of Carly's previous work could be described as funky, "Boys In The Trees" is firmly rooted in a folk-soul fusion that 'tells it like it is' and isn't afraid to shake it's (figurative) fanny. Every cut is a standout in some way, but here are some of my favorites: "Haunting" is a riveting piece, alternately stark and lush sounding but always true to it's title. The title tune's reflections on solitude and desire are resonant, if not heart-rending. "Tranquillo (Melt My Heart)" is a successful stab at dancefloor drama, with a strangely compelling maternal lyric. Like "No Secrets," this album showcases Carly's many gifts without ever grandstanding or "playing possum." Intensely personal without a hint of artifice, "Boys In The Trees" is the kind of album that strikes a lasting chord with listeners. If you don't consider yourself a Carly fan, this album should win you over. For those of us who appreciate her unique artistry, "Boys In The Trees" is a must-own. -Mic
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Trees" with the strongest of roots, May 12, 2000
Carly Simon's 1978 release "Boys in the Trees" showcases Carly in all of her incarnations: confessional singer/poet, inventive storyteller, torch singer and rock diva. Whatever your favorite Carly Simon song or approach, "Boys in the Trees" is guaranteed to please.Of course the best known track here is "You Belong to Me," a midtempo scorcher co-written with Michael McDonald. Elsewhere a Carole King influence serves her well on "Back Down to Earth," we find her at the height of her romantic powers on the sweet ballad "You're the One," and "One Man Woman" shows her hanging loose and shining in a bluesy rock setting. These are, however, classic Carly moments. The real finds on "Boys in the Trees" are when she (pardon the pun) branches out. "Tranquillo" finds Simon in a lightly funky disco setting; the Carribean-flavored "De Bat (Fly in Me Face)" is easily her quirkiest tune with clever, comic lyrics (based on a true story of a bat falling off its radar and heading straight for Carly, making it all the funnier); and "Haunting," one of her strongest compositions ever, is a gorgeous example of high art; its lyrics are of the highest poetic order and the string-enhanced score falls somewhere between Classical and Gothic. But for those who love Carly best when she's armed with little more than an acoustic guitar and an earnest delivery, the starkly beautiful title track and the sentimental "For Old Times Sake" will surely do the trick...not to mention a cover of the Everly Brothers' "Devoted to You," a duet with her then-husband, James Taylor so priceless it makes you wish for at least a musical reconciliation of the pair. Throughout all of the stylistic approaches, producer Arif Mardin works hard to add a slick pop sheen and still maintain all of Simon's musical personalities. Warm, witty, and virtually without error, "Boys in the Trees" is Carly Simon's finest album and one of rock's true classics.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Carly Simon Classic, her best album I believe, April 14, 2004
This is in my opinion Carly Simon at her peak. Her best album ever I think. Every song is a timeless classic and her voice is excellent and crystal clear. The musicians that played on this album are also very good adding their own classic touch with their instruments in the background and letting Carly's voice take center stage as it should be. James Taylor who at this time was still married to Carly also lends his unique and soulful voice and guitar to this classic album."You Belong To Me" is a soulful classic even to this day which is still being played on FM radio. Carly co-wrote this song with Doobie Brothers lead singer and keyboard player Michael McDonald.
Every song on this CD deserves honorable mention because they are all great. After this album was release in 1978, Carly Simon never achieved the same level of success in her recordings and has never recorded another album as superior as this one. She still is a great songwriter and fine singer but she is definately not what she used to be. In the 1970's I don't think there was another female singer more successful than Carly. There was Linda Ronstadt and Joni Mitchell as well as Carole King and Phoebe Snow and Olivia Newton John but Carly was always ahead of all of them. For what is worth for Carly fans that like to remember her when she was in her prime both as a singer and songwriter this album is the best of its kind and should be included in the music collection of not only her fans but anyone in general who appreciates beautiful music that was back then in 1978, ahead of its time.
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by Carly Simon 
