Customer Reviews

Carly Simon

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album could only have been made as a debut - before fame and success caused concession to the demands of commercialism.

The album is unique, in that it is an exquisite tale, chronicling a young woman's personal development, from contemplation of marriage, through disillusionment, stagnation, revival, diversion, to the final realization that "The Love's Still Growing".

It's an intriguing story that reveals more of its nuances each time you listen to it - and the only way to listen to it is from beginning to end each time you play it.

Carly's skillful use of her vocal abilities to create poignancy and swelling emotions has never been matched on any of her later works, which enjoyed more instant commercial success.

For me, this album will always be the definitive Carly Simon.

This is one of those albums that had a shaky start. The producer, Eddie Kramer walked out over a falling out he and Carly had over the drum sound on "That's the Way..". Carly was left to mix the album by herself. The album's hit is certainly one of Carly's most memorable tunes, but the others are equally as good. One must consider the times, the mood of the country and the other singer/songwriters out at the time. Carly's freshman entry really was a great start. "Another Door", "The Best Thing", along with "Reunions" and "The Love's Still Growing"... all superior songwriting. Add to that Carly's great vocals, and one cannot help but truly enjoy this album. I recommend a good glass of wine, some candlelight and a good set of headphones. Get lost in the music, and enjoy a moment of great music.

I was never quite sure why Carly's debut album was criticized for not living up to the standard of its leadoff single, the classic "That's The Way I've Always Heard It should Be." Indeed that song is quite an epic, and this album only begins to tap into the depths of Simon's persona. However, this is a beautiful debut and Carly displays herself as an ample interpreter of numerous styles, from country and blues, to ballads and folk.

"Alone" and "One More Time" are very strong in melody, with the former exuding an aching wale and the latter a bluesy resonance. "The Best Thing" is a beautiful piano-based ballad that is perhaps the second strongest performance on the album after the opening song. The mild rock edge of "Another Door" and the folkish, autobiographical "Reunions" continues the stylistic range of Carly's musicality. "Rolling Down The Hills" is the closest Carly ever comes to being a "hippie-chick" and it works surprisingly well, given that it seems quite uncharacteristic of her, both in this album and in her later efforts. "The Love's Still Growing," is the album's brooding closer that matches the sonic tone of ANTICIPATION'S "Three Days," despite the fact this was one song she didn't pen. Tracks on this album that I don't particularly care for are "Just A Sinner" and "Dan, My Fling." "Sinner" for some reason doesn't work for Carly, maybe because it's too hard core in its attempts to portray her rock 'n' roll side and "Dan" just doesn't fit into well into the album's overall flow. Nevertheless, this is a strong debut from Carly Simon that deserves a reevaluation. After all, she WAS just starting out and it's rare if you ask me for an artist's later work to be on a par with her debut. I mean, people do evolve.

What a way to begin a music career. This album has the incredible "That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be", which is vintage Carly. It also shows her budding abilities with other forms of music. "Just A Sinner" shows her talent with a frolicking rock and roll slant. Listen to the haunting words of "Reunion". Talk about touching your heart. This song has "the blues" written all over it. The final song on the album "The Love's Still Growing" is beautifully crafted, and shows off Carly's exquisite harmonies. Many of the other songs display her talents with her beautiful arrangements on the piano. I would surely advise any Carly Simon fan to get this album for their collection.

The first track is Carly's first big hit. You know it so it kicks the CD off with a familiar melody. Then, the songs you may have never heard before start. Listen carefully to the lyrics and music. Listen carefully to the emotions and feelings. Although the tracks seem diconnected, they really tell a wonderful story. Sure, Carly has changed over the years, but which one of us hasn't? Try to listen to this as though you have never heard of her before, you'll really be amazed. I love the fact that the first track is about marriage, and the very next track is ALONE. Yes, at first it seems quite strange, but, isn't that how we all feel? We all change our moods and minds quickly, and this is how I hear this CD. It's about a person going through many changes and sharing them with us. It may be a difficult listen to some, because it really hits home. If you really listen to it, and forget what came after (which is difficult) you'll get it. Then you'll be so much more amazed at where's Carly's gone and taken us.

Length:: 1:17 Mins

I have found it so strange through the last four months getting into Carly Simons work at the age of 22 (based on "let the river run") and constantly noting with each CD i have purchased the slightly less warm reviews on this her first solo venture. I have now got No secrets,playing possum,another passenger,letters never sent,have you seen me lately,the bedroom tapes,boys in trees and have Hotcakes and anticpation on there way to me! But i kept worrying that i would be let down by this album....so not the case! Its as melodic (thats the way i've aways heard it should be,another door,the best thing) fun ( dan.my fling, just a sinner) and catchy (alone, one more time)...so what if its not as great as what comes next....i would have thought thats the beauty of being a GOOD artist and singer/songwriter..constant improvement?
Anyways if u see another review saying thais album isnt that good a Carly Simon CD then please ignore it and get it...fits in PERFECTLY with all the rest of the ELEKTRA label releases!

Carly Simon had an excellent voice where is wasnt too high or too sweet and I thoroughly enjoy this folky debut.
Tracks to Download for beginners: Alone, Dan My Fling, That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be

.....before we knew she was going to be a legend? Just like this....When this album was all we had of Carly, could we have read the future? I doubt it...plenty of pretty girls with good voices turned out to be flops. Listen to this with the advantage of hindsight and you can hear all the magic, but then...

Back then, we were all younger...all of Carly's shared pain, and all of her sexy album covers were in the future...this album let us know that she was a highly talented folk singer; the rocker and the Great American Songstress were still future tense. But, if you listen carefully, the genius, the voice of our generation, is plainly evident.

No big hits, no seductive album jacket..."That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be", a biting comment on marriage, comes the closest...just all the promise in the world, and the happy knowledge that Carly fulfilled it. A few lines up, I said that we were all younger then, but maybe Carly's as young as ever. Get this album, and enjoy...Thanks for the memories, Carly.

When I was 12, during 1973, I fell in love with Carly Simon. "You're So Vain" had captured my fancy and I was quick to spend my chore-money on her albums. "No Secrets" was my favorite album of that year and by the time the year was done, I had back-tracked through "Anticipation" and then finally, "Carly Simon", her eponymous debut, which is the subject of this review.

"Carly Simon" came with an inner sleeve which simply heralded the arrival of "something out of the ordinary" - how true! It is an extremely enjoyable mixed bag of musical styles: from the folk-rocky "Alone" and "Dan, My Fling" to the down-right real country of "One More Time" to the irresistible honky-tonk of "Rolling Down The Hills" to the beautifully sublime ballads "The Best Thing" and "Reunions" to the gothic-y "Another Door" to the out-and-out rock of "Just A Sinner" to the reverberating "The Love's Still Growing" to, last but not least, her smash pop hit "That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be".

Yes, musically, "Carly Simon" has something for everyone and it's all wrapped up tight in the exciting performances a truly versatile artist such as Carly Simon can give.

For it is on this debut disc where the world learned what a force Carly Simon is: she is talented enough to pull off whatever style she chooses to present a song; and the fact that she wrote or co-wrote most of the album shows just how comfortable she is, naturally, in a variety of musical settings and just what a great songwriter she is.

And speaking of her songwriting, "Carly Simon" is an album that, lyrically, says things to which everyone can relate: memories in "The Best Thing" and "One More Time", pondering life and the future in "Another Door", errant lovers in "Just A Sinner" and "Dan, My Fling", reunions tinged with the melancholy of an absent someone in "Reunions", independence in "Alone", acceptance and hope in "The Love's Still Growing", whimsical delight in "Rolling Down The Hills" and marriage in "That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be".

So, please, don't ignore this wonderful album especially if you enjoy some or all of Carly's other work. It will become one of your favorites!