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131 of 136 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Great First Carly Purchase, February 15, 2005
Several collections already existed that encompass Carly's solo career, including the three-disc box set CLOUDS IN MY COFFEE (1995), and the double-disc, forty-track ANTHOLOGY (2002). For the amount of space available on both of them, the track selections are flawed. REFLECTIONS, meanwhile, truly represents the cream of Carly's catalog and is an extremely enjoyable listening experience from start to finish.
The first nine tracks are comprised of Carly's '70s Elektra hits like "That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be, "Anticipation," "You're So Vain," and "You Belong To Me." I have my favorite album tracks from this period like "Tranquilo" and "We're So Close," but the recordings included here were the hits, so I can't find fault with the selection. Track 10, "Jesse," represents her early '80s tenure at Warner Brothers - a logical choice as it was her only top 20 hit there (I also liked her minor reggae-flavored hit "Why" from this period).
In 1987 - after an unsuccessful album SPOILED GIRL for Columbia - Carly moved to Arista and experienced a career resurgence, much like that experienced by other middle-aged Arista arrivals Dionne Warwick and Aretha Franklin. Her Arista highlights make up the final 10 tracks.
The first Arista album COMING AROUND AGAIN was one of Carly's strongest ever and it is well-represented here by its four singles, including the reflective title track and the enchanting "Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of." During her Arista years, Carly also got involved in film scoring - quite successfully - including her enclosed Oscar winner "Let The River Run" from WORKING GIRL and the theme for LOVE OF MY LIFE.
The 1994 biographical album LETTERS NEVER SENT resulted in some of her most intimate work and is well represented here by touching tributes to her mom ("Like A River") and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis ("Touched By The Sun"). This collection then concludes with "Amity," an acoustic duet with daughter Sally Taylor that was included in the 1999 film ANYWHERE BUT HERE.
While one disc cannot due full justice to Carly, REFLECTIONS manages to touch on all significant phases of her career. For those who don't own any of her music, it's a great first purchase.
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91 of 99 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Reflect on the Glorious Journey - a Life with Carly, July 31, 2004
I have been a Carly Simon fan for more than thirty years. In the twists and turns of a woman's life from pre-pubescence to middle age, Carly has always been here with me.
This CD is amazing - because of the longevity of my "relationship" with Carly's artistry, I have her earlier works in old, well worn vinyl albums and hearing these remastered versions of her earliest songs just makes my heart (and voice, joining her buttery smooth tones) sing.
This is even more surprising to me, perhaps to you as well.
Her more recent offerings in this volume are exceptionally stirring. The first time I listened to "Amity" - a duet with daughter, Sally Taylor, brought me to tears.
Both the lyrics and the blending of Mother and Daughter singing leave me speechless, wordless and emotion filled.
"Like a River" about her Mother following her Mother's Death is very touching - and truth filled - and speaks to those who have lost their parents and find themselves stepping into the adult orphan stage.
In another "flowing themed" song - "Let the River Run", which I first enjoyed during "Working Girl" remains incredible on many levels. I hear the lyric "The New Jerusalem" in a completely different light post September 11.
Listening to this volume is like taking a musical journey through not only my life, but through universal adventures, trials, growth - that we all experience.
Our host, with her rich, resonant tones, stirring lyrics, and open invitation to experience life alongside her, will remain a treasure to all who experience her through this CD.
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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nice Compilation Of Carly's Best Singles!, July 28, 2004
For those of us who grew up with her, Carly Simon suddenly appeared on the music stage like a performer literally shot out of a cannon, so meteoric was her rise! She managed to ably walk the tight-rope between folk and pop music in the early 1970s and gradually emerged from the shadow to become a pop singer of verve and moment, earning herself a place in the pantheon of very successful singers like Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins, and a number of others like Carol King who were on the pop charts and in the folk clubs earlier in their career. This album is a wonderful summary of the best of her efforts over the tw3enty year span of her popular career. From her breakthrough hits like -That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be- and -Anticipation- to later smash singles like -Loving You Is the Right Thing To Do- and -You're So Vain- (rumored to be written about everyone from James Taylor to Mick Jagger, but more likely a joke aimed at actor Warren Beatty) is all here.
This collection successfully gathers the best of those efforts as well as the follow-on efforts that reprise her second stage efforts with another collection of more adult-centered pop hits. Even though I usually prefer to sample an artist in context in their early albums, even I have to admit this is a great comprehensive overview of the collective efforts from Carly Simon. There are a lot of good songs here, like the terrific -Legend In Your Own Time- about then beau James Taylor, and the rocking -Mockingbird, a duet done with Taylor. Indeed, there are other interesting, provocative, and beautiful selections here, including my own personal favorite, "I Haven't Got Time For The Pain".
This is a great collection from a fascinating artist who made a terrific comeback album called -Coming Around Again-, with hits such as the title cut, as well as superb numbers like -The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of- to regain her audience and popularity, which she used to great advantage in the years since, with a number of hits included here from -Better Not Tell Her- to -All I Want Is You-, and from -It Happens Every Day- to -Like A River-. It is one of her best and most representative greatest hits albums yet, and it gives us an interesting vantage point with which to understand her better. This is a terrific greatest hits album by an artist who is often under-appreciated. This is one I heartily recommend. Enjoy!
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is one of Carly Simon's 44 releases. Browse Carly Simon's Discography 
