Maps of Music

Anticipation (1971)

Where the lyrics of Anticipation take you, and where it was really made.

The title song was written in 15 minutes while Carly Simon waited for a date, and it became the album's biggest hit.

Key places

Recorded at Morgan Studios, London (1971)

Recording site Wild Bunch Studios (London) — The album was recorded at Morgan Studios in London. The point is placed at city-center level, not at the exact studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Cover photo at Queen Mary's Garden (1971)

Album cover Wild Bunch Studios (London) — The cover photo of Simon was taken at the gates of Queen Mary's Garden in Regent's Park, London. The point is placed at city-center level. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Anticipation: second studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon
• Released in November 1971 by Elektra Records
• Title track and lead single 'Anticipation' became a smash top-20 hit in the U.S.
• The title song later served as the soundtrack for several Heinz ketchup TV commercials starting in 1973
• Closing track 'I've Got to Have You' was written by Kris Kristofferson
• Released as a single in Australia, where it reached number six in 1972
• 'Share the End' was remixed and remastered in 2025 and released as a single

Background

• The title song describes Simon's state of mind while she waits to go on a date with Cat Stevens
• Cat Stevens sang some vocals on the album

Recording

• Recorded at Morgan Studios in London
• Simon's band on the album was Andy Newmark, Jimmy Ryan and Paul Glanz
• Simon said the album was sparse and that she loved it
• Strings appear on a few songs
• Credits list Paul Samwell-Smith as producer and Michael Bobak as audio engineer
• Lee Hulko handled mastering

Cover

• The cover photo of Simon was taken by Peter Simon
• The photo was shot at the gates of Queen Mary's Garden in Regent's Park, London

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Born June 25, 1943 in New York City; American singer-songwriter and author.
• In 1963 began performing as the Simon Sisters with sister Lucy Simon; released Meet the Simon Sisters, which produced the minor hit "Winkin', Blinkin' and Nod".
• Signed to Elektra Records in 1970 and went solo.

Career

• Debut album (1971) won the Grammy for Best New Artist; "That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be" was her first top 10 single.
• No Secrets (1972) topped the Billboard 200 for five weeks; "You're So Vain" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
• Recorded "Nobody Does It Better" for the 1977 Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me.
• Won an Academy Award, Golden Globe and Grammy for "Let the River Run" from Working Girl (1988).
• Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Rolling Stone's Stephen Davis gave the album a glowing review
• Davis called the title track a spirited look at the tensions of a budding romance
• Davis also praised 'I've Got To Have You' as an absolute clincher
• Steven Estep of The Absolute Sound said the album was the Carly Simon record that convinced him most
• Estep noted that 'Legend in Your Own Time' that followed on the charts was a tribute to James Taylor

Reappraisal

• AllMusic's William Ruhlmann rated the album 3.5 stars out of 5
• Ruhlmann said the album extended the gutsy persona Simon had set up on her debut
• Cash Box called 'The Girl You Think You See' a chart item in any way you look at it
• Record World called the song thoughtfully written and appropriately tuneful

Records

• 'Anticipation' reached the U.S. top 20
• 'I've Got to Have You' reached number six in Australia in 1972
• In 1973 the RIAA certified the album gold for U.S. sales of over 500,000 copies

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Simon wrote the title song in 15 minutes while waiting for Cat Stevens to pick her up for a date
• Heinz ketchup commercials used the title song starting in 1973
• Cat Stevens sang some vocals on the album
• Simon later said that recording the album with her band was one of the best memories she would ever have of recording
• The cover photo was taken at the gates of Queen Mary's Garden

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org

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