Maps of Music

Playing Possum (1975)

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

Today the album is best remembered for its controversial cover photograph rather than for its hit singles.

Key places

Recorded at Sound Labs, Los Angeles (1975)

Recording site Sound Labs — A recording relation links Sound Labs in Los Angeles to Playing Possum. The point uses the studio's building coordinates. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Sunset Sound (1975)

Recording site Sunset Sound — A recording relation links Sunset Sound in Los Angeles to Playing Possum. The point uses the studio's building coordinates. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Crystal Sound (1975)

Recording site Crystal Sound (Hollywood) — A recording relation links Crystal Sound in Los Angeles to Playing Possum. The point uses the studio's building coordinates. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at A&M Studios (1975)

Recording site A&M Recording Studios — A recording relation links A&M Studios in Los Angeles to Playing Possum. The point uses the studio's building coordinates. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at The Burbank Studios (1975)

Recording site The Burbank Studios — A recording relation links The Burbank Studios in Burbank to Playing Possum. The point uses the studio's building coordinates. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Playing Possum is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon
• Released by Elektra Records on April 16, 1975
• Third consecutive album by Simon to reach the top 10 on the Billboard Pop albums chart
• Peaked at No. 10 in June 1975
• Japanese title 『人生はいたずら』; the Japanese LP (P-8567) was released on June 25, 1975

Background

• Lead single "Attitude Dancing" featured Carole King on backing vocals; peaked at No. 21 on the Billboard Pop singles chart and No. 18 on the Adult Contemporary chart
• Second single "Waterfall" featured prominent backing vocals by Simon's then-husband James Taylor; peaked at No. 78 on the Pop singles chart
• "Waterfall" entered the Adult Contemporary Top 40 and peaked at No. 21 there
• Third and final single "More and More" was co-written by New Orleans pianist Dr. John, who also played piano on the track
• Ringo Starr played drums on "More and More", which peaked no higher than No. 94 on the Pop singles chart
• Simon wanted "Slave" as the first single, but the label chose "Attitude Dancing"

Recording

• Recording relations link the album to Sound Labs, Sunset Sound, Crystal Sound and A&M Studios in Los Angeles, and The Burbank Studios in Burbank
• Session players included Lee Ritenour, Klaus Voormann, Willie Weeks, Andrew Gold, Jeff Baxter and James Newton Howard

Cover

• Cover photograph by Norman Seeff
• Shows the singer kneeling in a black negligee, sheer-to-waist pantyhose and knee-high black boots
• The cover was controversial and was nominated for Best Album Package at the 18th Annual Grammy Awards
• Photographs from the session were reused in the booklets of the boxed set Clouds in My Coffee (1995) and the Anthology (2002)

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · it.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: critic Stephen Holden said the album represents a breakthrough of sorts for Simon
• Holden described Simon's shift from a sensitive singer/songwriter role toward a rock songstress
• Holden called "Attitude Dancing" the most exciting Simon cut since "You're So Vain"
• Holden also singled out "After the Storm", "Love Out in the Street", "Are You Ticklish", "Look Me in the Eyes", "Waterfall" and "Slave"
• Cash Box: on the single "More and More", Simon belts out a hard blues vocal over barrelhouse piano, with Memphis style horns and a soulful female chorus

Reappraisal

• AllMusic: William Ruhlmann gave the album 3 out of 5
• Ruhlmann wrote that the album was stagnant in terms of creativity, despite its top 10 chart run
• Rolling Stone ranked the cover No. 20 on its 1991 list of the 100 Greatest Album Covers of All-Time

Records

• Billboard Pop albums chart: No. 10 in June 1975, Simon's third consecutive top 10 album
• Singles: "Attitude Dancing" No. 21 Pop, No. 18 Adult Contemporary; "Waterfall" No. 78 Pop, No. 21 Adult Contemporary; "More and More" No. 94 Pop
• Nominated for Best Album Package at the 18th Annual Grammy Awards in February 1976; the nomination is credited to Gene Christensen, and the photographer was Norman Seeff
• Japanese LP (P-8567) reached No. 70 on the Oricon LP chart

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ja.wikipedia.org · pt.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The album was issued with an inner lyric sleeve.
• Carly Simon wanted "Slave" as the first single, but the label picked "Attitude Dancing" instead.
• Photographs from the cover session were reused in booklets for the 1995 and 2002 sets.
• "More and More" was co-written by Dr. John, who also played piano on the track.
• The cover was ranked No. 20 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 greatest album covers in 1991.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com · ja.wikipedia.org

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