Maps of Music

The Bedroom Tapes (2000)

Where the lyrics of The Bedroom Tapes take you, and where it was really made.

The album began as a song called "When Manhattan Was a Maiden", which Simon later dropped, and that song was never commercially released.

Key places

Sonic Brothers at Martha's Vineyard (2000)

Recording site Chalker's Creek — The source names Sonic Brothers at Martha's Vineyard as one of the recording places for the album. The point is placed at the town center because the building itself is not pinned. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Right Track Recording in New York (2000)

Recording site MSR Studios — Right Track Recording is one of the New York City studios the source lists as recording places for the album. It sits on West 48th Street in Manhattan. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• The Bedroom Tapes: 18th studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon
• Released May 16, 2000 by Arista Records
• Opening track "Our Affair" is the first song on the album
• Went out of print soon after release
• 2015 special edition CD re-release sold exclusively through Simon's official website

Background

• Simon promoted the album with many television appearances
• She appeared on Good Morning America and performed a concert in Bryant Park on May 19, 2000
• The concert featured songs from the album along with classic hits such as "You're So Vain" and "Nobody Does It Better"
• In 2002 Simon released autographed limited editions with two bonus tracks, "Grandmother's House" and "Sangre Dolce", limited to 100 copies
• "Sangre Dolce" was later included on her 2008 album This Kind of Love
• "When Manhattan Was a Maiden" was the original inspiration and title for what became the album; Simon dropped it
• The 2015 re-release added "When Manhattan Was a Maiden" and "Grandmother's House", produced by C'est Music

Recording

• Recording locations: Sonic Brothers at Martha's Vineyard, and in New York City Right Track Recording, Sound On Sound and Edison Recording Studios
• Credits include Frank Filipetti as mixer and engineer alongside Ed Tuton, Jimmy Parr and Carly Simon
• Mastering by Mark Wilder

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

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

• AllMusic writer MacKenzie Wilson said Simon sounded raw yet fresh, and called the album pure and the work of a well-grounded artist
• People described the album as unfolding like a one-woman show and called it a boffo performance
• Billboard called it a feast for fans of intelligent, richly crafted pop music, noting it was Simon's first collection of original compositions in five years
• Rolling Stone called it a bang-up album and said Simon's balance of pop thrills and writing remained singular
• NY Daily News called it one of her best albums, placing it alongside her best-loved 1970s work
• The Miami Herald praised it as a gem that touches the heart and challenges the brain
• Us Weekly described the personal songs as pure catharsis and called the album classy work from one of pop's original confessors

Records

• The album went out of print soon after its release despite the warm reception
• Simon released 100 autographed limited copies in 2002
• The 2015 re-release was sold exclusively through Simon's official website

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• "When Manhattan Was a Maiden" was the original inspiration and title for the album; Simon later dropped the song, which was never commercially released.
• In 2002 Simon posted the original demo of that song on her official website for streaming.
• "Our Affair" was remixed by Richard Perry and appeared on the soundtrack of the 2000 Don Roos film Bounce, starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Ben Affleck.
• "Sangre Dolce" was later included on Simon's 2008 album This Kind of Love.
• Discogs notes that track 3 contains excerpts and samples from "The Hat", written by Jesse Farrow and performed by The Quicksilver Messenger Band.

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

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