Playing Possum
- For the concept "playing possum", see Apparent death.
| Playing Possum | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Carly Simon | ||||
| Released | 21 April 1975 | |||
| Recorded | 1975 at Sound Labs, Sunset Sound Recorders, Crystal Sound, A&M Studios and Burbank Studios, California | |||
| Genre | Rock, Pop, Disco, Jazz | |||
| Length | 34:48 | |||
| Label | Elektra | |||
| Producer | Richard Perry | |||
| Carly Simon chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Playing Possum | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Rolling Stone | (mixed)[2] |
Playing Possum is singer-songwriter Carly Simon's fifth studio album, released in April 1975. It was her third consecutive album to reach the top ten on the Billboard Pop albums chart, peaking at #10 in June 1975. The lead single from the album, "Attitude Dancing", which featured Carole King on backing vocals, was also a success, peaking at #21 on Billboard Pop singles chart, and #18 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. A second single, "Waterfall," which featured prominent backing vocals by Simon's then-husband James Taylor, didn't fare as well, reaching no higher than #78 on the Pop singles chart. It fared much better on the AC chart, entering the Top 40 and peaking at #21. The album's third and final single "More and More" was co-written by New Orleans pianist Dr. John, who also played piano on the track, along with Ringo Starr on drums, but it peaked no higher than #94 on the Pop singles chart.
Today, Playing Possum may best be remembered for its controversial cover photograph, which shows the singer wearing only a black negligee, sheer-to-waist pantyhose, and knee-high black boots. The photographer was Norman Seeff.[3] It was nominated for Best Album Package at the 18th Annual Grammy Awards.[4] In 1991, it ranked at #20 on the Rolling Stone's list of the 100 greatest album covers.[5]
Simon chose to include further photographs from the session in the booklets accompanying her three-CD boxed set, Clouds in My Coffee (1995), and her two-CD collection, Anthology (2003). The singles "Attitude Dancing" and "Waterfall" were included on the Anthology set as well.
Awards
| Year | Nominee/work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | "Playing Possum" | Best Album Package | Nominated |
Track listing
All tracks composed by Carly Simon; except where indicated
Side one
- "After the Storm" – 2:47
- "Love Out in the Street" – 3:40
- "Look Me in the Eyes" – 3:34
- "More and More" (Mac Rebennack, Alvin Robinson) – 4:02
- "Slave" (Simon, Jacob Brackman) – 3:54
Side two
- "Attitude Dancing" (Simon, Jacob Brackman) – 3:52
- "Sons of Summer" (Bill Mernit) – 3:05
- "Waterfall" – 3:31
- "Are You Ticklish" – 2:26
- "Playing Possum" – 3:57
Personnel
- Carly Simon — Acoustic guitar, guitar, piano, arrangements, vocals, background vocals
- Jeff Baxter — Guitar (track 4)
- Eddie Bongo — Conga (track 6)
- Rita Coolidge — Vocals, background vocals (track 2; 5)
- Irving Cottler — Drums (track 9)
- Dr. John — Guitar, piano, keyboards (track 4)
- Alan Estes — Percussion (track 1; 3)
- Andrew Gold — Guitar, drums, tambourine (track 1; 2; 6; 10)
- Jim Gordon — Drums (track 6)
- Abigale Haness — Vocals, background vocals (track 6)
- James Newton Howard — Arp Synthesizer, keyboards, electric piano (track 3)
- Carole King — Vocals, background vocals (track 6)
- Clydie King — Vocals, background vocals (track 2; 5)
- Sneaky Pete Kleinow — Pedal steel guitar (track 10)
- Russ Kunkel — Drums (track 5; 8)
- Trevor Lawrence — Saxophone, alto saxophone (track 1)
- Billy Mernit — Piano (track 2;7)
- Joe Mondragon — Bass (track 9)
- Ken Moore — Vocals, background vocals (track 6)
- Tommy Morgan — Harmonica (track 10)
- Andy Newmark — Percussion, drums (track 2)
- Richard Perry — Tambourine (track 4)
- Vini Poncia — Vocals, background vocals (track 3)
- Emil Richards — Percussion (track 2)
- Rodney Richmond — Vocals, background vocals (track 2)
- Lee Ritenour — Guitar, mandolin, electric guitar (track 1; 5; 8)
- Alvin Robinson — Guitar (track 4)
- Leland Sklar — Bass, drums (track 5; 8)
- Fred Staehle — Percussion (track 4)
- Ringo Starr — Drums (track 4)
- Liza Strike — Vocals
- James Taylor — Acoustic guitar, guitar, vocals, background vocals (track 3; 5; 8; 10)
- Julia Tillman Waters — Vocals, background vocals (track 4)
- Derrek Van Eaton — Fiddle, flute (track 8)
- Lon Van Eaton — Clarinet, flute, sitar (track 8; 10)
- Klaus Voormann — Bass (track 1; 4)
- Willie Weeks — Bass (track 2; 6; 10)
- Maxine Willard — Background vocals (track 4)
- Carolyn Willis — Vocals, background vocals (track 4)
Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Pop Albums | 10 |
Album - International
| Year | Country | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Australia | 25[6] |
| 1975 | Canada | 22[7] |
| 1975 | Japan | 70[7] |
Singles - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | "Attitude Dancing" | Pop Singles | 21 |
| 1975 | "Attitude Dancing" | Adult Contemporary | 18 |
| 1975 | "Waterfall" | Pop Singles | 78 |
| 1975 | "Waterfall" | Adult Contemporary | 21 |
| 1975 | "More and More" | Pop Singles | 94 |
References
- ↑ Allmusic review
- ↑ Holden, S. (June 19, 1975). "Playing Possum". Rolling Stone Magazine. Retrieved 2014-07-12.
- ↑ Norman Seeff
- ↑ "Grammy Awards 1976". Retrieved July 27, 2014.
- ↑ "Rolling Stones 100 Greatest Album Covers". Retrieved July 26, 2014.
- ↑ David Kent (1993). Australian Charts Book 1970—1992. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- 1 2 "CAN Charts > Carly Simon". RPM. Retrieved 2015-01-04.
