Playing Possum

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For the concept "playing possum", see Apparent death.
Playing Possum
File:Playing Possum.jpg
Studio album by Carly Simon
Released 21 April 1975
Recorded at Sound Labs, Sunset Sound Recorders, Crystal Sound, A&M Studios and Burbank Studios
Genre Rock
Length 34:48
Label Elektra
Producer Richard Perry
Carly Simon chronology
Hotcakes
(1974)Hotcakes1974		 Playing Possum
(1975)		 The Best of Carly Simon
(1975)The Best of Carly Simon1975
Singles from Playing Possum
  1. "Attitude Dancing"
    Released: 1975
  2. "Waterfall"
    Released: 1975
  3. "More and More"
    Released: 1975
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 3/5 stars[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,[3] 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,[3] 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.[4] It was nominated for Best Album Package at the 18th Annual Grammy Awards.[5] In 1991, it ranked at #20 on the Rolling Stone's list of the 100 greatest album covers.[6]

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

18th Annual Grammy Awards

Year Recipient/Nominated work Award Result
1976 "Playing Possum" Best Album Package Nominated

Track listing

All tracks composed by Carly Simon; except where indicated

Side one

  1. "After the Storm" – 2:47
  2. "Love Out in the Street" – 3:40
  3. "Look Me in the Eyes" – 3:34
  4. "More and More" (Mac Rebennack, Alvin Robinson) – 4:02
  5. "Slave" (Simon, Jacob Brackman) – 3:54

Side two

  1. "Attitude Dancing" (Simon, Jacob Brackman) – 3:52
  2. "Sons of Summer" (Bill Mernit) – 3:05
  3. "Waterfall" – 3:31
  4. "Are You Ticklish" – 2:26
  5. "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[7]
1975 Canada 22[8]
1975 Japan 70[8]

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

  1. ↑ Allmusic review
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Norman Seeff
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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