Playing Possum

Playing Possum is singer-songwriter Carly Simon's fifth studio album, released in April 1975.

For the concept "playing possum", see Apparent death.
Playing Possum
Studio album by
Carly Simon
Released21 April 1975
Recorded1974-1975 at Sound Labs, Sunset Sound Recorders, Crystal Sound, A&M Studios and Burbank Studios, California
GenreRock • pop • disco • jazz
Length34:48
LabelElektra
ProducerRichard Perry
Carly Simon chronology
Hotcakes
(1974)		 Playing Possum
(1975)		 The Best of Carly Simon
(1975)
Singles from Playing Possum
  1. "Attitude Dancing"
    Released: 1975
  2. "Waterfall"
    Released: 1975
  3. "More and More"
    Released: 1975
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Rolling Stone(mixed)[2]

It was Simon's third consecutive album to reach the Top 10 on the Billboard Pop albums chart, peaking at No. 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 No. 21 on Billboard Pop singles chart, and No. 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 No. 78 on the Pop singles chart. It fared much better on the AC chart, entering the Top 40 and peaking at No. 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 No. 94 on the Pop singles chart.

Cover artwork

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 in Feb. 1976.[4] In 1991, it ranked at No. 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 latter set as well.

Awards

18th Annual Grammy Awards

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

Track listing

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes[6]

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."After the Storm"Carly Simon3:36
2."Love out in the Street"Simon2:57
3."Look Me in the Eyes"Simon3:55
4."More and More"
3:06
5."Slave"
5:16
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Attitude Dancing"
  • Simon
  • Brackman
3:52
7."Sons of Summer"Billy Mernit3:04
8."Waterfall"Simon3:25
9."Are You Ticklish"Simon4:11
10."Playing Possum"Simon3:44

Personnel
  • Carly Simon – lead vocals, acoustic piano (1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10), horn arrangements (1), string arrangements (1, 10), backing vocals (2, 3, 5-8) acoustic guitar (3)
  • Billy Mernit – acoustic piano (2, 7)
  • James Newton Howard – ARP synthesizer (3), electric piano (3)
  • Dr. John – acoustic piano (4)
  • Lee Ritenour – electric guitar (1, 5, 8), mandolin (5)
  • James Taylor – acoustic guitar (3, 5, 8), backing vocals (3, 5, 8, 10)
  • Jeff Baxter – guitar (4)
  • Alvin Robinson – guitar (4)
  • Sneaky Pete Kleinow – pedal steel guitar (10)
  • Klaus Voormann – bass (1, 4)
  • Willie Weeks – bass (2, 6, 10)
  • Leland Sklar – bass (5, 8)
  • Joe Mondragon – bass (9)
  • Andrew Gold – drums (1, 10), guitar (2, 6), tambourine (2), acoustic guitar (10)
  • Andy Newmark – drums (2)
  • Ringo Starr – drums (4)
  • Russ Kunkel – drums (5, 8)
  • Jim Gordon – drums (6)
  • Irving Cottler – drums (9)
  • Alan Estes – percussion (1, 3)
  • Emil Richards – percussion (2)
  • Fred Staehle – percussion (4)
  • Richard Perry – tambourine (4)
  • Eddie Bongo – congas (6)
  • Trevor Lawrence – alto sax solo (1)
  • Derrek Van Eaton – flute (8)
  • Lon Van Eaton – clarinet (8), sitar (10)
  • Tommy Morgan – harmonica (10)
  • Perry Botkin Jr. – string arrangements (2, 5), orchestration (2, 5), conductor (2, 5, 9), horn and woodwind arrangements (5), clarinet and trombone arrangement (9)
  • Paul Riser – horn and string arrangements (6)
  • Rita Coolidge – backing vocals (2, 5)
  • Clydie King – backing vocals (2, 5)
  • Rodney Richmond – backing vocals (2)
  • Vini Poncia – backing vocals (3)
  • Julia Tillman Waters – backing vocals (4)
  • Maxine Willard – backing vocals (4)
  • Carolyn Willis – backing vocals (4)
  • Abigale Haness – backing vocals (6)
  • Carole King – backing vocals (6)
  • Ken Moore – backing vocals (6)

Production
  • Producer – Richard Perry
  • Engineers – Bill Schnee (Tracks 1, 2 & 5-10); Norm Kinney (Track 3); Andrew Berliner (Track 4).
  • Second Engineer – Charles Beasley
  • Assistant Engineers – Larry Emerine and Reed Stanley
  • Remixing – Norm Kinney and Bill Schnee
  • Mastered by Doug Sax at The Mastering Lab (Los Angeles, CA).
  • Art Direction – Glen Christensen
  • Design and Photography – Norman Seeff
  • Management – Arlyne Rothberg, Inc.

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
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References
  1. Allmusic review
  2. Holden, S. (June 19, 1975). "Playing Possum". Rolling Stone Magazine. Retrieved 2014-07-12.
  3. Norman Seeff
  4. "Grammy Awards 1976". Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  5. "Rolling Stones 100 Greatest Album Covers". Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  6. Playing Possum (booklet). Carly Simon. Elektra. 1975.CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. David Kent (1993). Australian Charts Book 1970—1992. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  8. "CAN Charts > Carly Simon". RPM. Archived from the original on 2015-01-04. Retrieved 2015-01-04.
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