Playing Possum

Playing Possum is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released in 1975.

For the concept "playing possum", see Apparent death.
Playing Possum
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 21, 1975
Recorded1974–1975 at Sound Labs, Sunset Sound Recorders, Crystal Sound, A&M Studios and Burbank Studios, California
GenreRock • pop • discojazz
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 Adult Contemporary 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 Anthology (2003), the latter which also includes the singles "Attitude Dancing" and "Waterfall".

Awards

Grammy Awards

Year Work Award Recipient Result
1976 Playing Possum Best Album Package Gene ChristensenA Nominated

Notes

Other honors and recognitions

  • 1991 Playing Possum ranked No. 20 on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Album Covers of All-Time list.

Track listing

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

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."After the Storm"Carly Simon2:47
2."Love out in the Street"Simon3:40
3."Look Me in the Eyes"Simon3:34
4."More and More"4:02
5."Slave"3:54
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Attitude Dancing"
  • Simon
  • Brackman
3:52
7."Sons of Summer"Billy Mernit3:05
8."Waterfall"Simon3:31
9."Are You Ticklish"Simon2:26
10."Playing Possum"Simon3:57

Personnel

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

AlbumBillboard (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. Holden, S. (June 19, 1975). "Playing Possum". Rolling Stone Magazine. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  3. Estes, Lenora Jane (September 12, 2013). "The 'Lost Archive' of Norman Seeff". Vanity Fair. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  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 January 4, 2015. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
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