1975 Carly Simon – Playing Possum

Andrew Gold, Carly Simon, Emil Richards, James Newton-Howard, Jeff Baxter, Jim Gordon, Lee Ritenour, Leland Sklar, Mac Rebennack, Russ Kunkel

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

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.

Tracks

1 After The Storm (Carly Simon) 2:49
2 Love Out In The Street (Carly Simon) 3:43
3 Look Me In The Eyes (Carly Simon) 3:36
4 More And More (Alvin Robinson, Mac Rebennack) 4:04
5 Slave (Carly Simon, Jacob Brackman) 3:56
6 Attitude Dancing (Carly Simon) 3:53
7 Sons Of Summer (Billy Mernit) 3:08
8 Waterfall (Carly Simon) 3:34
9 Are You Ticklish (Carly Simon) 2:28
10 Playing Possum (Carly Simon) 3:56

Biography

Carly Simon

Musicians

1 After The Storm

Bass	Klaus Voormann
Drums	Andrew Gold
Guitar	Lee Ritenour
Piano	Carly Simon
Sax	Trevor Lawrence
Percussion	Alan Estes
Vocals	Carly Simon

2 Love Out In The Street

Bass	Willie Weeks
Drums	Andy Newmark
Guitar	Andrew Gold
Piano	Carly Simon
Piano	Billy Mernit
Percussion	Emil Richards
Percussion	Andrew Gold
Background Vocals	Clydie King
Background Vocals	Rita Coolidge
Vocals	Carly Simon

3 Look Me In The Eyes

Acoustic Guitar	Carly Simon
Acoustic Guitar	James Taylor
Piano	James Newton Howard
Synthesizer	James Newton Howard
Background Vocals	Vini Poncia

4 More And More

Bass	Klaus Voormann
Drums	Ringo Starr
Guitar	Jeff Baxter
Guitar	Alvin Robinson
Piano	Mac Rebennack
Background Vocals	Julia Tillman Waters
Background Vocals	Maxine Willard Waters
Background Vocals	Carolyn Willis
Vocals	Carly Simon

5 Slave

Bass	Leland Sklar
Drums	Russ Kunkel
Guitar	Lee Ritenour
Acoustic Guitar	James Taylor
Mandolin	Lee Ritenour
Piano	Carly Simon
Background Vocals	Clydie King
Background Vocals	Rita Coolidge
Vocals	Carly Simon

6 Attitude Dancing

Bass	Willie Weeks
Drums	Jim Gordon
Guitar	Andrew Gold
Piano	Carly Simon
Percussion	Eddie Brown
Background Vocals	Abigail Haness
Background Vocals	Kenny Moore
Background Vocals	Carole King
Vocals	Carly Simon

7 Sons Of Summer

Piano	Billy Mernit
Vocals	Carly Simon

8 Waterfall

Bass	Leland Sklar
Drums	Russ Kunkel
Guitar	Lee Ritenour
Acoustic Guitar	James Taylor
Piano	Carly Simon
Clarinet	Lon VanEaton
Flute	Derek VanEaton
Background Vocals	James Taylor

9 Are You Ticklish

Bass	Joe Mondragon
Drums	Irv Cottler
Piano	Carly Simon
Vocals	Carly Simon

10 Playing Possum

Bass	Willie Weeks
Drums	Andrew Gold
Pedal Steel Guitar	Pete Kleinow
Acoustic Guitar	Andrew Gold
Sitar	Lon VanEaton
Piano	Carly Simon
Harmonica	Tommy Morgan
Background Vocals	James Taylor
Vocals	Carly Simon

Liner Notes

Producer – Richard Perry
Mastered By – Darrell Johnson
Arranged By (Strings) – Carly Simon (Tracks 1, 10)
Arranged By (Strings) – Perry Botkin Jr (Tracks 2, 5)
Conductor – Perry Botkin Jr (Tracks 2, 5, 9)
Orchestrated By – Perry Botkin Jr (Tracks 1, 5)

Art Direction – Glen Christensen
Photography, Design – Norman Seeff

Mastered At The Mastering Lab
Mastered At Customatrix
Recorded At Sound Labs, Hollywood
Recorded At Sunset Sound Recorders
Recorded At Crystal Sound
Recorded At A&M Studios
Recorded At The Burbank Studios
Phonographic Copyright Elektra Records
Copyright Elektra Records