Playing Possum - CARLY SIMON***

After The Storm/Love Out In The Streets/Look Me In The Eyes/More & More/Slave/Attitude Dancing/Sons Of Summer/Waterfall/Are You Ticklish/Playing Possum

Critics were divided on the merits of singer songwriter Carly Simon’s Playing Possum, some considering it to be a deterioration compared with previous releases. It features, Attitude Dancing, a unique duet with Carole King which narrowly failed to reach the US top twenty. (US:10)

“I'm not sure I've seen possums doing whatever it is Simon is doing on the cover. Anyway, this album sort of began her tumble from favour as it's pretty ordinary. The atypical Attitude Dancing isn't great but is weirdly entrancing in a guilty pleasure way, and is the best thing here.”

“By now the slickness is taking over and the songs aren't as good as previously, although Waterfalls is a lost gem. But whose idea was it to take Simon and Carole King and have them duet on the limp disco parody Attitude Dancing?”

“Playing Possum shows Carly at her most melodic, turning out some of the most beautiful songs in her catalogue. Some reviews have labelled the album's songs as generic schmaltz, but if you're a good listener, you will hear a series of love songs that seem to follow a pattern.”

“Overall, the album shares with us Carly's emotions, viewpoints, and perspectives as a woman. As a guy who grew up listening to her music I appreciate her straightforward and honest lyrical style.”

“What we have, musically, with Playing Possum is a mature, liberated, sophisticated woman's acknowledgement of her own wants and needs. The artist has laid out the blueprint of her desires.”

”Carly's singing on this recording is much more raw and gritty, quite suited for the subject matter, and her songwriting continues to be fascinating both in structure and the way she chooses to present herself.”

“The song Waterfall is lush, gorgeous and just so amazingly beautiful. Slave demonstrates raw singing power and haunting lyrics. Attitude Dancing, with Carole King rocking out on the backup vocals, is pure fun.”