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View Full Version : Album Club, January 2020: Carly Simon - 'No Secrets'



Album Club
01-01-2020, 20:02
Happy New Year everyone. The Album Club choice for January 2020 comes courtesy of Martin (high.spirits) with Carly Simon's 'No Secrets'. As always, please listen to the Album in its entirety before you comment and vote.



Carly Simon – No Secrets


https://is5-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Music71/v4/e3/33/7d/e3337d5f-837a-6630-e372-2a240775d7ed/mzm.gzpqrqro.jpg/600x600bf.png

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Secrets_(Carly_Simon_album)


No Secrets is the third studio album by American singer and songwriter Carly Simon, released on November 28, 1972 by Elektra Records.
The album was Simon's commercial breakthrough. It spent five weeks at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart and quickly went Gold, as did its lead single, "You're So Vain", which remained at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for three weeks.

I chose this album as it makes me smile and takes me back to my nights visiting clubs/discos in the early 1970s (shows my age!!). It’s also very different from the last few Album Club submissions.
The lyrics are of the time and very appropriate. I’m not sure the album cover would be allowed in today’s PC world.

Given the age spread across the AoS membership, I hope this either brings back memories or may be a bit different from your normal listening.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5olOQdIcQ8uIxLt1dw9nrT#_=_

Youtube - I only found individual tracks on Youtube.

The Right Thing To Do - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwGyW17KE6s
The Carter family - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx7d060q6FM
You’re So Vain - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cleCtBP0o5Y
His Friends Are More Than Fond of Robin - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqqER23cZzA
No Secrets - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10JtEdqTCBA
Embrace Me You Child - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iy-42CX9LNk

The remainder of the tracks can be found on YouTube.

1972 Live Interview with Bob Harris - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcnlLJpWCy4

struth
01-01-2020, 20:09
One of my fav albums, and I play it regularly. Not a poor track on it either. Excellent lyrics, tunes and some top orchestrations.
Quite a few superstar backing vocalists too.

10/10

Ashmore
02-01-2020, 09:51
Another classic from the golden oldie album club ;)

I've never listened to any Carly Simon and approached this rather sceptically. I was pleasantly surprised. Good song writing, good performance, nice production. Of its era sure, but that's what it is. Sounded to me a bit like Judee Sill (a good thing). I particularly liked Night Owl.

8

Ian7633
02-01-2020, 11:56
Not listened to this for a looooooong time, forgotten how nice and easy it is to get along with. When you take a little more notice of what's going on you realise how detailed and yet subtle it is. I particularly like the clever chord progressions from major to minor, giving a feeling of movement in the songs. I really like The Carter family and Night Owl, great lyrics. 9/10 from me.

AJSki2fly
05-01-2020, 11:01
Well, like Ian before it is a very long time since I listened to this album, I think the last time was at the end of a party in the mid 70's, when I was in my late teens. For me then it was well written listenable background music as I was into rock, and prog rock at the time.

So this time around I listened more intensively and was rewarded, some pretty clever lyrics and accompanying musical composition most of the time it is generally good. I rather enjoyed it and did not dislike any of the tracks which is good, in fact I might look out a copy on vinyl. She of it reminded me of Judy Collins, another singer/songwriter of the era, and in some ways Kim Karnes, although Kim has at time a more raspy voice. Both are also worth a listen to.

It prompted me to look her up on Wiki and was rather surprised to find that she is rather an accomplished artist, have many albums and composed for films and had several other commissions, I think she is better know in the USA than here or Europe. Interestingly she is not much on live performance as she is uncomfortable with it.

So for me it was 8/10

Made in 1968
05-01-2020, 11:55
I cant listen to that kind of stuff but i can look at those wonderful nips. However ive given it a 9/10 from the wife..

high.spirits
06-01-2020, 09:53
Thanks for the comments so far. I'm glad it has reawakened some memories. 😁

Discopants
06-01-2020, 16:16
No secrets , is a reference to that tight fitting jumper of Carly's :eyebrows: With it being the holiday season I've managed to play this half a dozen or so times already. On first play I thought it was nice but its another on that really grows on you and there is some cracking musicianship on this album (as others have already noted). Needless to say I've added it to my spotify favourites and I've given it a strong 9. Thanks for nominating it Martin.

high.spirits
07-01-2020, 09:31
No secrets , is a reference to that tight fitting jumper of Carly's :eyebrows: With it being the holiday season I've managed to play this half a dozen or so times already. On first play I thought it was nice but its another on that really grows on you and there is some cracking musicianship on this album (as others have already noted). Needless to say I've added it to my spotify favourites and I've given it a strong 9. Thanks for nominating it Martin.

Glad you enjoyed it

gninnam
07-01-2020, 11:48
Listened to it last night on headphones.
Some nice catchy tunes and well produced - nice feeling music.
Will listen again so thanks for putting this up :)
7/10 for me

graham67
07-01-2020, 23:01
Excellent album this that can be enjoyed from beginning to end with no filler. I have a UK and US pressing and both sound great with that typical 70s warm presentation but also good production to allow you to really enjoy the songs.
8/10

Audio Al
11-01-2020, 09:05
A nice listen from a known artist with a decent vocal ability , She looks happy when singing:)

Your so vein , sounded like Mick Jagger on backing vocals :eek:

8 out of 10 from me

high.spirits
11-01-2020, 10:50
A nice listen from a known artist with a decent vocal ability , She looks happy when singing:)

Your so vein , sounded like Mick Jagger on backing vocals :eek:

8 out of 10 from me

Spot on regarding Mick Jagger.
The 70s were an interesting period when lots of well known artists were helping out others with backing vocals.

Barry
14-01-2020, 15:35
Dug out my LP as I hadn't heard it for a long time.

Very much of it's time, but Carly Simon is one of the more interesting singer-songwriters around. Not sure if 'No Secrets' is my favourite Simon LP, but I'll give it 9/10 for the happy trip down memory lane.

Incidently who the subject is of 'Your so Vain' has been hotly debated. One suggestion was it might be Mick Jagger - but as Simon herself commented, it would have been a bit mean to write a song about someone and have them sing in the backing vocals. Simon has revealed recently the subject of the song is Warren Beatty.

high.spirits
15-01-2020, 10:13
Thanks for all the feedback. It's interesting to see how music brings back memories or stirs different emotions.

I remember the debate about Warren Beatty, was it about him or not.
Carly was very careful not to spill the beans which kept everyone wondering for a long time. She had quite a few famous lovers, so it could relate to a few!!

HackneyRF
20-01-2020, 10:08
Undoubtedly a good record that has all the right ingredients - well crafted songs, good lyrics, good musicianship etc. It failed to get me excited however. I did listen through to the end. Only You're So Vain hung around like an ear worm for the rest of the day. Not sure that's a good thing. Thanks for the suggestion Martin but not one for me. 6/10

Jac Hawk
16-02-2020, 11:40
Well i was the grand old age of 2 when this came out, but i do remember it was part of my parents record collection, i think my mum like the music more than my dad, my dad probably enjoyed the front cover more, for me it's of it's time musically and you can sort of tell that she was at least involved with James Taylor if not married to him when this record came out as you could imagine JT singing them, there are some stand out songs "you're so vein" and "Night Owl" are my favourites, overall a very well produced album which i think is a grower rather than an album that grabs your attention from the get go, so a solid 7/10

high.spirits
16-02-2020, 11:46
Well i was the grand old age of 2 when this came out, but i do remember it was part of my parents record collection, i think my mum like the music more than my dad, my dad probably enjoyed the front cover more, for me it's of it's time musically and you can sort of tell that she was at least involved with James Taylor if not married to him when this record came out as you could imagine JT singing them, there are some stand out songs "you're so vein" and "Night Owl" are my favourites, overall a very well produced album which i think is a grower rather than an album that grabs your attention from the get go, so a solid 7/10

Its good to get different age perspectives on music.

Thanks for all the feedback.