Boys in the Trees

Last updated

Boys in the Trees
Boys in the Trees.jpg
Studio album by
Carly Simon
ReleasedApril 1978
Recorded Atlantic and A & R, New York City
Genre Rock • pop • blue-eyed soul • disco
Length35:46
Label Elektra
Producer Arif Mardin
Carly Simon chronology
Another Passenger
(1976)		Boys in the Trees
(1978)		 Spy
(1979)
Singles from Boys in the Trees
  1. "You Belong to Me"
    Released: April 1978
  2. "Devoted to You"
    Released: August 1978
  3. "Tranquillo (Melt My Heart)"
    Released: November 1978

Boys in the Trees is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Elektra Records in April 1978.

Contents

The lead single, "You Belong to Me", reached No. 6 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart, becoming Simon's fifth Top 10 pop hit, and earned her a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female. The second single, a remake of the Everly Brothers' 1958 hit "Devoted to You" (sung as a duet with then-husband James Taylor), also reached the Top 40, peaking at No. 36. The singles also hit the Top 10 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, peaking at No. 4 and No. 2, respectively. The track "Tranquillo (Melt My Heart)" reached No. 86 on the US Cashbox Pop chart. [1] Boys in the Trees became one of Simon's biggest selling albums, and was officially certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on August 7, 1978, for sales of over one million copies in the United States alone. [2]

Reception and packaging

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Christgau's Record Guide C+ [4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]

Janet Maslin, writing in Rolling Stone , stated "Boys in the Trees is Carly Simon's most serene accomplishment to date, but its moods vary dramatically enough to indicate that peace of mind comes at a high price." When praising the single "You Belong to Me", Maslin went on to write, "It's a number that could easily have been belted out or growled à la "You're So Vain", but this time Simon prefers to sound more like a cat who's been dining on canary. Somehow, she's a lot more compelling using a gently chiding tone than she is striking a come-hither-or-else pose." [6]

In a retrospective review for AllMusic, William Ruhlmann wrote that "what really made the album a winner was that Simon had had a couple of years to write some strong songs in her unflinching, reflective style, and she continued to explore the loves and mores of her age and class movingly." [3] Cash Box said of the single "Tranquillo (Melt My Heart)" that a "funky arrangement of guitars, horns and strings follow a stepping beat" and praised Simon's "clean" vocal. [7] "Boys in the Trees" is often played live by Tori Amos. "I used to listen to this song over and over, wishing I'd wrote it," Amos once said of the track. [8]

The photo featured on the front cover of the album was expertly airbrushed to paint a Danskin top on what was a topless photo of Simon. The album won the Grammy Award for Best Album Package, the Grammy went to Johnny Lee and Tony Lane. [9]

Awards

YearAwardCategoryWorkRecipient(s)ResultRef.
1979 Grammy Awards Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female "You Belong to Me" Carly Simon Nominated [10]
Best Album Package Boys in the TreesJohnny Lee and Tony Lane Won [9]

Track listing

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes. [11]

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."You Belong to Me"
3:52
2."Boys in the Trees"Simon3:13
3."Back Down to Earth"Simon3:08
4."Devoted to You" Felice and Boudleaux Bryant 2:29
5."De Bat (Fly in Me Face)"Simon2:28
6."Haunting"Simon2:28
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Tranquillo (Melt My Heart)"
4:02
2."You're the One"Simon3:38
3."In a Small Moment"Simon3:08
4."One Man Woman"Taylor3:39
5."For Old Times Sake"
3:41
Total length:35:46

Personnel

Musicians

  • Carly Simon – lead vocals, backing vocals (1, 7, 8, 11), acoustic guitar (2, 3, 11)
  • Cornell Dupree – electric guitar (1, 8, 10)
  • Eric Gale – electric guitar (1)
  • Jeff Mironov – acoustic guitar (2), electric guitar (3)
  • John Hall – electric guitar (3), backing vocals (5)
  • Hugh McCracken – electric guitar solo (4)
  • Hamish Stuart – guitar (7), backing vocals (7, 8)
  • Onnie McIntyre – guitar (7)
  • Stuart Scharf – electric guitar (9), acoustic guitar (11), autoharp (11)
  • Gordon Edwards – bass (1, 8, 10)
  • Will Lee – bass (3, 4)
  • Tony Levin – bass (7, 8, 9)
  • Richard Tee – Fender Rhodes, (1, 4), acoustic piano (3, 8, 10)
  • Ken Bichel – acoustic piano (6), Fender Rhodes (9), ARP synthesizer (9)
  • Don Grolnick – Fender Rhodes (7), ARP String Ensemble (7)
  • Steve Gadd – drums (1-4, 6-10)
  • David Carey – marimba (2)
  • Rubens Bassini – percussion (5)
  • Errol "Crusher" Bennett – bass drum (5), congas (5), percussion (10)
  • David Sanborn – alto saxophone (1)
  • Harvey Estrin – soprano and tenor recorders (2)
  • George Marge – soprano and tenor recorders (2)
  • Phil Bodner – oboe (6)
  • Gloria Agostini – harp (6)
  • Margaret Ross – harp (6)
  • Joe Farrell – flute (9)
  • Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone (10)
  • Arif Mardin – horn and string arrangements, conductor, glass harmonica (11)
  • Gene Orloff – concertmaster
  • James Taylor – backing vocals (1, 2, 5, 7), acoustic guitar (2-5), vocal arrangement (5), horn arrangements (7)
  • Harvey Estrin – alto saxophone
  • George Young – alto saxophone
  • Ronnie Cuber – baritone saxophone
  • Jaroslav Jakubovič – baritone saxophone
  • Eddie Bert – trombone
  • Barry Rogers – trombone
  • Randy Brecker – trumpet
  • James Buffington – French horn
  • Brooks Tillotson – French horn
  • Roderick George – backing vocals (5)
  • Luther Vandross – backing vocals (5)
  • Ken Williams – backing vocals (5)
  • Steven Dickson – backing vocals (6)
  • Marc Embree – backing vocals (6)
  • Alyia Orme – backing vocals (6)
  • Joanna Simon – backing vocals (6)
  • Lucy Simon – backing vocals (6)
  • Cissy Houston – backing vocals (7)
  • Alex Ligertwood – backing vocals (8)
  • Jonathan Abramowitz, Lamar Alsop, Julien Barber, Alfred Brown, Fredrick Buldrini, Paul Gershman, Ted Hoyle, Theodore Israel, Harold Kohon, Jesse Levy, Charles Libove, Guy Lumia, Joe Malin, Yoko Matsuo, Homer Mensch, Kermit Moore, Marvin Morgenstern, Alan Shulman, Mitsue Takayama and Gerald Tarack – strings

Production

  • Producer – Arif Mardin
  • Recorded and Mixed by Lew Hahn
  • Engineer – Bobby Warner
  • Assistant Engineers – Ollie Cotton, Bill Dooley, Tom Heid and Mike O'Reilly.
  • Mastered by George Piros at Atlantic Studios (New York, NY).
  • Art Direction and Design – Tony Lane and Johnny Lee
  • Photography – Deborah Turbeville

Charts

Album - Billboard (United States) [12]

YearChartPosition
1978Billboard 20010

Album - International

YearCountryPosition
1978Australia [13] 27
Canada [14] 4

Singles - Billboard (United States) [12]

YearSingleChartPosition
1978"You Belong to Me"Adult Contemporary4
Hot 1006
"Devoted to You"Adult Contemporary2
Country Singles33
Hot 10036

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [15] Platinum1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>Walking Man</i> 1974 studio album by James Taylor

Walking Man is the fifth studio album by singer-songwriter James Taylor. Released in June 1974, it was not as successful as his previous efforts, reaching only No. 13 on the Billboard Album Chart and selling 300,000 copies in the United States. Until 2008's Covers, it was Taylor's only studio album not to receive a gold or platinum certification from the RIAA.

<i>Coming Down Your Way</i> 1975 studio album by Three Dog Night

Coming Down Your Way is the thirteenth album by American rock band Three Dog Night, released in 1975. The album's original working title was "Dog Style", which was changed for unknown reasons.

<i>Still Crazy After All These Years</i> 1975 studio album by Paul Simon

Still Crazy After All These Years is the fourth solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Paul Simon, released on October 17, 1975, by Columbia Records. Recorded and released in 1975, the album produced four U.S. Top 40 hits: "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover", "Gone at Last", "My Little Town", and the title track. It won two Grammy Awards for Album of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 1976.

<i>Another Passenger</i> 1976 studio album by Carly Simon

Another Passenger is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Elektra Records, on June 5, 1976.

<i>Hotcakes</i> (album) 1974 studio album by Carly Simon

Hotcakes is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Elektra Records, on January 11, 1974. Featuring the major hits "Haven't Got Time for the Pain" and "Mockingbird", the latter a duet with her then-husband James Taylor, Hotcakes became one of Simon's biggest selling albums. Her first concept album, the autobiographical songs portray Simon happily married and beginning a family.

<i>Playing Possum</i> 1975 studio album by Carly Simon

Playing Possum is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Elektra Records, on April 21, 1975.

<i>Spy</i> (Carly Simon album) 1979 studio album by Carly Simon

Spy is the eighth studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Elektra Records in June 1979.

<i>Come Upstairs</i> 1980 studio album by Carly Simon

Come Upstairs is the ninth studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Warner Bros. Records on June 16, 1980.

<i>Hello Big Man</i> 1983 studio album by Carly Simon

Hello Big Man is the 11th studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Warner Bros. Records, on August 31, 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devoted to You (song)</span>

"Devoted to You" is a song written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kiss Me, Baby</span> 1965 single by The Beach Boys

"Kiss Me, Baby" is a song by the American rock band the Beach Boys from their 1965 album The Beach Boys Today!. Written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, it was issued as the B-side of the group's "Help Me, Rhonda" single on April 5.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Jeannie</span> 1980 single by Elton John

"Little Jeannie" is a song written by British musician Elton John and Gary Osborne recorded by John, and released as a single in 1980 from John's studio album 21 at 33.

<i>Celebrate Me Home</i> 1977 studio album by Kenny Loggins

Celebrate Me Home is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins. It was released on April 13, 1977, by Columbia Records. The album was Loggins' first since Loggins and Messina ended in 1976, represents a slight move away from the folk-rock leanings of his previous recordings towards a more polished, soft rock sound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(I've Been) Searchin' So Long</span> 1974 single by Chicago

"(I've Been) Searchin' So Long" is a song written by James Pankow for the group Chicago and recorded for their album Chicago VII (1974). The first single released from that album, it reached number 9 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It also hit number 8 on the Adult Contemporary chart. In Canada, the song peaked at number 5.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Boy from New York City</span> 1964 single by the Ad-Libs

"The Boy from New York City" is a song originally recorded by the American soul group The Ad Libs, released in 1964 as their first single. Produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, the song peaked at No. 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on the chart week of February 27, 1965. Though the group continued to record other singles, they never repeated the chart success of "The Boy from New York City". According to Artie Butler, the track was recorded at A&R Studios in New York, in three separate sessions. The first session was to lay down the rhythm section, then the next session was for the lead and backup vocals, with the last session was just for the horns.

<i>Breakin Away</i> (album) 1981 studio album by Al Jarreau

Breakin' Away is an album by Al Jarreau, released on June 30, 1981, through the Warner Bros. Records label. To quote AllMusic, "Breakin' Away became the standard bearer of the L.A. pop and R&B sound."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Belong to Me (Carly Simon song)</span> 1978 song by Carly Simon

"You Belong to Me" is a song written by American singer-songwriters Carly Simon and Michael McDonald. The lyrics were written by Simon and the music was composed by McDonald. Originally recorded by McDonald's rock group The Doobie Brothers for their seventh studio album, Livin' on the Fault Line (1977), the song was made famous by Simon when she recorded it for her seventh studio album, Boys in the Trees (1978). A live version of the song from The Doobie Brothers' 1983 album Farewell Tour would later chart on the Pop Singles chart at No. 79 in August 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesse (song)</span> 1980 single by Carly Simon

"Jesse" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon. Produced by Mike Mainieri, the song served as the lead single from Simon's ninth studio album, Come Upstairs (1980).

<i>Working Girl</i> (soundtrack) 1989 soundtrack album by Carly Simon

Working Girl (Original Soundtrack Album) is the soundtrack album to the 1988 Mike Nichols film Working Girl, released by Arista Records, on August 29, 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)</span> 1964 song performed by Marvin Gaye

"How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" is a song recorded by American soul singer Marvin Gaye from his fifth studio album of the same name (1965). It was written in 1964 by the Motown songwriting team of Holland–Dozier–Holland, and produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier. The song title was inspired by one of the actor and comedian Jackie Gleason's signature phrases, "How Sweet It Is!"

References

  1. ↑ "Cash Box Top Singles". Cash Box . Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  2. ↑ "American certifications – Carly Simon". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  3. 1 2 Ruhlmann, William. "Boys in the Trees". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 21, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2007.
  4. ↑ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: S". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies . Ticknor & Fields. ISBN   089919026X . Retrieved March 12, 2019– via robertchristgau.com.
  5. ↑ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 635.
  6. ↑ Maslin, Janet (June 15, 1978). "Boys in the Trees review". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
  7. ↑ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box . November 11, 1978. p. 19. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  8. ↑ Vallese, Joe (October 1, 2012). "The Top Tori Amos Covers". PopMatters . Archived from the original on July 23, 2017. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  9. 1 2 "Awards". Carlysimon.com. Archived from the original on February 20, 2007. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Carly Simon". The Recording Academy. Archived from the original on March 20, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  11. ↑ Boys in the Trees (booklet). Carly Simon. Elektra. 1978.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. 1 2 "Carly Simon – Chart history". Billboard . Archived from the original on October 21, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
  13. ↑ David Kent (1993). Australian Charts Book 1970—1992. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  14. ↑ "CAN Charts > Carly Simon". RPM . Archived from the original on January 4, 2015. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
  15. ↑ "American album certifications – Carly Simon – Hotcakes". Recording Industry Association of America.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.