Half a Chance

Last updated
"Half a Chance"
Half a chance carly simon US single red label.png
One of side-A labels of the US single
Single by Carly Simon
from the album Another Passenger
B-side "Libby"
Released1976
Recorded1976
Genre Pop, rock
Length2:55 (album version)
Label Elektra
Songwriter(s) Carly Simon, Jacob Brackman
Producer(s) Ted Templeman
Carly Simon singles chronology
"It Keeps You Runnin'"
(1976)
"Half a Chance"
(1976)
"Nobody Does It Better"
(1977)

"Half a Chance" is a song written by Carly Simon and Jacob Brackman, performed by Simon, and produced by Ted Templeman. The song served as the second single from Simon's sixth studio album, Another Passenger (1976). Simon made her only appearance on Saturday Night Live on May 8, 1976, where she performed the song, along with "You're So Vain". [1] It was a pre-taped performance—a rare occurrence on that show—because Simon suffered terrible bouts of stage fright. [2]

Contents

Reception

"Half a Chance" reached No. 39 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart. [3] Cashbox said of the single that "the chorus is authoritative, filled with confidence, and, as usual, her words are striking." [4] Ken Tucker, writing in Rolling Stone , referred to it as "entertaining, loping, slick." [5]

Track listing

7" single [6]

Charts

Chart (1976)Peak
Position
US Billboard Easy Listening 39

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Simon</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1941)

Paul Frederic Simon is an American singer-songwriter known both for his solo work and his collaboration with Art Garfunkel. He and his school friend Garfunkel, whom he met in 1953, came to prominence in the 1960s as Simon & Garfunkel. Their blend of folk and rock, including hits such as "The Sound of Silence", "Mrs. Robinson", "America" and "The Boxer", served as a soundtrack to the counterculture movement. Their final album, Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970), is among the bestselling of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carly Simon</span> American musician (born 1943)

Carly Elisabeth Simon is an American musician, singer, songwriter, memoirist, and children's author. She rose to fame in the 1970s with a string of hit records; her 13 Top 40 U.S. hits include "Anticipation" (No. 13), "The Right Thing to Do" (No. 17), "Haven't Got Time for the Pain" (No. 14), "You Belong to Me" (No. 6), "Coming Around Again" (No. 18), and her four Gold-certified singles "You're So Vain" (No. 1), "Mockingbird", "Nobody Does It Better" (No. 2) from the 1977 James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me, and "Jesse" (No. 11). She has authored two memoirs and five children's books.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Boxer</span> 1969 Simon and Garfunkel song

"The Boxer" is a song written by Paul Simon and recorded by the American music duo Simon & Garfunkel from their fifth and final studio album, Bridge over Troubled Water (1970). Produced by the duo and Roy Halee, it was released as a standalone single on March 21, 1969, but included on the album nine months later. The song is a folk rock ballad that variously takes the form of a first-person lament as well as a third-person sketch of a boxer. The lyrics are largely autobiographical and partially inspired by the Bible and were written during a time when Simon felt he was being unfairly criticized. The song's lyrics discuss poverty and loneliness. It is particularly known for its plaintive refrain, in which they sing 'lie-la-lie', accompanied by a heavily reverbed snare drum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Night Fever</span> 1978 single by the Bee Gees

"Night Fever" is a song written and performed by the Bee Gees. It first appeared on the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever on RSO Records. Producer Robert Stigwood wanted to call the film Saturday Night, but singer Robin Gibb expressed hesitation at the title. Stigwood liked the title Night Fever but was wary of marketing a movie with that name. The song bounded up the Billboard charts while the Bee Gees’ two previous hits from Saturday Night Fever soundtrack were still in the top ten. The record debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart at #76, then leaped up 44 positions to #32. It then moved: 32–17–8–5–2–1. It remained at #1 for eight weeks, and ultimately spent 13 weeks in the top 10. For the first five weeks that "Night Fever" was at #1, "Stayin' Alive" was at #2. Also, for one week in March, Bee Gees related songs held five of the top positions on the Hot 100 chart, and four of the top five positions, with "Night Fever" at the top of the list. The B-side of "Night Fever" was a live version of "Down the Road" taken from the Bee Gees 1977 album, Here at Last... Bee Gees... Live.

<i>Dream Street</i> (Janet Jackson album) 1984 studio album by Janet Jackson

Dream Street is the second studio album by American musician Janet Jackson, released in September 1984, by A&M Records. More pop than her debut album's "bubblegum soul" feel, the album was not the runaway success that Janet's father Joseph thought it would be, peaking at No. 147 on the Billboard 200 in 1984. The album did have one modest hit for Jackson, the Top 10 R&B single, "Don't Stand Another Chance", produced by brother Marlon. Also, the video for the song "Dream Street", her first music video, was shot during the shooting of the TV show Fame.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nobody Does It Better</span> 1977 single by Carly Simon

"Nobody Does It Better" is a power ballad and the theme song for the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me (1977). Composed by Marvin Hamlisch with lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager, the song was produced by Richard Perry and performed by Carly Simon. It was the first Bond theme song to be titled differently from the name of the film since Dr. No (1962), although the phrase "the spy who loved me" is included in the lyrics. The song was released as a single from the film's soundtrack album, and became a major worldwide hit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">At Last</span> 1941 song

"At Last" is a song written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren for the musical film Sun Valley Serenade (1941). Glenn Miller and his orchestra recorded the tune several times, with a 1942 version reaching number two on the US Billboard pop music chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take Me Home (Phil Collins song)</span> 1985 single by Phil Collins

"Take Me Home" is a song written and performed by English drummer, singer and songwriter Phil Collins. It is the tenth and final track on Collins' third solo album, No Jacket Required. Collins co-produced the song with Hugh Padgham and released it as a single in the UK in July 1985 and the U.S. in March 1986. It did moderately well in the UK, peaking at No. 19. While it was not as successful as other singles from the album, such as "Sussudio" or "One More Night" in the US, it still reached the top 10, peaking at No. 7.

<i>Tanya Tucker</i> (album) 1975 studio album by Tanya Tucker

Tanya Tucker is the self-titled fourth studio album by American country music singer Tanya Tucker. It was released on April 21, 1975, by MCA Records. The album was produced by Snuff Garrett and includes two No. 1 singles, "Lizzie and the Rainman" and "San Antonio Stroll".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours</span> 1970 single by Stevie Wonder

"Signed, Sealed, Delivered " is a soul song, by American musician Stevie Wonder, released in June 1970 as a single on Motown's Tamla label. It spent six weeks at number one on the U.S. R&B chart and peaked at number three on the U.S. Pop chart. In the same year, the song was also released on the album Signed, Sealed & Delivered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anticipation (song)</span> Song by Carly Simon

"Anticipation" is a song written and performed by Carly Simon, and the lead single from her 1971 album of the same name. The song peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard pop singles chart and at No. 3 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. The song also ranked No. 72 on Billboard's Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1972, while the Anticipation album garnered Simon a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Female Vocalist. Simon wrote the song on the guitar in 15 minutes, as she awaited Cat Stevens to pick her up for a date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Fine Day (song)</span> 1963 single by The Chiffons

"One Fine Day" is a song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. It first became a popular hit in the summer of 1963 for American girl group the Chiffons, who reached the top five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 1980, King covered it herself and charted at No. 12 on the Hot 100 with her version, becoming her last top 40 hit. The song has subsequently been covered by numerous artists over the years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carly Simon discography</span>

The discography of Carly Simon, an American singer-songwriter, memoirist, and children's author, consists of 23 studio albums, two live albums, 10 compilation albums, four soundtrack albums, two audiobooks, and 41 singles, on Elektra Records, Warner Bros. Records, Epic Records, Arista Records, Rhino Entertainment, Columbia Records, Hear Music, and Iris Records, with special releases on Qwest Records, Angel Records, Walt Disney Records, and Macmillan Audio. These lists include all live and studio albums, and the motion picture soundtracks list includes albums containing more than 50% of music by Simon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Setting Me Up</span> 1978 song by Dire Straits

"Setting Me Up" is a song written by Mark Knopfler. It was originally recorded by British rock group Dire Straits on their self-titled debut album but not released as a single. Ken Tucker in Rolling Stone described the song as a "heavenly number" combining humor with bitterness, despite having a typical messed-up romance theme. Tucker noted that the song's impact is enhanced by the growling tone in Knopfler's singing voice and by the song's country music-style guitar solo. Carly Darling in Billboard Magazine praised the song's rockabilly guitar but criticizes the lyrics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Can't You See (The Marshall Tucker Band song)</span> 1973 single by The Marshall Tucker Band

"Can't You See" is a song written by Toy Caldwell of The Marshall Tucker Band. The song was originally recorded by the band on their 1973 debut album, The Marshall Tucker Band, and released as the album's first single. Record World called it "a strong rhythm item that continually builds and builds." A live version was released in 1977 and peaked at number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100. Cover versions of "Can't You See" have charted for Waylon Jennings and the Zac Brown Band with Kid Rock (2010).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tanya Tucker singles discography</span>

The singles discography of American country artist, Tanya Tucker, contains 89 lead singles, six featured singles, two promotional singles, one additional charting song, 18 lead music videos and three featured music videos. Tucker's career was launched in 1972 when she was 13 years old. That year, her debut single called "Delta Dawn" was released. It went to number six on the America's Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and number 72 on the Hot 100. It was followed by three consecutive number one Billboard singles in 1973: "What's Your Mama's Name", "Blood Red and Goin' Down" and "Would You Lay with Me ".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Right Thing to Do</span> 1973 single by Carly Simon

"The Right Thing to Do" is a song written and performed by Carly Simon that first appeared on her 1972 album No Secrets. The song was recorded at Trident Studios in London's Soho. It was released as the second single to the album, following "You're So Vain" and reached No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 4 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart. It also reached No. 20 on the Canada Top Singles chart and No. 9 on the Canadian Adult Contemporary chart. It reached No. 17 in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Still Crazy After All These Years (song)</span> 1976 single by Paul Simon

"Still Crazy After All These Years" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Paul Simon. It was the third and final single from his fourth studio album of the same name (1975), released on Columbia Records. Though the song briefly reached the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S., it was a bigger hit on the magazine's Easy Listening chart, where it peaked at number four.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It Keeps You Runnin'</span> 1976 song by the Doobie Brothers

"It Keeps You Runnin'" is a song by the American rock band The Doobie Brothers. The song was written by band member Michael McDonald, and served as the third single from their sixth studio album Takin' It to the Streets (1976). It was also covered by Carly Simon the same year and released as the lead single from her sixth studio album Another Passenger.

References

  1. Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Years. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 1994. pp.  124–127. ISBN   0-395-70895-8.
  2. McDuffee, Allen. "Carly Simon Did Something On Saturday Night Live That Will Likely Never Be Done Again". MSN . Archived from the original on September 3, 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  3. "Carly Simon Chart history". Billboard . Archived from the original on October 21, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  4. "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cashbox . September 4, 1976. p. 20. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  5. Tucker, Ken (August 12, 1976). "Another Passenger review". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on November 25, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  6. "Half a Chance 7" single". Discogs . Retrieved September 1, 2023.