Letters Never Sent | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | November 1, 1994 | |||
Recorded | 1994 | |||
Studio | Right Track Recording, The Hit Factory, Edison Studios and Sound On Sound (New York City); Cadiloon Sound (Pawling, New York); Room with a View Studio (Hamburg, Germany) | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 52:07 | |||
Label | Arista | |||
Producer | Frank Filipetti and Carly Simon | |||
Carly Simon chronology | ||||
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Letters Never Sent is the 16th studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Arista Records, on November 1, 1994.
Simon has stated the inspiration for the album came when she found an old box of letters that she'd written, but never mailed. [1] She wrote "Like a River" in honor of her mother, Andrea Simon, and "Touched by the Sun" for her dear friend, Jackie Onassis, both of whom died from cancer in 1994. [2]
The album features backing vocals by Marc Cohn and Simon's son Ben Taylor (who also appears as vocalist on "Time Works on All the Wild Young Men", the bridge song between the fourth and sixth tracks). [1] Andreas Vollenweider plays the harp on the track "Davy". [1]
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly | B+ [4] |
Simon made music videos for the songs "Like a River" [5] and "Touched by the Sun". [6] She performed "Touched by the Sun" on the Late Show with David Letterman on two occasions. [7] Simon also embarked on a co-headlining tour with Hall & Oates in support of the album. [8]
Entertainment Weekly graded the album B+, and wrote "Simon dug up her old, unsent letters — to people unnamed, but not necessarily unidentifiable — and set them to music. The results are funky, fascinating, and sumptuous. A daring move that pays off." [4] AllMusic wrote that the album "represents a fresh start" and that "Simon has returned to passion as her main subject matter, confessing, "I can never be in love, I can only be in heat." She gives off that heat in many of the album's songs" and concluded "It's an unusually coquettish performance for a woman of 49, and practically weightless." [3]
Year | Award | Category | Work/Recipient | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1995 | Boston Music Awards | Outstanding Song/Songwriter | "Like a River" | Won | [9] |
Outstanding Female Vocalist | Carly Simon | Won | |||
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes. [10]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Intro" | Instrumental | 0:18 |
2. | "Letters Never Sent" | 4:45 | |
3. | "Lost in Your Love" | Simon | 4:52 |
4. | "Like a River" | Simon | 6:03 |
5. | "Time Works on All the Wild Young Men" |
| 0:44 |
6. | "Touched by the Sun" | Simon | 5:28 |
7. | "Davy" | Simon | 3:41 |
8. | "Halfway 'Round the World" | Simon | 4:33 |
9. | "What About a Holiday" | Simon | 0:32 |
10. | "The Reason" |
| 5:29 |
11. | "Private" | Simon | 4:37 |
12. | "Catch It Like a Fever" | Simon | 0:23 |
13. | "Born To Break My Heart" | Simon | 5:00 |
14. | "I'd Rather It Was You" | Simon | 5:42 |
Total length: | 52:07 |
Live at Grand Central is a 1995 concert special that aired on Lifetime Television. Performed in the middle of New York City's Grand Central Terminal, the surprise concert was a prelude to Simon's first concert tour in 14 years. [11] It was directed by English music video and film director Nigel Dick, and runs 60 minutes. [12] It was released on VHS and LaserDisc latter the same year. [11]
For this special, Simon was nominated for two CableACE Award's, winning Best Original Song for "Touched by the Sun". [13]
Album – Billboard (United States) [14]
Year | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|
1994 | Billboard 200 | 129 |
Another Passenger is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Elektra Records, on June 5, 1976.
No Secrets is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Elektra Records on November 28, 1972.
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.
Playing Possum is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Elektra Records, on April 21, 1975.
Boys in the Trees is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Elektra Records in April 1978.
Spy is the eighth studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Elektra Records in June 1979.
Come Upstairs is the ninth studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Warner Bros. Records on June 16, 1980.
Hello Big Man is the 11th studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Warner Bros. Records, on August 31, 1983.
Spoiled Girl is the 12th studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Epic Records, in June 1985.
Coming Around Again is the 13th studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Arista Records, on April 13, 1987.
Have You Seen Me Lately is the 15th studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Arista Records, on September 25, 1990.
Film Noir is the 17th studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Arista Records, on September 16, 1997.
The Bedroom Tapes is the 18th studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Arista Records, on May 16, 2000.
Christmas Is Almost Here is the 19th studio album, and first Christmas album, by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Rhino Entertainment, on October 22, 2002.
This Is My Life (Music from the Motion Picture) is the soundtrack album to the 1992 Nora Ephron film This Is My Life, released by Qwest Records, on April 14, 1992.
This Kind of Love is the 22nd studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Hear Music, on April 29, 2008.
Never Been Gone is the 23rd studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Iris Records, on October 27, 2009.
"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).
"Give Me All Night" is the second single from Carly Simon's 13th studio album Coming Around Again (1987). The song was co-written by Simon with Gerard McMahon and produced by Paul Samwell-Smith. An accompanying music video was filmed on Martha's Vineyard and featured drummer Rick Marotta.
Carly Simon: Live at Grand Central is a 1995 concert special that aired on Lifetime Television. Performed in the middle of New York City's Grand Central Terminal, the surprise concert was a prelude to Simon's first concert tour in 14 years. It featured Simon and a live band performing the majority of her Letters Never Sent album, as well as some of her hits such as "That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be", "Anticipation", "Legend in Your Own Time", "Haven't Got Time for the Pain", "Jesse", "Coming Around Again", and "Let the River Run". It was directed by English music video and film director Nigel Dick.
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