Simon (song)

Last updated
"Simon"
Joan Armatrading Simon 1980 single cover.jpg
Single by Joan Armatrading
from the album Me Myself I
B-side "He Wants Her"
ReleasedOctober 1980
Length3:40
Label A&M
Songwriter Joan Armatrading
Producer Richard Gottehrer
Joan Armatrading singles chronology
"All the Way from America"
(1980)		"Simon"
(1980)		"I'm Lucky"
(1981)

"Simon" is a song by English singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading, released in October 1980 by A&M Records as the third and final single from her sixth studio album, Me Myself I (1980). The song was written by Armatrading and produced by Richard Gottehrer.

Contents

Release

Unlike the two preceding single's from Me Myself I, "Simon" failed to make an appearance in the UK singles chart. It did, however, reach number 70 on Record Business magazine's UK Airplay Guide 100 chart in early November 1980. It achieved only "occasional play" on BBC Radio 1, but was more successful across Independent Local Radio, where it reached the A and B lists of numerous stations, and was also B-listed on Radio Luxembourg. [1]

Critical reception

Upon its release, Mark Ellen of Smash Hits summarised, "Armatrading's current work is much less emotional, which is a shame in many ways, as 'Simon' – a wafer thin drama about confidence gained and love lost – would blow away altogether were it not anchored by an anxious sax break." [2] Robin Smith of Record Mirror called it "one of her least accessible tracks" as "you really have to work to like it and it isn't going to pick up casual listeners". He added that he was also "getting a little fed up with yet another plunder from the Me Myself I album". [3]

Mike Pryce of the Worcester Evening News felt "Simon" was better suited as a "good album track" and criticised its release as a single for being what "seems almost a desperate shot". He added, "Not her best by any means and won't further her singles career." [4] Paul Walker of the Sandwell Evening Mail also questioned its release as a single, remarking that it is "less likely to make the charts than the previous more commercial effort". He continued, "Not that it is not a classy song, most of her work is. It's slower and technically excellent, it just won't sell." [5]

Track listing

7–inch single (UK and the Netherlands) [6] [7]

  1. "Simon" – 3:40
  2. "He Wants Her" – 3:15

Personnel

Production

Other

Charts

Chart (1980)Peak
position
UK Airplay Guide 100 ( Record Business ) [1] 70

References

  1. 1 2 "Airplay Guide 100". Record Business . Vol. 3, no. 33. 3 November 1980. p. 18. ISSN   0144-0691.
  2. ↑ Ellen, Mark (30 October 1980). "Reviews: Singles". Smash Hits . Vol. 2, no. 22. p. 32. ISSN   0260-3004.
  3. ↑ Smith, Robin (1 November 1980). "Singles". Record Mirror . p. 17. ISSN   0144-5804.
  4. ↑ Pryce, Mike (1 November 1980). "Disc Date: Single spins" . Worcester Evening News . p. 9. Retrieved 12 November 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ Walker, Paul (1 November 1980). "Roundabout: New Singles - Classy Joan - but not a hit" . Sandwell Evening Mail. p. 9. Retrieved 12 November 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Simon (UK 7-inch single sleeve). A&M Records. 1980. AMS 7571.
  7. ↑ Simon (Netherlands 7-inch single sleeve). A&M Records. 1980. AMS 9105.
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