Hello Big Man

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Hello Big Man
Hello Big Man.jpg
Studio album by
Carly Simon
ReleasedAugust 31, 1983
Recorded1982–1983
Studio
Genre Rock, Reggae
Length38:57
Label Warner Bros.
Producer Mike Mainieri
Carly Simon chronology
Torch
(1981)		Hello Big Man
(1983)		 Spoiled Girl
(1985)
Singles from Hello Big Man
  1. "You Know What to Do"
    Released: 1983
  2. "Hello Big Man"
    Released: 1983

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

Contents

The album was Simon's last for Warner Bros. (and for what became the Warner Music Group, having also spent time with Elektra Records), as it was a commercial disappointment upon release, despite a positive reception from critics. The album featured Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare on a number of tracks, including one Bob Marley cover.

The album title refers to the reply that Simon's mother, Andrea Simon, gave to her father, Richard Simon, when they first met. He said "hello little woman", and she replied "hello big man". [1]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]

Writing in Rolling Stone , Don Shewey called the album "Carly Simon's best in years," stating that she "has returned to the sort of beautiful, folk-based singing and songwriting that originally made the world fall in love with her." He singled out "It Happens Everyday" and the title track as "two of the album's best songs," and also stated "her rendition of Bob Marley's ‘Is This Love?’ is particularly terrific, especially the way Simon's light, floating soprano mixes with Sly and Robbie's exquisite funk foundation." [3]

In a retrospective review from AllMusic, William Ruhlmann called the album "a return to the style of Anticipation and No Secrets after years of following trends -- the songs were romantic, with the erotic edge that had charged much of Simon's best material. The album was typically uneven, but also typically personal and compelling." He also singled out the title track as "a winning account of her parents' courting." [2]

Music videos

The music video for the lead single "You Know What to Do" was directed by Dominic Orlando, from a concept by Simon. It was filmed on location in Martha's Vineyard, at her home and in the surrounding woods. [1] The video received moderate airplay on MTV in the autumn of 1983.

Simon also filmed a music video for the title track and second single, "Hello Big Man", which features photos and film footage of her parents. Simon's mother, Andrea Simon, appears at the end of the video. The video also includes the American actor and singer Al Corley, [1] who had also been featured on the cover of Simon's previous album Torch , and with whom Simon had a brief romance.

The music video for the song "It Happens Everyday" was played in movie theaters during "coming attractions". [1]

Track listing

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes. [4]

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."You Know What to Do"
4:16
2."Menemsha"
  • Simon
  • Wood
4:39
3."Damn You Get to Me"Simon3:16
4."Is This Love?" Bob Marley 4:13
5."Orpheus"Simon3:50
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."It Happens Everyday"Simon2:44
2."Such a Good Boy"
4:01
3."Hello Big Man"
  • Simon
  • Wood
5:29
4."You Don't Feel the Same"Simon2:43
5."Floundering"Simon3:46
Total length:38:57

Personnel

Musicians

Production

  • Producer – Mike Mainieri
  • Production Coordination – Christine Martin
  • Engineers – Neil Dorfsman and Scott Litt
  • Additional Recording – James Farber, Jeff Hendrickson, Gary Starr and John Wright.
  • Assistant Recording – Moira Marquis, Bill Miranda and John Wright.
  • Technical Support – Bob Schwall
  • Mixed by Frank Filipetti at Right Track Recording (New York, NY).
  • Art Direction and Design – Paula Greif
  • Cover Photography – Lynn Kohlman
  • Inner Sleeve Photography – Peter Simon
  • Management – Arlyne Rothberg

Charts

Album – Billboard (United States) [5]

YearChartPosition
1983Billboard 20069

Singles – Billboard (United States) [5]

YearSingleChartPosition
1983"You Know What to Do"Adult Contemporary36
Hot 10083

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Hello Big Man". Carlysimon.com. Archived from the original on February 23, 2014. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  2. 1 2 Ruhlmann, William. "Hello Big Man". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 22, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2007.
  3. 1 2 Shewey, Don (November 24, 1983). "Hello Big Man". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on October 6, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  4. ↑ Hello Big Man (booklet). Carly Simon. Warner Bros. 1983.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. 1 2 "Carly Simon – Chart history". Billboard . Archived from the original on October 21, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
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