While listening to the Carly Simon song I posted the other day, I decided to go back too see what else she had on YouTube. And I found this rocking version of one of her well known songs, “You belong to me,” written by Simon and Michael McDonald of the Doobie Brothers. recorded by Simon in 1978. The Doobies had recorded it a year earlier, also in a nice version, but I think Simon’s take is better (her album version is here).
But I love this live rendition. Performed outdoors on Martha’s Vineyard on a windy day, it’s not an ideal situation for singing, but Simon and her band do a terrific job. You can hear McDonald’s contribution not only in the song’s phrasing, but in the instrumentation, particularly the sax solo.
One thing I realized while going back through Simon’s songs is how talented she was, yet her work is largely forgotten now.
Great stuff. Also: RIP to the great Michael Brecker who provided that classic sax sound. (now imitated by many)
The link is to the album he finished recording shortly before he died. (with Pat Metheny, Jack DeJohnette, John Patitucci, Herbie Hancock & Brad Mehldau). The bandmates had no idea he was ill. Michael just busted butt all the way to the end.
Basically, Michael was the “go-to” guy for the New York sax sound. (him and David Sanborn)
The process, for pop music especially, was simply to hire either Michael or David, and they would pop into the studio, listen to the song once, and lay down the solo track on the first take. Usually that was all that was needed, because doing stuff like this is a walk in the park (compared to jazz).
A story came to me through people who worked with Carly, Michael, Sanborn, etc…. and has become the stuff of recording engineer legend. Sanborn was hired to do a similar solo track, and laid it down on the first take, as usual. The producer hears it, and then asks David if he couldn’t do another take, except this time make it sound more like Clarence Clemmons. (Bruce Springsteen’s former sax player who sported a rather basic, raw and undisciplined squawking sound, IMO).
Sanborn (wearing shades in the studio) tells the producer he’s going to need the lights turned way down to get him in the right mood. He also says they can just record over the same track. So they get the track ready again, and start turning down the lights. “lower, lower” David keeps saying… all the way until it is pitch black in the studio. They roll tape, and when the spot for the sax solo arrives, there’s nothing… no sound…
They turn up the lights, and the studio was empty; Sanborn had packed his sax and left. (ruining his earlier take in the process)
Beautifully sung- and played, haven’t come across this before. I discovered her album “Torch” in the early eighties: it has some gorgeous arrangements of slightly less well-known jazz classics, like Hoagy Carmichael’s “I get along without you very well” which I played over and over. And there’s an amazing version of “Not a day goes by” that may may even turn sceptics on to Sondheim!
And I loved “Let the river run” from Working Girl which won her an Oscar (although I hated the film: why does being put in a big empty room on your own mean happy ending?) That song has such joy and energy.
Those Martha’s Vinyard recordings are wonderful. There are several more songs from that event floating around on YouTube. There is also a show she did in Grand Central Station. What stage presence!
Perhaps it’s the season (we’re at peak color here in northwest Michigan), and the fact that a heavy hoarfrost covers all this morning, but listening to Carly Simon, who was so integral to the personal soundtrack of my youth, leaves me with a touch of melancholia in light of what JC said about her being now largely forgotten and the ephemeral nature of fame. Ah well. Guess I’ll head out to the Sleeping Bear National Shoreline and walk the dunes listening to “Let the River Run” and a lot of other good stuff out of the 80’s and 90’s. Yes, it does exist.
Ms. Simon has done some interesting collaborations, with notables like Jagger and McCartney, she’s not done yet. See YT Mf1KSqHSn9s, sharing the stage with Taylor Swift in a “You’re so Vain” moment.
Some of you will roll your eyes at this next suggestion, Carly is underappreciated, but my vote for voice goes with another unheralded choice~ Agnetha Faltskog.
Anticipation is my favorite Carly Simon song. She has a lot of great songs, even the James Bond song, Nobody does it better.
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I’m a HUGE Carly Simon fan. I have every album she ever made and know every song intimately. If you’re not familiar with her, other than getting a “Best of” album, I’d recommend “Playing Possum” and “Boys in the Trees” as two of my very favorites!
So … I listened to this and the Doobie Brothers … it is nice that I don’t have to decide which one I like better.