Carly Simon, one of the greatest songwriters, composers and performers of the past four decades, will return on 1 March 2010 with the release of new album ‘Never Been Gone’ released on Iris Records through Warner Music / Rhino UK.
‘Never Been Gone’ will bring the work of Carly Simon to a whole new generation, as she revisits songs originally written throughout her long and hugely successful career. The album was recorded at her home in the U.S. on the island of Martha’s Vineyard and features largely acoustic arrangements of Carly’s greatest compositions such as ‘You’re So Vain’, ‘Let The River Run’ and ‘Right Thing To Do’.
Benjamin Taylor, Carly’s son, was the originator of the idea and Carly willingly (though, sometimes hesitantly) complied and lived up to the challenge. The collective of producers (Carly Simon, Benjamin Taylor, Larry Ciancia, Peter Calo & David Saw), known as ‘Paphiopedilium’, chose the songs, most of which are Carly’s best-known and commercially successful. An explanation by Carly Simon of the reworking of each of the songs is included in the albums extensive liner notes, although Carly hopes that the music will speak for itself.
Carly Simon comments, “It was a revelation to me that these lyrics and melodies were so innocent of age and experience when I composed them back when. ‘These are the Good Old Days’ were not nearly as ‘good’ or as ‘old.’ I was encouraged by performing some of these songs on a promotional tour for the album This Kind Of Love, which was released a year ago. Ben, David (Saw), Peter (Calo), Larry (Ciancia) and I, with only the instruments in our hands, revised the songs: songs such as ‘You’re So Vain’ and ‘Anticipation.’ They came out all different! It was a sport of sorts.”
Carly Simon celebrated the commutation of her Godson John Forte’s (Fugees) prison sentence by collaborating with him on ‘You Belong To Me’. It has been one of the great thrills of Carly’s lifetime to be working with friends and family so close to her heart. Though Sally Taylor, Carly’s daughter, was available only to work once during the course of the recording, the choice of song that she sings on so beautifully is a meaningful coincidence: ‘Boys In The Trees’, is a message that a daughter receives so hauntingly from her mother.
The album was mixed and mastered by -term collaborators Frank Filipetti and Bob Ludwig respectively. ‘Never Been Gone’ is a brand new look at ten of Carly Simon’s best loved, well-known songs, as well as two never-heard-before surprises.
1. Right Thing To Do
2. It Happens Every Day
3. Never Been Gone
4. Boys In The Trees
5. Let The River Run
6. You’re So Vain
7. You Belong To Me
8. No Freedom*
9. That’s The Way I’ve Always Heard It Should Be
10. Coming Around Again
11. Anticipation
12. Songbird*