Carly Simon Spy CD

All tracks have been digitally remastered using HDCD technology.

An underrated album, thanks to its lack of hit singles, 1979's SPY is nonetheless one of the most intriguing items in Carly Simon's discography. Certainly it's her most rock & roll-oriented effort. Forgoing both the singer-songwriter folkiness of her earliest albums, and, to a lesser extent, the jazz-influenced melodic sophistication which first showed up in 1976's ANOTHER PASSENGER, SPY is a tough 'n' tender pop-rock record, the missing link between the Carpenters and the Pretenders.

The swaggering "Vengeance" is the highlight, a soulful rock song much more direct and believable than, say, Linda Ronstadt's "You're No Good." Elsewhere, the disco-tinged "Pure Sin" foreshadows the rock-disco crossover of the MTV era, and the lengthy "Memorial Day," which closes the album with an extended drum solo, recalls the stylistic experiments of Joni Mitchell's jazz-based MINGUS album. This is perhaps not the place to start if you're looking for another "Anticipation," but SPY is one of Carly Simon's best.

Live Recording

Recorded at Atlantic Studios, New York, New York between December 1978 and April 1979.

Personnel: Carly Simon (vocals, guitar, piano, background vocals); James Taylor (vocals, guitar, background vocals); Mike Mainieri (vocals, keyboards, vibraphone); Ullanda McCullough, Lucy Simon, Tim Curry (vocals, background vocals); Gail Boggs (vocals); David Spinozza, Joe Caro (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); John Hall (guitar, electric guitar); Frank Carillo (guitar); Frederick Buldrini, Lamar Alsop, Lewis Eley, Julien Barber, Jonathan Abramowitz, Eddie Daniels, Tony Posk, Gerald Tarack, Ted Hoyle, Jean R. Dane, Teddy Isreal, Peter Dimitriades, Guy Lumia, Mitsue Takayama, Joseph Malin, Phil Bodner, James Buffington, Regis Iandiorio, Harold Kohon, Jesse Levy, Richard Maximoff, Eugene J. Moye, Matthew Raimondi, Alan Shulman, Kermit Moore, Gene Orloff, Paul Gershman (strings); Hubert Laws (flute); Don Grolnick (clarinet, piano, Clavinet, keyboards); Richard Tee (clarinet, electric piano, Clavinet, keyboards); David Sanborn, Peter Ballin (saxophone, alto saxophone); Michael Brecker (saxophone, tenor saxophone); Louis del Gatto (saxophone, baritone saxophone); Peter Ballini (alto saxophone); Randy Brecker (trumpet); Tom "Bones" Malone (trombone); Warren Bernhardt (piano, electric piano, keyboards); Ian McLaughlin (piano, keyboards); Billy Mernit (piano); Kenneth Bichel (synthesizer, Moog synthesizer); Cliff Carter (synthesizer); Rick Marotta, Steve Gadd (drums); Raphael Cruz (congas, percussion, bells); Crusher Bennett (congas, percussion); Rafael Cruz (cowbells, percussion); Errol Bennett (percussion).

Audio Mixer: Lewis Hahn.

Recording information: Atlantic Studios, N.Y.C., NY (12/1978-04/1979); N.Y.C., NY (12/1978-04/1979).

Arranger: Arif Ardin.

Personnel includes: Carly Simon (vocals, piano); David Spinozza (acoustic & electric guitars, guitar); Joe Caro (electric guitar, guitar); John Hall (electric guitar); Frank Carillo (guitar); Hubert Laws (flute); David Sandborn (alto saxophone); Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone); Lewis Delgatto (baritone saxophone); Randy Brecker (trumpet); Tom Malone (trombone); Don Grolnick (piano, Clavinet); Warren Bernhardt (piano, electric piano, keyboards); Ian McLaughlin (piano); Richard Tee (electric piano, Clavinet); Cliff Carter (synthesizer); Mike Mainieri (vibraphone); Tony Levin, Will Lee (bass); Steve Gadd (drums); Crusher Bennett (percussion, congas); Raphael Cruz (cowbell, percussion, congas); Tim Curry, James Taylor (background vocals).