Hello Big Man
| Hello Big Man | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 31, 1983 | |||
| Recorded | 1982–1983 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | Rock, Reggae | |||
| Length | 38:57 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. | |||
| Producer | Mike Mainieri | |||
| Carly Simon chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Hello Big Man | ||||
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Hello Big Man is the 11th studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Warner Bros. Records, on August 31, 1983.
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
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Rolling Stone | [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best in years," stating that she "has returned to the sort of beautiful, folk-based singing and songwriting that originally made the world fall in love with her."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, "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]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "You Know What to Do" |
| 4:16 |
| 2. | "Menemsha" |
| 4:39 |
| 3. | "Damn You Get to Me" | Simon | 3:16 |
| 4. | "Is This Love?" | Bob Marley | 4:13 |
| 5. | "Orpheus" | Simon | 3:50 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "It Happens Everyday" | Simon | 2:44 |
| 2. | "Such a Good Boy" |
| 4:01 |
| 3. | "Hello Big Man" |
| 5:29 |
| 4. | "You Don't Feel the Same" | Simon | 2:43 |
| 5. | "Floundering" | Simon | 3:46 |
| Total length: | 38:57 | ||
Personnel
Musicians
- Carly Simon – lead vocals, backing vocals (1–4, 7, 8, 9), acoustic guitar (3, 6), electric guitar (9)
- Don Grolnick – electric piano (1, 6), synthesizers (2), steel drums (2), acoustic piano (3), organ (4, 10)
- Mike Mainieri – synthesizers (1, 5), chimes (2), marimba (2), acoustic piano (5), bass (5), additional synthesizers (8)
- Peter Wood – Memorymoog (1, 6, 8, 10), acoustic piano (2, 8)
- Larry Williams – synth flutes (1)
- Rob Mounsey – Fairlight programming (2), BGV arrangements (2)
- Hugh McCracken – acoustic guitar (1, 6, 8), electric guitar (2, 3, 8, 10)
- Andy Summers – electric guitar (1)
- Elliott Randall – electric guitar solo (1)
- Eric Gale – electric guitar (4, 7)
- Jimmy Ryan – acoustic guitar (5)
- Dean Parks – electric guitar (6)
- Sid McGinnis – electric guitar (7)
- Tony Levin – bass (1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 10)
- Robbie Shakespeare – bass (4, 7), backing vocals (7)
- Rick Marotta – drums (1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 10), cymbals (5), tom tom (5)
- Jimmy Bralower – LinnDrum (1, 5, 9)
- Sly Dunbar – drums (4, 7)
- Errol "Crusher" Bennett – percussion (4, 7, 10)
- Marty Paich – string arrangements (3, 6)
- Leon Pendarvis – horn arrangements (4)
- Lou Marini – alto saxophone (4)
- Ronnie Cuber – baritone saxophone (4)
- Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone (4)
- Jon Faddis – trumpet (4)
- Alan Rubin – trumpet (4)
- David Sanborn – alto saxophone (8)
- Tawatha Agee – backing vocals (1, 4)
- Marcus Miller – backing vocals (1, 4), bass (8)
- Fonzi Thornton – backing vocals (1, 4)
- Hugh Taylor – backing vocals (2, 3)
- Kate Taylor – backing vocals (2, 3)
- Lynn Goldsmith – backing vocals (2)
- Lucy Simon – backing vocals (2)
- Julie Levine – backing vocals (2)
- Ben Taylor – backing vocals (2)
- Sally Taylor – backing vocals (2)
- Elizabeth Witham – backing vocals (2)
- Rachel Zabar – backing vocals (2)
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]
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Billboard 200 | 69 |
Singles – Billboard (United States)[5]
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | "You Know What to Do" | Adult Contemporary | 36 |
| Hot 100 | 83 |
References
- ^ a b c d "Hello Big Man". Carlysimon.com. Archived from the original on February 23, 2014. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
- ^ a b Ruhlmann, William. "Hello Big Man". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 22, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2007.
- ^ a b Shewey, Don (November 24, 1983). "Hello Big Man". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 6, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
- ^ Hello Big Man (booklet). Carly Simon. Warner Bros. 1983.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b "Carly Simon – Chart history". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 21, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
