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Hotcakes (album)

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This article is about the album by Carly Simon. For the album by the Darkness, see Hot Cakes.

Hotcakes
Studio album by
Carly Simon
ReleasedJanuary 11, 1974
RecordedSeptember and October–November 1973
Studio
  • Producers Workshop, Los Angeles
  • Hit Factory, New York City
GenreRock, pop, acoustic
Length38:41
LabelElektra
ProducerRichard Perry
Carly Simon chronology
No Secrets
(1972) 		Hotcakes
(1974) 		Playing Possum
(1975)
Singles from Hotcakes
  1. "Mockingbird"
    Released: January 1974
  2. "Haven't Got Time for the Pain"
    Released: April 1974

Hotcakes is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Elektra Records, on January 11, 1974. Featuring the major hits "Haven't Got Time for the Pain" and "Mockingbird", the latter a duet with her then-husband James Taylor, Hotcakes became one of Simon's biggest selling albums. Her first concept album, the autobiographical songs portray Simon happily married and beginning a family.[1]

The album's cover photo, taken by Ed Caraeff in late 1973, shows Simon sitting in a maternity dress, pregnant with her first child, Sally. Produced by Richard Perry who had previously helmed No Secrets, the album features Simon on piano, including the final track "Haven't Got Time for the Pain". The string-and-percussion outro at the end of the album was composed by cellist Paul Buckmaster and drummer Ralph MacDonald.[2]

Songs

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According to AllMusic critic William Ruhlmann, in "Misfit" "a wife implores her carousing husband to come home."[3] Simon said of "Misfit" that "At times now when I'm at the point of despair I'm not as inclined to write about it as I used to be. That's what the lines mean in 'Misfit'. 'It is hip to be miserable when you're young and intellectual. In a bit you'll admit you're a misfit.' It's making fun of neurotic persons who want to be more neurotic so they can be a real artist. They think the only way they can be a real artist is if they're neurotic."[4]

"Think I'm Gonna Have a Baby" is another domestically oriented song in which Simon celebrates the joy of anticipating having a baby.[3]

Simon said that "Just Not True" is about herself.[4] She said "'You stick with me when I wish you'd gone.' I've had that experience. I've wanted to obliterate somebody from my thoughts and the more I try to do it the more obvious it becomes I can't. In this case it's about trying to pretend a certain dark side of my own nature is not there and it creeps up from behind and is shouting in my ears."[4]

Simon wrote "Forever My Love" together with Taylor.[4] She said "I wrote the music first and James wrote the lyric just before I recorded it. He doesn't sing on that track. He played on most of the cuts on the album. His guitar is a nice feature on the album. He has such a special style. He doesn't sound like anyone else."[4]

Commercial performance

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Shortly after its release, Hotcakes was certified Gold by the RIAA, for sales "of one million dollars at manufacturer's level" in the United States.[5] Elektra chose to release two other very prominent albums at the same time: Bob Dylan's Planet Waves and Joni Mitchell's Court and Spark. This decision very likely hurt sales of Hotcakes, and Simon was consequently angry with her label. Planet Waves hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200, Court and Spark hit No. 2, and Hotcakes peaked at No. 3. However, Hotcakes remained on the chart much longer than Planet Waves, and sold many more copies.[2]

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Christgau's Record GuideC[6]

Jon Landau, writing in Rolling Stone, stated Simon's ..."Hotcakes is playful-sounding with some serious overtones — a balance that best suits her for the time being." He also stated that "'Think I'm Gonna Have a Baby,' 'Forever My Love' and especially 'Haven't Got Time for the Pain' are substantial songs and performances, superior to almost everything else she has so far recorded."[7]

Robert Christgau, writing in Creem, said, "You're So Vain" left a nice afterglow--as Ellen Willis says, it proves that rock and roll is so democratic that even a rich person can make a great single. But except for the startling "Mockingbird" (buy the forty-five if you must) the album's most interesting moment occurs when Simon whistles.[6]

William Ruhlmann's more recent review for AllMusic rated the album 4 out of 5 stars. Ruhlmann said that "Hotcakes was an autobiographical concept album that defined domestic bliss at a time when Simon's listeners also were catching their breath and turning inward."[3]

Track listing

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Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[8] All tracks written by Carly Simon, except where noted.

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Safe and Sound"
3:36
2."Mind on My Man" 2:57
3."Think I'm Gonna Have a Baby" 3:55
4."Older Sister" 3:06
5."Just Not True" 5:16
6."Hotcakes"James Taylor1:07
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Misfit" 3:04
2."Forever My Love"
3:25
3."Mockingbird"
4:11
4."Grownup" 3:44
5."Haven't Got Time for the Pain"
  • Simon
  • Brackman
3:50
Total length:38:41

Notes

  • ^a signifies a writer by additional lyrics

Personnel

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Musicians

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  • Carly Simon – lead vocals, acoustic guitar (1, 3, 8), acoustic piano (2–5, 7, 10, 11), Fender Rhodes (2), whistle (2), backing vocals (5, 9)
  • Kenny Ascher – acoustic piano (1, 8, 10), Hammond organ (7)
  • Dr. John – acoustic piano (9), Hammond organ (9)
  • David Spinozza – electric guitar (1, 3, 4, 8)
  • James Taylor – acoustic guitar (2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11), backing vocals (5), horn arrangements and conductor (6), lead vocals (9)
  • Bucky Pizzarelli – electric guitar (2)
  • Jimmy Ryan – acoustic guitar (4, 5, 11), electric guitar (7)
  • Robbie Robertson – electric guitar (9)
  • Klaus Voormann – bass guitar (1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11)
  • Richard Davis – string bass (2)
  • Larry Brean – slap bass (4)
  • Rick Marotta – drums (1)
  • Jim Keltner – drums (3, 4, 9, 11)
  • Jim Gordon – drums (5)
  • Billy Cobham – drums (6)
  • Andy Newmark – drums (7)
  • Russ Kunkel – drums (8)
  • Ralph MacDonald – congas (2), percussion (3, 11)
  • George Devens – cabasa (2)
  • Paul Buckmaster – string and woodwind arrangements (1, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11), conductor (1, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11)
  • Howard Johnson – baritone saxophone (6), tuba (6)
  • Bobby Keys – tenor saxophone (6), baritone saxophone (9)
  • Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone (9)
  • Barry Rogers – trombone (6)
  • Steve Madaio – trumpet (6)
  • Lani Groves – backing vocals (3, 11)
  • Carl Hall – backing vocals (3, 11)
  • Tasha Thomas – backing vocals (3, 11)
  • Todd Graff – backing vocals (3)
  • Lucy Simon – backing vocals (3)
  • Benny Diggs – backing vocals (4)
  • Revelation – backing vocals (4)
  • Richard Perry – backing vocals (4)

Production

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  • Producer – Richard Perry
  • Engineering and Remixing – Harry Maslin and Bill Schnee
  • Assistant Engineer – Blasie Castellano
  • Mastered by Doug Sax at The Mastering Lab (Los Angeles, CA).
  • Art Direction and Design – Vincent Cesi at Push Pin Studios.
  • Cover Photography – Ed Caraeff
  • Centerfold Photography – Vieri Salvadori

Charts

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Album – Billboard (United States)[9]

Year Chart Position
1974 Billboard 200 3

Album – International

Year Country Position
1974 Australia[10] 9
Canada[11] 7
Japan[12] 39
United Kingdom[13] 19

Singles – Billboard (United States)[9]

Year Single Chart Position
1974 "Mockingbird" Adult Contemporary 10
Hot 100 5
"Haven't Got Time for the Pain" Adult Contemporary 2
Hot 100 14

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[14] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "Hotcakes". Carlysimon.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Schnee, Bill (2021). Chairman at the Board: Recording the Soundtrack of a Generation. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 37–40. ISBN 9781493056149.
  3. ^ a b c d Ruhlmann, William. "Hotcakes". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 21, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2007.
  4. ^ a b c d e Campbell, Mary (April 28, 1974). "Carly Simon's Family Happiness Mellows Her Music". Press of Atlantic City. p. B11. Retrieved March 24, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "American certifications – Carly Simon". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  6. ^ a b Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: S". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 12, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  7. ^ Landau, Jon (June 6, 1974). "Hotcakes review". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  8. ^ Hotcakes (booklet). Carly Simon. Elektra. 1974.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ a b "Carly Simon – Chart history". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 21, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
  10. ^ David Kent (1993). Australian Charts Book 1970—1992. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  11. ^ "CAN Charts > Carly Simon". RPM. Archived from the original on January 4, 2015. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
  12. ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  13. ^ "UK Charts > Carly Simon". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  14. ^ "American album certifications – Carly Simon – Hotcakes". Recording Industry Association of America.
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