Garage Sale Vinyl: Carly Simon
No Secrets / Elektra / November 1972
by Christopher Long
In the fall of 1972, she boasted a healthy pair of Top 30 LPs and owned impressive twin Top 20 singles. Positioned for a massive breakthrough, she popped out album #3, No Secrets, in November. And with the release of that platinum-selling chart-topper, Carly Simon’s cup instantly had runneth over — stirring a global sensation, seemingly overnight.
For me, being a pop music-crazed kid during the cozy, shag-covered ’70s meant being an ardent Carly Simon admirer, for myriad reasons. For starters, she practically had a stranglehold on my AM radio airwaves throughout the decade, firing ten irresistible singles into Casey’s Countdown. Also, her distinctive, powerhouse pipes helped set her hits apart from those of her less capable contemporaries. Her melodies were intoxicating, and her storytelling was captivating.
But being a child of the ’70s also meant typically having only “singles money,” not “LP money.” As a result, I backed into Simon’s album catalog later in the decade, starting with her 1975 compilation, The Best of Carly Simon, on 8-Track, then on CD. These days, I’ve been rediscovering the magic of her other full-length studio releases as I travel across the country in pursuit of warm and crackly, authentic “Garage Sale Vinyl.”
Just last week, I was having a conversation with a talented, young, up-and-coming East Coast singer-songwriter, when the subject of Carly Simon came up — her impeccable artistry and celebrated legacy. Lickety split, I found myself rifling through my personal vinyl library in search of my well-loved copy of No Secrets that I’d scored recently for just $3 at a little used record joint down in Florida. I really gotta write about THIS one!
Overseen by legendary producer Richard Perry (Ringo Starr, Barbra Streisand, Pointer Sisters), No Secrets soared to the top branch on the Billboard Top 200 album chart, where it remained perched for more than a month.
Straight away, the ten-track collection kicked off with the Top 20 hit, “The Right Thing to Do,” one of the most blinding bursts of sunshine from the golden early ’70s singer-songwriter era. In short order, No Secrets switched gears with the Simon / Jacob Brackman collab, “The Carter Family,” a deeply personal song that offers a fragile melody woven into a moving message of appreciating the people in our lives, while they’re still in our lives.
Benefiting from a familiar-feeling Mick Jagger backup vocal, the hooky and alluring “You’re So Vain” ruled the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for several weeks and has since become arguably Simon’s most iconic hit. Hey, Ma! What the heck is a “gavotte?”
Brimming with Simon’s signature-style appeal, “We Have No Secrets” was another delicate delight, and it still thwacks me every time. The piano-charged “Waited So Long” lit up brightly as a result of James Taylor’s backing vocals, while also making a bold, transparent confession: “Daddy, I’m no virgin, and I’ve waited too long.” Kinda edgy stuff for a Nixon world. The James Taylor-penned “Night Owl” was a fiery scorcher. With guest vocals from Paul and Linda McCartney, “Night Owl” remains one of the record’s tallest tunes.
More than 50 years following its initial release, No Secrets still stands the test of time quite nicely, with Simon’s stories and melodies feeling as fresh and vital as ever. And my clean and quiet $3 vinyl copy will forever be one of my personal go-to favorites.
BTW, this marks the milestone 75th installment of my weekly Garage Sale Vinyl column. And it’s truly been an incredibly rewarding experience. Should you feel extra chipper, I invite you to also check out my Garage Sale Vinyl Podcast. Lively new bite-sized episodes drop every Friday on Spotify, as well as here at Ink 19. Find and “Follow.” Listen and “Like.” Arigato!
4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
No Secrets Track List
SIDE ONE
1. The Right Thing to Do (C. Simon) – 2:57
2. The Carter Family (C. Simon, J. Brackman) – 3:29
3. You’re So Vain (C. Simon) – 4:17
4. His Friends Are More Than Fond of Robin (C. Simon) – 3:00
5. We Have No Secrets (C. Simon) – 3:57
SIDE TWO
1. Embrace Me, You Child (C. Simon) – 4:06
2. Waited So Long (C. Simon) – 4:14
3. It Was So Easy (C. Simon, J. Brackman) – 3:06
4. Night Owl (J. Taylor) – 3:47
5. When You Close Your Eyes (C. Simon, B. Mernit) – 3:05
