Happy belated birthday, Carly Simon

Was Carly Simon the sexiest singer of the '70s? Based on my recollection of us young guys standing around record stores ogling her album covers, yeah, she probably was.

Carly turned 66 yesterday, so happy belated birthday, Carly. You made many of us boys a lot less lonely, spending the nights with your records and their covers.





When I saw the video for "That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be" I had an instant flash of nostalgia, having seen it on ABC in its original 1972 airing. I remember her introductory line about "a weird song about marriage." To ask in a plaintive way for her boyfriend to marry her seemed pretty normal, not what I'd call weird.

Are there longer legs than hers, displayed when she sits on her piano bench?



This video from a 1987 Late Night With David Letterman is set in a hotel room; Dave pulled a guy into the room and he sat on the couch, listening to Carly sing "All I Want Is You," a song about out-and-out sexual desire.

 

Carly was married to James Taylor for 11 years, and had two children with him. They split up, and reasons vary depending on the story you hear. While they were together they did some collaborations. This is one of my favorites.