Come Upstairs
Encyclopedia
Come Upstairs is singer-songwriter
Carly Simon
's 10th album
, and ninth studio album, released in 1980
. It was the first of her three albums for Warner Bros. Records
and it featured a harder, rock-oriented sound than her previous albums. Whereas those earlier records were prime examples of the singer-songwriter genre, with soft-rocking arrangements primarily built around piano and/or acoustic guitar accompaniment, Come Upstairs featured electric guitars and synthesizers prominently. In the vernacular of the time, Come Upstairs was a "new wave" album, and it followed the lead of new bands such as The Knack
and Talking Heads
. The album was generally well received, and many critics thought that Simon proved herself more than capable of this artistic leap.
The first single released from the album was "Jesse", an acoustic ballad that was more a throwback to Simon's earlier work rather than an example of her new abilities. "Jesse" proved to be a major hit, staying on the Billboard singles charts for 6 months (its peak was #11) and achieving gold status (sales of more than 1,000,000 copies), as well as reaching #5 in Australia and being her biggest hit there since "You're So Vain". Fans apparently chose to buy the single rather than the album, which did not "go gold" and quickly went out of print. It was one of the last of Simon's early albums to be released on CD.
; except where indicated
Singles - Billboard (North America)
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Carly Simon
Carly Simon
Carly Elisabeth Simon is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and children's author. She rose to fame in the 1970s with a string of hit records, and has since been the recipient of two Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award for her work...
's 10th album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, and ninth studio album, released in 1980
1980 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1980.-January–March:*January 1**Cliff Richard is appointed an MBE by Elizabeth II.**The Zorros audition drummer Greg Pedley....
. It was the first of her three albums for Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
and it featured a harder, rock-oriented sound than her previous albums. Whereas those earlier records were prime examples of the singer-songwriter genre, with soft-rocking arrangements primarily built around piano and/or acoustic guitar accompaniment, Come Upstairs featured electric guitars and synthesizers prominently. In the vernacular of the time, Come Upstairs was a "new wave" album, and it followed the lead of new bands such as The Knack
The Knack
The Knack was an American New Wave rock quartet based in Los Angeles that rose to fame with their first single, "My Sharona", an international number one hit in 1979.-Founding :...
and Talking Heads
Talking Heads
Talking Heads were an American New Wave and avant-garde band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison...
. The album was generally well received, and many critics thought that Simon proved herself more than capable of this artistic leap.
The first single released from the album was "Jesse", an acoustic ballad that was more a throwback to Simon's earlier work rather than an example of her new abilities. "Jesse" proved to be a major hit, staying on the Billboard singles charts for 6 months (its peak was #11) and achieving gold status (sales of more than 1,000,000 copies), as well as reaching #5 in Australia and being her biggest hit there since "You're So Vain". Fans apparently chose to buy the single rather than the album, which did not "go gold" and quickly went out of print. It was one of the last of Simon's early albums to be released on CD.
Track listing
All tracks composed by Carly Simon and Mike MainieriMike Mainieri
Michael T. Mainieri, Jr. is a vibraphonist best known for his work with the jazz fusion group Steps Ahead....
; except where indicated
- "Come Upstairs" — 4:18
- "Stardust" — 4:13
- "Them" — 3:44
- "Jesse" — 4:15
- "James" — 2:28
- "In Pain" (Simon, Don GrolnickDon GrolnickDon Grolnick was an American jazz and pop pianist and composer, most noteworthy for his work with artists such as Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Roberta Flack, Carly Simon, Bette Midler, Billy Cobham, David Sanborn, Marcus Miller, Bob Mintzer, Dave Holland and Steely Dan...
, Mike Mainieri) — 6:10 - "The Three Of Us In The Dark" — 4:14
- "Take Me As I Am" (Simon, Mike Mainieri, Sid McGinnisSid McGinnisSid McGinnis is an American musician and guitarist, best known for his work on the CBS Television show, Late Show with David Letterman, as part of the CBS Orchestra....
) — 4:50 - "The Desert" — 4:44
Personnel
- Carly Simon - guitar, piano, vocals
- James TaylorJames TaylorJames Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000....
- guitar, vocals - Warren BernhardtWarren BernhardtWarren Bernhardt is a noted pianist in jazz, pop and classical music.His father was a pianist, leading him to have early childhood exposure to piano, and he learned some rudiments of keyboarding from his friends. At five his parents moved to New York City where he began studying seriously under...
- keyboards - Don GrolnickDon GrolnickDon Grolnick was an American jazz and pop pianist and composer, most noteworthy for his work with artists such as Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Roberta Flack, Carly Simon, Bette Midler, Billy Cobham, David Sanborn, Marcus Miller, Bob Mintzer, Dave Holland and Steely Dan...
- keyboards - Billy Mernit - piano
- Larry FastLarry FastLawrence Roger 'Larry' Fast is a synthesizer expert and composer. He is best known for Synergy, his 1975–1987 series of synthesizer music albums, and for his contribution to a number of popular music acts, including Peter Gabriel, Foreigner, and Hall and Oates.- Biography :Fast grew up in...
- synthesizer - Steve GaddSteve GaddSteve Gadd is an American session and studio drummer, notable for his work with popular musicians from a wide range of genres.-Biography:...
- drums - Jerry Grossman - cello
- Pete Hewlett - guitar, background vocals
- Ken Landrum - synthesizer
- Tony LevinTony LevinTony Levin is an American progressive rock musician, specializing in bass guitar, Chapman stick and upright bass ....
- bass - Mike MainieriMike MainieriMichael T. Mainieri, Jr. is a vibraphonist best known for his work with the jazz fusion group Steps Ahead....
- keyboards, guitar, background vocals - Rick MarottaRick MarottaRick Marotta is a US-based drummer and percussionist who appears on many recordings by leading artists such as Aretha Franklin, Carly Simon, Steely Dan, James Taylor, Paul Simon, John Lennon, Hall & Oates, Stevie Nicks, Wynonna, Roy Orbison, Todd Rundgren, Roberta Flack, Peter Frampton, Quincy...
- drums - Christopher Martin - vocals
- Sid McGinnisSid McGinnisSid McGinnis is an American musician and guitarist, best known for his work on the CBS Television show, Late Show with David Letterman, as part of the CBS Orchestra....
- guitar, background vocals - Ed Walsh - synthesizer
- Alex Taylor, Maria Aguiar, Gail Boggs, Laraine Newman, Hugh Taylor, Christine Martin, Sarah Taylor - background vocals
- Mick RockMick RockMick Rock is a British photographer best known for his iconic shots of rock and roll legends such as Queen, David Bowie, Syd Barrett, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop and The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, Joan Jett, Talking Heads, Roxy Music, Crossfade, Thin Lizzy, Motley Crue, and Blondie...
- photography
Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Pop Albums | 36 |
Singles - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | "Jesse" | Pop Singles | 11 |