Released: April 1978
Genre: Rock • pop • blue-eyed soul • disco
Label: Elektra
Producer: Arif Mardin
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Carly Simon is easily one of the most prolific singer-songwriters I have ever heard. I recently started listening to her discography after many years of hearing her feature on Janet Jackson’s Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You,) which samples Carly’s 1972 feminist hit You’re So Vain.
But after taking a listen to her discography, Carly is a quintessential storyteller! The daughter of the co-founder of the American publishing house Simon & Schuster and a civil rights activist, Carly started her music career as a member of the family band The Simon Sisters. After embarking on her solo career, the singer experienced success with You’re So Vain, That’s the Way I’ve Always Heard It Should Be, Anticipation, Legend in Your Own Time, We Have No Secrets, Mockingbird, and the theme song to the Bond film (The Spy Who Loved Me,) which was titled Nobody Does It Better. & oh my God. Her song After the Storm from her 1975 LP Playing Possum is one of my favorites from her. She is an amazing writer and singer to me.
One album out of Carly’s impressive discography that stands out the most is her seventh LP Boys in the Trees. Released in the spring of 1978 by Elektra, the album title also was given for the singer’s memoir, which discussed Simon’s life and her relationships with men. Boys in the Trees showcases Carly’s versatility as an artist, with elements of disco, soft rock, country, blue-eyed soul and pop of course. Produced by Arif Mardin, the album is one of her best-selling albums…with over 1 million copies sold in the United States alone. In fact, the album was certfied Platinum by the RIAA in August of 1978. So imagine if Carly updated her sales from an album released nearly 50 years ago. Like wow!
Boys in the Trees won the Grammy Award for Best Album Package, and rightfully so. Carly Simon pushed the envelope with her album covers in the past, but with this album…it is a photo of a topless Carly, but the photo was airbrushed so perfectly to paint a Danskin top over Carly’s chest. Genius marketing babes!
Ladies & Gentlemen, I present to you: Carly Simon’s Boys in the Trees.
Side one:
You Belong to Me
Written by Carly Simon • Michael McDonald
The album opens with the immaculate You Belong to Me, which is one of Carly’s most famous compositions that was originally recorded by the Doobie Brothers for their seventh LP Livin’ on the Fault Line. The song was ironically written by Carly & Michael McDonald, who is a member of the group! With elements of jazz fusion, soft rock & R&B, the song speaks on how the singer is expressing to her lover that you cannot go to another lover because our souls are tied baby! A song.
Released as the lead single for the album, You Belong to Me peaked in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 6..and stayed there for 18 weeks. Also, the song was nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 1979 Grammy Awards ceremony.
***You Belong to Me was originally recorded by The Doobie Brothers
You Belong to Me was covered by:
- Anita Baker for her 1994 Rhythm of Love album:
Boys in the Trees
Written by Carly Simon
The title track takes on a confessional tone for Carly where she revisits her childhood home and reminisces about growing up and remembering the boys playing outside in the trees..and the title itself has so many metaphorical meanings that meant a lot to Carly. I love the lyricism on this song SO much, and resonate with it more than I like to think.
Back Down to Earth
Written by Carly Simon
Back Down To Earth is a song where the singer cannot live on cloud nine with a lover like she thought. The title serves as a metaphor for her realization that she has to come down from the high of their love and go back on the road by herself. Like wow.
Devoted to You (featuring James Taylor)
Written by Felice Bryant • Boudleaux Bryant
Released as the second single from the album, Devoted to You is a wonderful collaboration between Carly and then-husband James Taylor. I can see this song being played at my wedding to be honest! Extremely beautiful lyricism displayed here. The song peaked in the top 40 on the pop charts, at 36, and also had success on the Country and Adult Contemporary charts respectively.
***Devoted to You was originally recorded by The Everly Brothers in 1958 for their greatest hits album.
De Bat (Fly in Me Face)
Written by Carly Simon
De Bat (Fly in Me Face) is one song on this album that I love more and more with each listen. I don’t know why because “a bat flying into your face” doesn’t sound like a fun time, but it’s just a record that really puts me in a good mood!
I had to look at my vinyl to read the lyrics, and I saw the LEGENDARY AND INCOMPARABLE LUTHER VANDROSS PROVIDED BACKGROUND VOCALS ON THIS SONG AND I HEARD HIM! I knew of Luther’s early beginnings as a background singer before he got his commercial breakthrough, but it made me love this song off of that fun fact too. It just sounds like they had a ball recording this song that makes it so special.
Haunting
Written by Carly Simon
There’s always someone haunting someone – haunting someone, and you know who I am. Though I never leave my name or number, I’m locked inside of you so it doesn’t matter.
Carly Simon, Haunting, 1978
Haunting is another Carly Simon song that needs to be discussed a lot more. When I listen to this song (or any Carly Simon song period) I can envision each lyric and it takes me to a place where you can see the lyrics play out in your mind. I love Carly’s artistry for doing that to you.
Side two:
Tranquillo (Melt My Heart)
Written by Carly Simon • James Taylor • Arif Martin
No one:
Not one soul:
me: MELT MY HEARTTTTTTTT, TRANQILLOOOOOO! MELT MY HEART!
Tranquillo (Melt My Heart) is a song that I play almost EVERY DAY now! It is a song I’d love to sing about my man one day! A top tier disco influenced record. & did I mention the late and talented Cissy Houston (THE WHITNEY HOUSTON’S MOTHER) was credited as a backing vocalist, and I am just amazed at how the liner gives us all of the information to things we’ve never paid attention to! Released as the third single, Tranquillo (Melt My Heart) peaked at 86 on the Cashbox Pop chart.
You’re the One
Written by Carly Simon
You’re The One can be interpreted in multiple ways in my opinion. I can see it from a religious perspective where she could be talking about how God is the one for her, and also in the viewpoint of telling your significant other how much they mean to you. Another beautiful record I’d love to play at my wedding one day.
In a Small Moment
Written by Carly Simon
In A Small Moment names scenarios where a woman did things she shouldn’t have done but did it anyways. Chile!
One Man Woman
Written by James Taylor
One Man Woman is an uptempo song with country influences that I’ve fallen in love with!
For Old Times Sake
Written by Carly Simon • Jacob Blackman
For Old Times Sake closes out the album, and has the singer desiring to spend one night with a former flame just for the hell of it….and CHILE! It is what we call “toxic” in 2025, but I’d play this for a former flame to be honest. It really be like that.
I think if you’re interested in looking into Carly Simon’s discography, Boys in the Trees is the perfect place to start..especially if you appreciate a good 70s album. I am glad that I decided to start looking into Carly’s discography because she is truly a remarkable storyteller like I have mentioned. I think it is important to listen to different genres of music to dive in the mindset of intelligent songwriters like Carly Simon to implement her thoughts and feelings about life. Boys in the Trees has left an impression on me I’ll never be able to shake. It is THAT good of an album. -MW.
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