Carly Simon
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Albums · 1981

Torch

1981 · Warner Bros.

A decade before the 'standards album' trend, Carly records a lush set of torch songs — a stylistic left turn that aged beautifully.

From the liner notes

Producer
Mike Mainieri
Engineering
Scott Litt; mastered by Bob Ludwig
Arrangements
Don Sebesky, Marty Paich, Bob Freedman, Jimmy Wisner
Musicians
Warren Bernhardt (piano); Hugh McCracken, Jay Berliner, Lee Ritenour (guitars); Anthony Jackson, Eddie Gomez (bass); Rick Marotta, Jerry Marotta, Grady Tate (drums); Michael and Randy Brecker, Phil Woods, David Sanborn (horns); David Nadien (concertmaster)
Artwork
Photography by Lynn Goldsmith; the man on the cover is actor Al Corley
Notes
One original among the torch songs: "From the Heart."

From the archive

Being prepared: session photographs, press clippings, and Carly’s notes for this record — along with restored audio and the original artwork scans.
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working tapes, handwritten lyrics, photographs from the studio, coasters and matchboxes from a vanished parade of hotels and restaurants…the works. I’ll be dedicating a room for each one of these twelve songs, a first look experience open to everyone.

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© 2026 Carly Simon. All music, photographs, and writings remain hers — the vault is guarded accordingly.
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