Top 10 Carly Simon Songs

Photo: Elektra [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Our Top 10 Carly Simon songs list looks at the material Carly Simon recorded during her most commercially successful periods during the 1970s and 80s that her fans loved the most. During that period, Carly Simon was one of the most popular singers in the music business. How do we know which Carly Simon songs her fans loved the most? First, we are all big fans here at the site. Second, we review tons of emails and comments. And finally, the charts don’t lie.

Carly Simon burst onto the music scene in 1971 with the release of her debut album, entitled Carly Simon. The industry instantly fell in love with her as she won a Grammy that year for Best New Artist. Her debut album yielded her a top 10 hit on the Billboard music charts, titled “That’s the Way I’ve Always Heard It Should Be.”

Later that year, after the release of her debut album, Carly Simon released her highly anticipated second album called Anticipation. The album’s title track was released as a single and reached the Billboard Top 20.

Carly Simon’s third album, entitled No Secrets, was released in 1972. It was the album that would turn Carly Simon into a household name. The album’s success was fueled by the massive hit single “You’re So Vain.” The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. Carly Simon had become one of the most prominent artists in the world in only two years.

Our Top 10 Carly Simon Songs list looks at some of the best songs Carly Simon released over her long 50-year career and the ones that fans loved the most.

# 10 – Haven’t Got Time For The Pain

We open up our Carly Simon Songs list with an excellent track from the Hotcakes album. The record was released in 1974. This great Carly Simon-penned song, “Haven’t Got Time For The Pain,” was released as the album’s second single. The song reached the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number fourteen. On the Adult Contemporary chart, it went even higher, reaching all the way up to number two. Carly Simon composed the song with Jacob Brackman.

# 9 – Hurt

Torch was Carly Simon’s jazz standard album released in 1981. The album was released in the shadows of Linda Ronstadt’s jazz standard album What’s New. While Carly Simon’s album may not have been as successful as Linda Ronstadt’s, it still produced some fantastic jazz standards. Our favorite was the album’s single entitled “Hurt.” Many die-hard Carly Simon fans have applauded this album, especially this killer cut.

# 8 – Jesse

Everyone loved the song Jesse when it was first released. It was a throwback to many of her much-loved early 1970s singles. The song “Jesse” was released on the Come Upstairs album. The record was released in 1980. The album’s first single, entitled “Jesse,” reached the Billboard Top 20, peaking at number eleven. It earned Carly Simon another Gold Record. It was her first Gold Record since 1977’s “Nobody Does It Better.”

# 7 – Coming Around Again

“Coming Around Again” was the title track to Carly Simon’s 1986 album Coming Around Again. Fans loved this one because of the song’s sentimental meaning. It has been widely used in television and film. How could you not fall in love with this song? “Coming Around Again” was a massive hit for Carly Simon and became one of her biggest-selling singles of all time. Carly Simon was the sole composer of the song.

# 6 – Nobody Does It Better

“Nobody Does It Better” was the theme song to the 1977 James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me. This was Roger Moore’s best turn as James Bond. The song fits perfectly with the film, which also featured Ringo Starr’s stunning wife, actress Barbra Bach. The song reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100. “Nobody Does It Better” stayed on the Billboard music charts longer than any other Carly Simon song.

# 5 – You Belong To Me

The great track “You Belong To Me” was released separately by The Doobie Brothers and Carly Simon. Michael McDonald and Carly Simon wrote the song. The Doobie Brothers released it in 1977. Carly Simon released her version of the song on her 1978 album Boys In The Trees. The song reached as high as number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. Fans have always gone back and forth on this one, debating which version was better. I would call it a tie.

# 4 – Mockingbird

“Mockingbird” was one of the tremendous musical duets of the 1970’s. Carly Simon and her husband, James Taylor, recorded the song together for Carly Simon’s Hotcakes album. The song hit number five on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974. The song was written by Inez and Charlie Foxx in 1963.

# 3 – Anticipation

For those of us who grew up in the 1970s, it’s hard to listen to this song without thinking of Heinz Ketchup. The commercial for the ketchup that used the song “Anticipation” was played so often on television in those days that it became very difficult to separate the two. Nonetheless, it was such a great song that we could not ignore it for this top 10 Carly Simon songs list.

# 2 – That’s The Way I Always Heard It Should Be

This haunting song defined the gift of melody that Carly Simon possessed as a songwriter. At times, it could be hard to listen to from an emotional standpoint. The story resonated with so many fans. Carly Simon wrote the music, and Jacob Brackman wrote the lyrics. The song was released as the first single of Carly Simon’s career. It reached number ten on the Billboard Hot 100.

# 1 – You’re So Vain

When we first started putting together this list, there was no doubt that the song You’re So Vain would hit number one. We have received so many comments and emails about this song that it has become clear that it is the most-loved Carly Simon song ever. Of course, for years, many people wondered who the song was written about. Everyone assumed Warren Beaty. However, Carly Simon has always said it was about multiple men and not just one. The song was a massive hit for Carly Simon, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972.