Simplicity is the third album recorded by the English actor/singer Tim Curry, released in 1981.
Whereas his previous album Fearless had been almost entirely original songs, Simplicity is a half-originals, half-covers mix and contains a wider variety of source material than the covers on his first album Read My Lips (1978). Covers include a version of The Zombies' "She's Not There" and Martha and the Vandellas' "Dancing in the Streets", both of which were hits in 1964. Curry also performs a version of "Take Me, I'm Yours", originally a 1978 hit by Squeeze. "Out Of Pawn" was originally by Davis Lasley's band "Rosie", produced by Michael Kamen.
The track "Working on My Tan" was released as a single in certain countries (backed with "On a Roll") but was not commercially successful. Curry did not make any promo videos for the album.
Track listing
"Working on My Tan" (Tim Curry, Michael Kamen, Bob Babbitt, Charles Collins, Bob Kulick, Michael Tschudin) - 4:05 "She's Not There" (Rod Argent) - 2:22 "Simplicity" (Tim Curry, Bob Babbitt, Charles Collins)- 4:13 "On a Roll" (Tim Curry, Michael Kamen, Joel Newman) - 2:49 "Take Me, I'm Yours" (Chris Difford, Glenn Tilbrook) - 3:50 "Dancing in the Streets" (Marvin Gaye, Ivy Hunter, William "Mickey" Stevenson) 3:59 "Betty Jean" (Tim Curry, Michael Kamen) - 3:20 "Out of Pawn" (David Lasley, Lana Marrano) - 3:43 "Summer in the City" (John Sebastian) - 3:05 "I Put a Spell on You" (Screamin' Jay Hawkins) - 3:32
Personnel
Tim Curry – vocals
Earl Slick – guitar
Hank Crawford – saxophone
Howard Johnson – saxophone
David "Fathead" Newman – saxophone
David Sanborn – saxophone
Charlie Miller – trumpet
Art Baron – trombone
Michael Kamen – keyboards
Joel Newman – guitar
Bryant Montiro – guitar
John Siegler – bass
Noel Alphonso – drums
Jimmy Maelen – percussion
Laurel Massé, Gui Andresano, Ula Andrisano, Ula Hedwig, Seth, Dian Sorel, Sasha – background vocals
Chart positions
Album
Billboard (USA)
RPM (Canada)
References
Simplicity (Tim Curry album) Simplicity (Tim Curry album) A&M Records albums Albums produced by Michael Kamen