Torch is the 10th studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Warner Bros. Records, in August 1981. It was Simon's first album devoted to standards, namely torch songs, relating unrequited love or rejection. The album also features one Simon original, "From the Heart". The album was recorded during her marriage breakup to James Taylor, which was announced shortly after the release of the album.

Reception

Writing in Rolling Stone, Stephen Holden called the album "a gorgeous throwback", stating Simon's "magnificent alto, with its rough-and-tumble lows and wistful highs, has never sounded better." He singled out the track "Not a Day Goes By" as "Torch's moment of truth", a "big, direct ballad", and "Simon's vocal makes you feel each stab of pain." He concluded "though Torch may be too sophisticated to storm the charts, it's nevertheless a superb example of modern mood music, performed with grace, gusto, sensuality, and intelligence." In a retrospective review from AllMusic, William Ruhlmann similarly singled out the track "Not a Day Goes By", stating that Simon delivers it "with heartbreaking conviction." Simon later included the track on her two-disc career spanning collection Anthology (2002). "Hurt" was released as the albums lead single; it just missed the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 106 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart. "From the Heart" was included on Simon's 2015 career retrospective Songs from the Trees (A Musical Memoir Collection).

Cover artwork

The man whose arm Simon is tugging on the cover is American actor Al Corley, known for playing Steven Carrington on the 1980s soap opera Dynasty. The photographer was Lynn Goldsmith.

Track listing

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes. Notes

Personnel

Musicians

• Carly Simon – lead vocals • Warren Bernhardt – acoustic piano (1, 3, 5–9, 11), synthesizers (4), arrangements (8) • Mike Mainieri – arrangements (1–7, 9, 10, 11), acoustic piano (4), vibraphone (5), marimba (10) • Hugh McCracken – guitar (1, 2, 6), acoustic guitar (7) • Lee Ritenour – guitar (2, 3, 9) • Jay Berliner – classical guitar (10) • Anthony Jackson – bass guitar (1, 3, 6, 9) • Eddie Gomez – acoustic bass (5) • Rick Marotta – drums (1, 3, 9) • Grady Tate – drums (5) • Jerry Marotta – drums (6) • David Sanborn – alto saxophone (1, 3) • Phil Woods – alto saxophone (5) • Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone (6) • Randy Brecker – trumpet solo (9) • David Nadien – violin solo (8) • Don Sebesky – orchestration arrangements (1, 9, 11) • Robert L. Freedman – orchestration arrangements (2) • Marty Paich – orchestration arrangements (3, 4, 5, 8)

Production

• Producer – Mike Mainieri • Production Coordination – Christine Martin • Engineer – Scott Litt • Second Engineer – Garry Rindfuss • Mixing – Scott Litt (Tracks 1–7, 9, 10 & 11); Tony Bongiovi (Track 6). • Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Masterdisk (New York, NY). • Art Direction – Bill Gerber and Simon Levy • Design – Bill Gerber • Photography – Lynn Goldsmith

Charts

Album – Billboard (United States) Album – International Singles - Billboard (United States)