For those unaware, Carly Simon’s quietly intense sophomore album comes across like an assertive notice nailed to a telephone pole for all to see. Bold, personal, and autobiographical, Anticipation announces the arrival of an artist who won’t back down.

While Simon stands her ground on her eponymous debut, she elevates her passion and persona to heightened levels throughout this gold-certified record, dealing in private matters related to love, relationships, and desire.

At times, Simon is nothing short of primal. She reflects on the difficulties of retaining your own identity while also giving yourself to a partner. Simon’s connection to her folk roots would never be stronger.

Sourced from the original master tapes, strictly limited to 3,000 numbered copies, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing in California, and housed in a Stoughton gatefold jacket, Mobile Fidelity’s 180g 45RPM 2LP set of Anticipation lays bare the rich tapestries afforded by the spare blend of soft guitars, mellow orchestration, and dreamy melodies.

Audiophiles and record collectors, take note: This is the first time Anticipation has been available on 45RPM. The wider grooves and dead-quiet surfaces prove extremely rewarding.

Simon would achieve international fame with her next album, No Secrets. Yet as this definitive reissue shows, Anticipation suggests the rest of the world was just a little late catching up to her.

Side One:
1. Anticipation 2. Legend in Your Own Time

Side Two:
4. Our First Day Together 5. The Girl You Think You See 6. Summer’s Coming Around Again

Side Three:
7. Share the End 8. The Garden

Side Four:
10. Three Days 11. Julie Through the Glass 12. I’ve Got to Have You

For my money, this album takes what was missing from her debut and makes sure that those elements are now there and that they shine. For my money, the album starts off so much more interesting and so much less hollow than her debut album, which is in and unto itself very refreshing to hear.

Without a doubt, Carly Simon has a wonderful voice that is backed by delightful production on this album. Whereas her previous (and debut, as noted) album was lacking in depth severely, this album takes that and makes it seem like it never happened via some noticeably drastic improvement at its helm. Ergo, this is a softer, perhaps gutsy-imbibed Carly, and therefore one more diligently focused.

That said, even the good and more popular No Secrets (which came after this) seems to have her range throttled down on some tracks, but here we are treated to what can only be described as an album of affectig ballads.

Simply put, this album is super pleasant and nice to listen to. I think it’s something everyone can enjoy due to its laid back and mellow sound. It’s a quite lovely album with a really nice, relaxing sound to it. Personally, I really like how the style of this album has been woven together. It won’t put you to sleep, so don’t worry about that, for it possesses a dutiful soft-folk sound to it - inclusive of some rather tender melodies and ballads.

Again, for me, Carly is a great songwriter and I really like the way her songs are put together. I might even go as far as saying that I think this album is truly a hidden gem. Any fans of folk music would like this album - even if it’s just a little bit. It is one of those albums that anyone could love. It has such a welcoming and easy-to-digest sound to it, but it doesn’t feel bland or dull whilst doing so.

In closing, and outside of the terrific title track, this is an album with a couple of outstanding songs - such as The Girl That You See and Julie Through the Glass - but has moments of filler also. I’ve always thought that it sounds like she knew she didn’t have enough material to put out a full album, but regardless, it is a lot more enjoyable and interesting than her aforementioned debut.

So yes, this is a very pleasant and really rather enjoyable aalbum of songs, especially now that MoFi have worked their magic on this most elegant 180g 45RPM double album set. A hidden 70’s folk gem, the album went by super quick when placed on the turntable and was very enjoyable on all fronts.

Carly Simon’s Gold-Certified Anticipation Is Steeped In Romantic Yearning: Largely Autobiographical Album Boldly Addresses Longing, Love, and Vulnerability.

On 180g 45RPM 2LP for the First Time: Strictly Limited to 3,000 Numbered Copies, Mobile Fidelity’s Reissue Lays Bare the Personal Emotions, Acoustic Arrangements, and Vocal Nuances.

1/4” / 15 IPS Dolby A analog master to DSD 256 to analog console to lathe.

Official Purchase Link