In June 1987, a live outdoor concert was recorded on a specially built stage in the town of Gay Head.[2] In front of an invited audience, Simon and her band performed eight songs from the album, as well as some of her greatest hits. It was broadcast on HBO as Carly Simon – Coming Around Again, and later released on home video as Live From Martha's Vineyard.[3] It was also released as a live album in 1988 titled Greatest Hits Live.
On October 27, 2017, Hot Shot Records released a 30th Anniversary deluxe edition of the album. The two-disc set includes six bonus tracks, including a 12" extended remix of the single "Give Me All Night" and the Oscar winning "Let the River Run", along with a second disc consisting of Simon's aforementioned Greatest Hits Live album. An in-depth interview with Simon is also included in the albums booklet.[4]
Rolling Stone gave a positive review of the album, writing: "The title cut on Coming Around Again gives Simon the chance to step away and deliver a cozy, soothing, even hopeful song. The song sets the mood for the entire album. Many of the tracks progress with the same slow, tuneful strides and reflect Carly's new lyrical stance — that of an older sister or mother. In most cases, this would mean instant death with younger listeners, but Carly pulls it off, because her voice stays cool and confident. Maybe all those years of avoiding the road have paid off for her; while the other acoustic heroines of the 1970s — Carole King, Judy Collins, Joni Mitchell — have frayed at the edges, Carly's voice still sounds like it's in one piece. That's why it's not such a silly idea for her to cover a song like "As Time Goes By," which, if she doesn't redefine, she at least renews with some zephyrous overtones," concluding "Coming Around Again is a strong reminder of how refreshing a diversion Carly Simon can be".[6]
Stephen Holden, writing for The New York Times, stated: "Coming Around Again, the latest and one of the strongest chapters in a growing catalogue, embodies everything that the 41-year-old singer-songwriter does best. Of all the confessional singer-songwriters who emerged out of the 60's counterculture to confide their personal feelings in recorded pop song cycles, she has been one of only a handful to sustain a major label recording career of such duration. And of that handful, she has stayed the closest to the personal confessional mode." He also singled out the track "Two Hot Girls (On a Hot Summer Night)"; "along with the title tune, the album's most haunting cut is a song of adolescent memory titled "Two Hot Girls" in which the singer remembers competing with a friend for the attentions of a boy and losing. Like "Coming Around Again", "Two Hot Girls" is quintessential Carly Simon. Blunt, succinct and catchy on the surface, underneath it is psychologically complex.[7]
People was also positive, stating: "Simon remains perhaps the most interesting of women pop singers. This album proves she is still captivating."[8] A retrospective review from AllMusic stated: "On the surface, this hit album had a lot in common with [Spoiled Girl]. The big difference was that Simon was willing to go to her strengths as a ballad singer rather than romping amid synthesized blips." Awarding the album 3-out-of-5-stars, they also singled out the tracks "Coming Around Again", "Give Me All Night", "The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of", and "All I Want is You".[5]
Warren Lash, Beverly Lauridsen, Richard Locker, Carol McCracken and Charles McCracken – cello
Lamar Alsop, Julien Barber, Theodore Israel, Carol Landon and Sue Pray – viola
Marin Alsop, Lewis Eley, Barry Finclair, Regis Iandiorio, Harry Lookofsky, Jan Mullen, John Pintavalle, Matthew Raimondi, Richard Sortomme, Marti Sweet and Gerald Tarack – violin
Production
Producers – Russ Kunkel (Tracks 1, 6 & 11); George Massenburg (Tracks 1 & 11); Bill Payne (Tracks 1 & 11); Paul Samwell-Smith (Tracks 1, 2, 4, 7 & 8); Rob Mounsey (Track 3); Bryan Adams (Track 5); John Boylan (Tracks 6 & 9); Richard Perry (Track 10).
Associate Producers on Tracks 1–5 & 7–11 – Carly Simon and Frank Filipetti
Engineers – George Massenburg (Tracks 1 & 11); Frank Filipetti (Tracks 1–4 & 6–10); Richard Alderson (Track 3); Bryan Adams (Track 5); Tim Crich (Track 5); Neil Dorfsman (Track 5); Chris Lord-Alge (Tracks 8 & 9); Ed Stasium (Track 8); Bill Miranda (Track 9); Leon Pendarvis (Track 10).
Assistant Engineers – Scott Mabuchi (all tracks); Bill Miranda (Tracks 1, 2, 4, 7 & 11); Noah Baron (Tracks 1 & 11); Michael Christopher (Track 5); Debra Cornish (Track 6); Jeff Lord-Alge (Track 9).
Mixing – Frank Filipetti (Tracks 1–4, 6, 8, 10 & 11); Bob Clearmountain (Track 5); Chris Lord-Alge (Track 9).
Mastering by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound (New York, NY).
