Overview

• In a Rolling Stone interview published June 18, Simon defended Carpenter’s ‘Man’s Best Friend’ cover showing the singer on her hands and knees with a man gripping her hair
• Simon recalled the uproar over her own 1975 ‘Playing Possum’ cover, which featured her in black lingerie and leather boots
• Photographer Norman Seeff said the intention behind ‘Playing Possum’ was simply “a beautiful shot” despite its sexual overtones
• Simon compared Carpenter’s cover to The Rolling Stones’ ‘Sticky Fingers’, calling that image far more startling in its sexual attitude
• Carpenter’s single “Manchild” has topped global charts and her album is set for release on August 29, keeping discussion of the artwork in the spotlight