Carly Simon: Into White

Carly Simon | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 2, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000HEZF6I
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (110 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #65,095 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

For a CD with a lot of soft songs on it--"Scarborough Fair," "Over the Rainbow," "You Are My Sunshine"--Into White sends a loud message, that being: when you're as important an artist as Carly Simon, you can pretty much sing what you want, which accounts for this disc's genre confusion. Part kids' record, part under-the-covers project, Into White feels a little like it went for a toss in the Simon residence's salad spinner; "Oh! Susanna," which has rarely sounded sweeter, is followed by a beautiful reading of the Beatles' poetic "Blackbird," which segues into a family sing-along to ex-husband James Taylor's classic "You Can Close Your Eyes" (son and daughter Ben and Sally Taylor pitch in on harmonies). Deciding whether to play it on the way to morning kindergarten or during brunch for your mellow sweetheart, then, can be brutal. But the choice to buy it or bypass it shouldn't be. Simon, vocally sure-footed as ever, wicks the warmth out of every last track and directs it with pinpoint precision to her listeners--nobody does music as comfort food better. Perhaps nobody knows how to pluck from her own catalog better, either: closing this artful jumble of a late-career disc is the abominably under-appreciated but gorgeous "Love of My Life," from the largely forgotten 1992 film This is My Life. --Tammy La Gorce

Into Green with Carly

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Product Description

"Into White" is the incredible follow-up album to Grammy and Oscar award-winner Carly Simon's 2005 best-selling "Moonlight Serenade." The record showcases 14 classic songs performed by Carly Simon, the voice of a generation. Tracks included were originally made famous by Cat Stevens ("Into White"), Judy Garland ("Over the Rainbow"), the Everly Brothers ("All I have to Do Is Dream/Devoted To You"), and James Taylor ("You Can Close Your Eyes" featuring Carly's daughter Sally Taylor and son Ben Taylor). Carly Simon fans will also be pleased to discover three brand new songs on Into White: in stores and online January 2, 2007.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

104 of 106 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lyrical and intimate ballads., January 2, 2007

By 

Just in Miami (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Carly Simon: Into White (Audio CD)

Carly Simon has re-recorded her ex-husband James Taylor's track "You Can Close Your Eyes" with their son Ben for a release dedicated to her other famous ex, Cat Stevens.
The singer calls her new album of standards and lullabies "Into White" -a nod to former flame Stevens' song of the same name.
Carly also covers Judy Garland's "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" and the Beatles' "Blackbird" on the album, as well as recording two new tunes, "Love Of My Life" and " Quiet Evenin'".
Although it sounds at the first listening almost like an album of standards for children, Carly Simon's new offering is designed to be at least as inviting for adult listeners.
The themes are also familiar and intimate: love and heartbreak.

Featuring musical direction from Simon's son Ben Taylor, who co-wrote the tune "I'll Just Remember You" and sings harmony vocals with his sister Sally Taylor (their dad James Taylor is represented by a warm version of his lullaby "You Can Close Your Eyes"), "INTO WHITE" touches on folk, jazz, and country alongside Simon's standard soft rock.

There's even a bossa nova tune, Antonio Carlos Jobim's classic "Manha de Carnaval." Along with these, the Cat Stevens-penned title track, Paul McCartney's "Blackbird," and other pop hits are transformed into quiet, delicate re-arrangements that focus on Simon's fine vocals.
After the too commercial, hype and overpraised "Moonlight Serenade", finally Carly seems to have found again that beautiful, understated style which is her signature.

All in few words, the total package - singer, songwriter, musician - remains a great and unique pleasure.

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Moment to Arise, January 9, 2007

By 

Lee Armstrong (Winterville, NC United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Carly Simon: Into White (Audio CD)

Carly Simon's "Into White" is a soft sweet set that comes across as tender & dear. The photography in the CD is exquisite and reflects the joy of music that Simon must have had recording these gems. My favorites include her rendition of Lennon & McCartney's "Blackbird." The strings are lovely and the vocal arrangement with Carly and son Ben Taylor is gorgeous, "Take these broken wings and fly; you were only waiting for this moment to arise." "Manha de Carnaval" with its "la la" lyrics comes as a gentle embrace. Carly's take on Simon & Garfunkel's classic song "Scarborough Fair" is so lovely and fragile that it takes this exquisite melody and produces a haunting quality with Teese Gohl's gorgeous flute. "Love of My Life" is also a very tender tune about the bliss of love. If there were any constructive criticism to make, perhaps a couple real toe tappers might help vary the mood. Nevertheless, this is an excellent set from one of our country's classic singers. Enjoy.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Dream World in "Into White", January 8, 2007

By 

Douglas Clegg (On the New England coast) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Carly Simon: Into White (Audio CD)

Into White is one of the most innovative yet spare albums of covers yet -- from Cat Stevens' "Into White," to the Beatles "Blackbird," and several others. This is the territory of dreaming -- and Carly Simon's voice has rarely been so front-and-center than in this recording.

The album, Into White has the roots of the troubador era of singing, and the inclusion of Scarborough Fair and I Gave My Love a Cherry clinches this. Also, Carly records Manha de Carnival (the theme from the movie Black Orpheus) -- musically beautiful, but also referencing Orpheus and the guitar itself, reflects back on what this album is about: the voice, the strings, the intimate conversation and -- frankly -- myth (Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Blackbird, Into White, Scarborough Fair all have the imagery of myth and magic.)

For a "Quiet Evening," this is the record to get -- soft and low, with the imagery of dreams, and the voices of angels.