Moonlight Serenade

Carly Simon | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 19, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0009UKYFW
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,456 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Carly Simon could spin vintage Black Sabbath into the musical equivalent of buttery, well warmed comfort food. Not surprisingly, much like her earlier trio of classics from the Great American Songbook (1981's Torch, 1990's My Romance, and 1997's Film Noir), Carly positively nails the 11 standards collected on Moonlight Serenade. If there appears to be a little more magic on Moonlight that is missing from the others, you can credit her collaborator Richard Perry. As arranger and producer, Perry bends these songs in a direction that calls to mind the Simon/Perry classics from the early 1970s, No Secrets and Hotcakes included. Confident interpretations and respectable playing aside, what you hear on Moonlight Serenade is naturalness and joy, a spirit that bespeaks Simon at her peak. That spirit's power to transform ballads and soft rock songs into instant classics grabbed the 70's generation by the collar. With Moonlight Serenade, we thankfully see that spirit sweeps across a ballroom with the same fullness and fire. --Tammy La Gorce

Recommended Carly Simon Discography

No Secret

Hotcakes

Reflections: Carly Simon’s Greatest Hits

Product Description

Carly Simon's brand new album of romantic songs features 11 new tracks in collaboration with her old friend and hit producer Richard Perry. All of the songs are upbeat in a "fox-trot" kind of style, and Carly's heartfelt vocals are simply divine. There is no doubt that the Simon/Perry magic that worked so well in the 1970's is very much alive and well in 2005. The CD side of the DualDisc edition features the full new album Moonlight Serenade. In addition, The DVD side features:

- The entire album in Enhanced Stereo
- Exclusive new footage of Carly at-home
- A "making of the album" documentary including in-the-studio footage, photos, and interviews with Carly Simon and Richard Perry.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Heavenly Songs, August 2, 2005

By 

Lee Armstrong (Winterville, NC United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Moonlight Serenade (Audio CD)

This audio CD version of Carly Simon's "Moonlight Serenade" has grown on me. With several stellar jazz CD's out like Rita Coolidge's "And So Is Love," Linda Ronstadt's "Hummin' to Myself," & Paul Anka's "Rock Swings," I prefer jazz arrangements with bite rather than an orchestral wash of strings. I pulled out Simon's first disc of "standards" from 1981, "Torch," and gave that another listen. On that disc Marty Paich & other arrangers gave her a lush string background on many tracks similar to Richard Perry's production on this disc. My favorite of her 4 standards discs is the Jimmy Webb-produced "Film Noir," but "Moonlight Serenade" is certainly growing on me with repeated listenings.

Of my 2 favorite tracks, "I Only Have Eyes for You" has a lush string setting with Chris Golden's bass giving that familiar thump with Carly's voice warmly reading the romantic lyric. Chris Montez's recording of "The More I See You" was the first that registered with me. Carly's alto embraces this joyful melody with Larry Lunetta's trumpet featured on the instrumental chorus, "With every sigh I become more mad about you, more lost without you, and so it goes." "Moonglow" has been recorded by big bands like Benny Goodman & Duke Ellington, female vocalists like Joni James, Sarah Vaughn & Billie Holiday, rock acts like the Coasters & Ruby & the Romantics, and recently by Rod Stewart. Carly croons & sighs giving the lovely romantic lyric a warm & sultry feel, "We seem to float right through the air, Heavenly songs seem to come from everywhere." "Alone Together" likewise is an often-recorded gem by artists as diverse as Chet Baker, Ray Charles, Miles Davis, Judy Garland & Peggy Lee. Richard Perry's arrangement gives the song a Brazilian feel with shimmering percussion adding a deep luster. Other tracks like "In the Still of the Night" & "How Long Has This Been Going On" are also given excellent readings. "Moonlight Serenade" may at times be so plush that it falls into Julie London territory, but Simon's excellent song selection and sultry delivery makes this an excellent addition to her canon. (I prefer the audio CD to the DVD/CD dualdisc because my computer can't detect the dualdiscs.) Enjoy!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WHEN WILL AMAZON MAKE 10 STARS? THIS ALBUM DESERVES MORE THAN 10!!, July 20, 2005

By 

W. Budris (Rosedale, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Moonlight Serenade (Audio CD)

I stumbled upon Carly's new album today during my lunch break forgetting it was out yesterday. I decided to sample to see what new take she's done on these classic standards. My mouth dropped open! What a gorgeous album, and this was just from the 30 second samples! It is also my first DualDisc, so I am excited about the DVD side, but have to wait until I get home to see what it is all about.

This is an album that I am sure every ballroom dance couple, studio, etc, will be getting and wearing out! It makes you want to grab your partner and float on air. I don't think Carly has ever sounded better. Her version of "I Only Have Eyes For You" has now become my favorite, as it has been the Art Garfunkel cover for years that was my previous. Her beautiful alto fits so well with these classic standards, and the arrangements are top notch all the way. Definitely Grammy material for Best Tradition Pop Vocal.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not So Vain Anymore, September 27, 2005

By 

Gussie Fink-Nottle (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Moonlight Serenade (Audio CD)

Among all of the reviews I have done on Amazon.com, most of them have to do with books. There were a few choral CDs thrown in here and there. Now, I am adding this Carly Simon recording to my short music CD review list.

This is an exceptionally fine recording of the "standards." The supposed voice of the passionate You-Are-So-Vain Carly was another person of a distant past. The older and sophisticated Carly now sings with a sensual smokey voice not unlike that of Julie London, Dusty Springfield, or Diana Krall.

The jazzy orchestral arrangements coupled with Simon's phrasing of the songs once again certified the endearing artistry of Parish & Miller, Dubin & Warren, Rodgers & Hart, and etc.