Into White (album)
Into White is the 21st studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released on January 2, 2007, by Columbia Records. It is her fifth album of standards.[1]
Into White | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | January 2, 2007 | |||
Recorded | Summer 2006 | |||
Genre | Standards | |||
Length | 41:36 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Producer | Jimmy Parr | |||
Carly Simon chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | link |
Entertainment Weekly | B link |
PopMatters | link |
The album was produced by the Martha's Vineyard producer Jimmy Parr, with whom Simon has worked extensively as his studio is close to her Tisbury farm. Simon's children, Sally Taylor and Ben Taylor, appear on the album. The three perform a choral trio on the track "You Can Close Your Eyes".
Following the successes of Reflections: Carly Simon's Greatest Hits (2004) and Moonlight Serenade (2005), Into White continued Simon's recently rejuvenated high chart profile and became Billboard's Hot Shot Debut, entering the chart at No. 15 and peaking at No. 13 in its second week, and staying on the charts for 10 weeks.[2] The album also hit No. 1 on the Top Internet Albums chart.
Reception
The album received a very warm and positive reception from critics. PopMatters rated 8 out of 10, and called the album "the first musical gift to grace 2007", and praised the track "You Can Close Your Eyes" saying "There’s a shimmering beauty that’s particular to how familial voices intertwine and the union of these three voices is singularly beautiful", and concluded "Ultimately, Into White serves the legacy of Carly Simon very well".
People Magazine awarded the album 3 out of 4 stars, calling it "a tranquil collection of covers that play like lullabies for grown-ups" and praised the track "You Can Close Your Eyes" calling it "The best moment on the album".[3]
Entertainment Weekly rated the album B, and called it a "richly personal disc". AllMusic rated the album 3 out of 5 stars, and concluded the review with "In sum, Into White may be the best record Simon's made since The Bedroom Tapes".
The New York Times stated "Entering the world of Carly Simon’s new album is like tiptoeing into an enchanted garden. The fanciful Cat Stevens song that opens the record establishes a mood of deep, dreamy calm that is sustained over 14 songs".[4]
Amazon.com stated "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".[5]
In her 2008 book Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon-And the Journey of a Generation, author Sheila Weller describes this version of "You Can Close Your Eyes" as "slow, spectral" and "achingly beautiful."[6]
Track listing
- "Into White" (Cat Stevens) – 2:49
- "Oh! Susanna" (Stephen Foster) – 2:58
- "Blackbird" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 2:30
- "You Can Close Your Eyes" (with Sally and Ben Taylor) (James Taylor) – 3:21
- "Quiet Evening" – 4:22
- "Manhã de Carnaval" – 2:22
- "Jamaica Farewell" (Irving Burgie) – 3:29
- "You Are My Sunshine" (Jimmie Davis, Charles Mitchell) – 2:36
- "I Gave My Love a Cherry (The Riddle Song)" – 2:51
- "Devoted to You/All I Have to Do Is Dream" (Boudleaux Bryant, Felice Bryant) – 2:58
- "Scarborough Fair" (Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel) – 3:38
- "Over the Rainbow" (Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg) – 2:24
- "Love of My Life" – 2:54
- "I'll Just Remember You" – 2:24
Alternate versions
- A special copy of the album was released by Barnes & Noble with a bonus track, "Hush Little Baby/My Bonnie".[7]
Personnel
- Peter Calo – Dobro, Guitar, Guitar (8 String)
- Jill Dell'Abate – Production Coordination
- Teese Gohl – Arranger, Bass, Bodhran, Cello, Flute, Kalimba, Keyboards, Percussion, Piano, Piano (Electric), Piano (Hammered), Pizzicato, Synthesizer Cello, Synthesizer Strings
- Michelle Holme – Art Direction
- Jay Krugman – Marketing Consultant
- Jay Landers – Executive Producer
- Bob Ludwig – Mastering
- Jimmy Parr Bass, engineer, Kalimba, Mixing, Percussion, producer, Vocals (Background), Wood Block
- David Saw – Guitar
- Denise Searle – Personal Assistant
- Carly Simon – Arranger, Guitar (Acoustic), Primary Artist, producer, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
- Ben Taylor – Primary Artist
- Sally Taylor – Photography, Primary Artist
- Frank Wolf – Mixing
Charts
Album – Billboard (North America)
Year | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|
2007 | The Billboard 200 | 13 |
2007 | Top Internet Albums | 1 |
References
- "Into White press release". PR Newswire. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
- "Carly Simon – Chart history | Billboard". Billboard.com. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
- Arnold, Chuck (January 15, 2007). "Album Review". People Magazine. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
- Holden, Stephen (January 1, 2007). "Album Review". The New York Times. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
- "Amazon.com – Into White". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on October 23, 2007. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
- Weller, S. (2008). Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon—And the Journey of a Generation. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9781416564775.
- "Into White [Barnes & Noble Exclusive]". Barnes&Noble.com. Retrieved August 10, 2014.