Torch

by Carly Simon

Product Description:

Personnel: Carly Simon (vocals); Jay Berliner, Hugh McCracken (guitar); David Nadien (violin); Phil Woods (alto saxophone); Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone); Randy Brecker (trumpet); Mike Mainieri (piano, vibes, marimbas); Warren Bernhardt (piano, synthesizer); Anthony Jackson, Eddie Gomez (bass); Rick Marotta, Grady Tate, Jerry Marotta (drums).

Recorded at Power Station, New York.

TORCH features Simon's versions of jazz and blues songs from the 30's and 40's, along with one original song ("From The Heart").

Possibly stinging from criticism of her new wave-ish COME UPSTAIRS, Carly Simon followed that album with 1981's TORCH, a surprising and lovely collection of torch songs, old jazz standards, and Broadway melodies. Simon wrote only one of the album's 11 songs, "From the Heart," and did a wise job of choosing the others.

Most collections of this ilk stick to the tried and true, and while there are a few somewhat obvious selections, such as "I Get Along Without You Very Well" and "Body and Soul," for example, Simon wisely focuses on lesser-known wonders like Alec Wilder's "I'll Be Around" and Stephen Sondheim's "Not a Day Goes By." The arrangements use a small jazz combo and tasteful orchestrations to support the songs without smothering them. Never merely retro or sentimental, TORCH is a jazzy adult-pop delight.