A Christmas CD that only Carly can do

Carly Simon has always been ahead of everyone else. Before
Linda Ronstadt and Rod Stewart began doing the standards
Carly Simon put out "Torch" in 1981 (one of her best CD's).
This Christmas CD by Carly Simon is really a Carly Simon
album. There are some standards on it but the songs on it
she composed are Carly Simon songs. The CD is not overproduced
like most Christmas CD's. It is very laid back and peaceful.
Carly's voice sound amazing smokey. She has really put out
a very unique CD-but then again if you are a Carly Simon
fan you know what I am talking about.

Carly's Dreaming of a Dull Christmas....

Carly Simon has made some incredibly brilliant albums over the years - 1971's "Anticipation", 1972's "No Secrets", 1981's "Torch" and 1990's "My Romance". She has also single-handedly written the words and music for some pop-music masterpieces - "Legend in your Own Time", "Anticipation", "You're So Vain", and "Touched by the Sun". With that amazing voice, there's no doubt that she's a very talented lady. In the liner notes for this album, "Christmas is Almost Here", Carly says that during its recording, "Spontaneity was the name of the game", and admits "Some things may sound a little too gritty". Much of the material was recorded in a slap-up studio in a hotel room, although top musicians were used. There can be no argument that Carly can carry things off with perfection with a raw live band, as a viewing of the concert videos "Live at Grand Central Station" and "Live at Martha's Vineyard" prove. But somehow the forays on "Christmas is Almost Here" just don't come together. Maybe it's because we're used to hearing Carly's material polished and pristinely presented by such producers as Richard Perry, Ted Templeton and Arif Marden. Most of the tracks on "Christmas is Almost Here" sound clumsy, lack-lustre , and self-indulgent, and on some of the vocals Carly sounds as if she should have done a few more takes. I have been a big fan of Carly for twenty-seven years, and I must say with this effort she has reached a (hopefully) all-time low. I have all her albums, and this one's the pits, (along with the Piglet Movie soundtrack, her other most recent offering). So Carly, Christmas is almost here.....well, if this is the tone of Christmas this year, we might as well skip it. The most worthwhile message in this Christmas package is "Happy Christmas, (War is Over)". Maybe our world leaders - (U.S.A., Britain, Australia and elsewhere) should give this song a listen and really consider its sentiments.

Pure Carly...

Loved this original Christmas Album and especially the close family harmony with son Ben Taylor on "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen." Also a nice duet with Willy Nelson on "Pretty Paper."