Carly Simon Sings Modern Classics - From Cat Stevens to Antonio Carlos Jobim - On New Album, 'Into White'

Columbia Records announces the release of Into White, a new collection of beloved pop standards and touching traditional lullabies performed by the Academy Award, Golden Globe and Grammy winning singer and composer Carly Simon.

The quintessential performer follows up Moonlight Serenade, her 2005 best-selling collection of pop music standards, with Into White, a soothing return to her primary musical roots, a pure and evocative showcase of best-loved songs, old and new, performed in the trademark dusky vocal style that's unmistakably Carly.

Taking its title from a wistful Cat Stevens song from the legendary 70's singer/songwriter's Tea For The Tillerman album, Into White conjures a series of dreamy gentle moods in a collection of unforgettable tunes drawn from a variety of sources including Cat Stevens ("Into White"), Judy Garland ("Over The Rainbow"), the Everly Brothers ("All I Have To Do Is Dream"/"Devoted To You"), The Beatles ("Blackbird"), Harry Belafonte ("Jamaica Farewell"), James Taylor ("You Can Close Your Eyes"), Stephen Foster, the 19th century father of American song ("Oh! Susanna"), and Gaelic traditional folk airs ("Hush Little Baby"/"My Bonnie," "I Gave My Love a Cherry [The Riddle Song]," "Scarborough Fair").

Carly rounds out the album with a pair of new self-penned compositions: "Love of My Life," and "Quiet Evening."

Produced by Carly Simon & Jimmy Parr (who worked on Carly's seasonal collection, Christmas Is Almost Here), the songs on Into White are performed by a small intimate ensemble including Teese Gohl (who also arranged strings on the album) on keyboards, synths, kalimba and flute; Peter Calo on guitar and dobro; Jan Hyer on cello; David Saw on guitar; and Jimmy Parr on percussion, kalimba and heartbeat.

Sally Taylor and Ben Taylor (each an accomplished songwriter and performer in her/his own right) join their mother on a familial rendition of James Taylor's "You Can Close Your Eyes," from 1971's Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon. Ben Taylor contributes vocals to several other songs on Into White including an enchanting new version of "Devoted To You," the Everly Brothers classic Carly first covered in 1978 with then-husband and frequent singing partner James Taylor on her best-selling Boys In The Trees album.

In addition to her legendary status as one of America's definitive female singer/songwriters -- having penned such classic pop songs as "You're So Vain," "Anticipation," and "Let The River Run" -- Carly has also authored several award-winning children's books beginning with the best-seller "Amy The Dancing Bear" in 1989 and including "The Boy of the Bells" (1990), "The Fisherman's Song" (1990), "Nighttime Chauffeur" (1993), and "Midnight Farm" (1997).

From her sly version of "Itsy Bitsy Spider" in the soundtrack to Nora Ephron's "Heartburn" (1987) to her songs in the Disney Winnie the Pooh films, "Piglet's Big Movie" (2003) and "Pooh's Heffalump Movie" (2005), Carly Simon has shown an uncanny ability to connect with audiences of all ages.

Into White is executive produced by Jay Landers, who first worked with Carly on "Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry"/"In The Wee Small Hours of the Morning," her duet with Frank Sinatra on Ol' Blue Eyes' 1993 Grammy winning Duets album. Landers -- who has supervised records with Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler, Celine Dion and many others -- provided musical supervision for numerous original cast recordings and soundtracks including "Miss Saigon," "Carousel," "A League of Our Own," "Remember the Titans" and others. He has also worked on a number of children's recordings including Disney's Lullaby Album and the Grammy winning "Woody's Roundup" from Disney/Pixar's "Toy Story 2."

Carly Simon - "Into White" - track listing

Oh! Susanna (written by Stephen Foster)

All I Have To Do Is Dream/Devoted To You (written by Felice & Boudleaux Bryant)

Into White (written by Cat Stevens)

Over The Rainbow (written by Harold Arlen & E.Y. Harburg)

Hush Little Baby/My Bonnie (traditional, arranged by Carly Simon)

I Gave My Love a Cherry (The Riddle Song) (traditional, arranged by Carly Simon)

Blackbird (written by John Lennon & Paul McCartney)

You Can Close Your Eyes (written by James Taylor)

Jamaica Farewell/You Are My Sunshine (written by Lord Burgess/written by Jimmie Davis & Charles Mitchell)

Manha de Carnaval (from Black Orpheus) (written by Luiz Bonfa & Antonio Maria)

Scarborough Fair (traditional, arranged by Carly Simon)

Love of My Life (written by Carly Simon)

Quiet Evening (written by Carly Simon & David Saw)