Film Noir (album)
1997 studio album by Carly Simon
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Film Noir is the 17th studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Arista Records, on September 16, 1997.
- Right Track Studios, The Warehouse, Clinton Studios and National Edison Studios (New York City, New York)
- Snowbound Sound (Pawling, New York)
- Capitol Studios (Hollywood, California)
| Film Noir | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 16, 1997 | |||
| Recorded | 1996–7 New York City | |||
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| Genre | Standards | |||
| Length | 42:26 | |||
| Label | Arista | |||
| Producers | ||||
| Carly Simon chronology | ||||
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It is Simon's third album devoted to standards,[1] following Torch (1981) and My Romance (1990). Jimmy Webb co-produced the album and contributed his vocals, orchestration and piano skills to the project which was filmed for an AMC documentary entitled Songs in Shadow: The Making of Carly Simon's Film Noir (which premiered in September 1997). He also co-wrote the title song "Film Noir" with Simon. John Travolta duets with Simon on the song "Two Sleepy People". Film director Martin Scorsese provided liner notes in the fold out booklet.[2] The album was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance in 1998.[3]
Promotion and reception
Songs in Shadow: The Making of Carly Simon's Film Noir aired as a special presentation on AMC. This documentary also features footage of Jimmy Webb, Arif Mardin and Van Dyke Parks in the studio recording the album with Simon.[6] Simon made and released a music video for "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye".[7] She also performed the song on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno[8] and The Late Show with David Letterman.[9] In addition to appearances on The View and CBS This Morning, she performed "Spring Will Be a Little Late This Year" with Jimmy Webb on The Rosie O'Donnell Show.[10]
AllMusic rated the album 3 out of 5 stars and wrote "Using smoky saloon songs like "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" as a blueprint, Simon and producer Jimmy Webb create a seductive, intimate atmosphere."[4]
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Grammy Awards | Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance | Film Noir | Carly Simon | Nominated | [3] |
| Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals | "Laura" | Arif Mardin | Nominated | [11] |
Track listing
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[12]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "You Won't Forget Me" |
| 2:52 |
| 2. | "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" | Cole Porter | 4:33 |
| 3. | "Lili Marlene" |
| 3:41 |
| 4. | "Last Night When We Were Young" | 4:42 | |
| 5. | "Spring Will Be a Little Late This Year" | Frank Loesser | 3:34 |
| 6. | "Film Noir" | 3:35 | |
| 7. | "Laura" | 4:44 | |
| 8. | "I'm a Fool to Want You" |
| 3:32 |
| 9. | "Fools Coda" | Torrie Zito | 1:13 |
| 10. | "Two Sleepy People" | 3:37 | |
| 11. | "Don't Smoke in Bed" | Willard Robison | 2:54 |
| 12. | "Somewhere in the Night" |
| 3:29 |
| Total length: | 42:26 | ||
Personnel
Musicians
- Carly Simon – vocals
- Teese Gohl – keyboards (1, 2, 4, 6–8, 11, 12)
- Michael Kosarin – acoustic piano (1, 10, 11)
- Jimmy Webb – acoustic piano (2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 12), organ solo (2)
- Dominic Cortese – accordion (3)
- Russ Kassoff – acoustic piano (4, 7, 12)
- Peter Calo – guitars (1, 2, 4, 7, 11, 12), acoustic guitar (6)
- Jeff Pevar – mandolin (3), guitars (5), electric guitar (6)
- David Finck – acoustic bass (1, 2, 4, 7, 11, 12)
- Zev Katz – electric bass (6)
- Billy Ward – drums (1, 2, 4, 7)
- Shawn Pelton – drums (6)
- Richard Locker – cello solo (6)
- Elena Barere – concertmaster (1, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12)
- Barry Finclair – concertmaster (2, 7)
Background and Guest vocalists
- Carly Simon – backing vocals (2–4, 6)
- Ben Taylor – backing vocals (2, 4, 6)
- Jill Dell'Abate – backing vocals (3)
- Mindy Jostyn – backing vocals (3)
- Jimmy Webb – vocals (5)
- John Travolta – vocals (10)
- Al Dana – backing vocals (10)
- Kevin DiSimone – backing vocals (10)
- Kevin Osborne – backing vocals (10)
- Lenny Roberts – backing vocals (10)
- Darryl Tookes – backing vocals (10)
Music arrangements
- Van Dyke Parks – arrangements and conductor (1, 2, 11)
- Torrie Zito – arrangements and conductor (4, 9), arrangements (8)
- Jimmy Webb – arrangements and conductor (6, 12), conductor (8)
- Arif Mardin – arrangements and conductor (7)
- Michael Kosarin – piano arrangements (10)
- Dick Berkhe – BGV arrangements (10)
Production
- Carly Simon – producer (1–6, 8–12)
- Jimmy Webb – producer (1–6, 8–12)
- Arif Mardin – producer (7)
- Frank Filipetti – engineer, mixing
- Billy Eric – additional engineer
- Brian Faehndrich – additional engineer
- Roy Hendrickson – additional engineer
- Michael O'Reilly – additional engineer
- Al Schmitt – additional engineer
- Craig Boyce – assistant engineer, mix assistant
- Peter Doell – assistant engineer
- Joe Lizzi – assistant engineer
- Jim Murray – assistant engineer
- Yvonne Yedibalian – assistant engineer
- Ted Jensen – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York, NY)
- Jill Dell'Abate – production manager, music contractor
- Nancy Roof – additional production coordinator
- Clarissa Walker – personal assistant
- Mark Burdett – art direction
- Rita Karidis – design
- Marlo Viscel – design
- Greg Gorman – photography
- Martin Scorsese – liner notes
- Bill Zimmerman – research
- Evan Morris, Donald Oliver and Chelsea Music Service – music preparation
- Howard Siegel – legal representation for Carly Simon
- Robin Siegel – management for Jimmy Webb
Charts
| Chart (1997) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[13] | 84 |