Carly Simon - Moonlight Serenade (2005)

Moonlight Serenade, Carly Simon's fourth collection of standards in 25 years, digs a little deeper than her previous outings. Perhaps it's the plethora of standards outings by popular artists -- Rod Stewart's done three in a row -- perhaps it's because of her pedigree and background; perhaps it's simply because she thinks she can pull it off; and indeed she can. She delivers these 12 songs with panache, savvy, and just a touch of sass. Produced by Richard Perry, these tracks are not so much elegant as enigmatic. Simon appreciates the swing inherent in delivering a standard, even if it's a ballad. Her smoky voice lends itself well to "I've Got You Under My Skin" and "My One and Only Love," and her sense of theatrics is drop-dead gorgeous on "I Only Have Eyes for You," which is a bit of a radical reworking that actually works. The slippery delivery on these songs -- her read of "All the Things You Are," for example, may be considered vulgar by some, but it's utterly lovely and brave -- is what lends them their unique, sexy character. This isn't for everyone, but it's a winner nonetheless.