Film Noir

Given its title and tone, this record is apparently an attempt to reflect the mood and feel of classic film noir through a musical medium, which it succeeds at admirably. It helps that Simon's coproducer for the project was renowned songwriter and arranger Jimmy Webb, whose own music is often awash in the kind of cinematic drama that defines this disc. Webb and Simon duet on "Spring Will Be a Little Late This Year," and they cowrote the title track, the album's only original tune. Of the many standards covered, the best is Cole Porter's "Every Time We Say Goodbye;" less successful on the duet front is "Two Sleepy People," which regrettably teams Simon with John Travolta. --Peter Blackstock