On the Record: Various Artists

Artist : Various Artists
Album: Classy: Today's Biggest Artists Performing Timeless Songs (Sony Music)

How many versions of Dream a Little Dream of Me have you heard? Two or three? Well, here's another one -- a duet by country singer K.D. Lang and jazz veteran Tony Bennet.

On this album, Sony Music covers 20 "timeless" songs by 20 of "today's biggest artists".

Classy features Natalie Cole singing What a Difference a Day Made, Cindy Lauper's interpretation of At Last and Laura Fygi singing the Bangles' Eternal Flame.

The album also presents new artists like Jane Monheit crooning Honeysuckle Rose and Jamie Cullum singing Gershwin's It Ain't Necessarily So.

The best title on this album is Bryan Ferry's More Than This arranged by guitarist Charlie Hunter featuring Norah Jones with her thick and sensual trademark voice.

Bryan Ferry himself appears singing As Time Goes By, while Norah Jones' hit Don't Know Why is performed by Ken Hirai.

Besides featuring singers who often perform covers, Sony also invited George Michael to sing Nina Simone's My Baby Just Cares for Me and Simply Red to sing Cole Porter's Love for Sale.

Not stellar, but certainly feel-good. -- Evi Mariani