Cybill Shepherd - At Home With Cybill (2004)

Every once in a while, the actress Cybill Shepherd records a vocal album. She has a nice voice and a straightforward delivery, and expresses warmth and an understanding of the lyrics that she interprets. Not much of an improviser, Shepherd nevertheless swings lightly and does a good job on these 14 songs. Accompanied by pianist Tom Adams, Shepherd is at her best on the veteran standards. There is a bit of a slump on the five more contemporary pieces (cuts eight through 12), which are pop-oriented, a bit too straight, and of lesser interest. More rewarding are her versions of "My Romance," "You Took Advantage of Me," "Begin the Beguine," and "All of Me." This set also included a CD-ROM of publicity material plus versions of "Menopause Blues" and a second take of "Graceland Revisited." ~by Scott Yanow