Classics

Zooey Deschanel and M.Ward are She & Him, and Classics is their new album, a compilation of timeless covers, that have been previously recorded by artists such as Billie Holiday, Johnny Mathis, Dusty Springfield, Louis Armstrong, and Elvis Costello.

The duo first met on the set of the film The Go-Getter, in which Deschanel had a starring role. The director introduced them to each other, and asked them to sing a duet together to be played at the end credits of the film.

In honor of the full-bodied sound of the original classics, She & Him recorded the new album live, including full brass, strings, piano, bass, guitar, drums and flute on their rendition of Springfield's classic melody. Ward's guitar shimmers and flows beside Deschanel's whole-hearted and warm vibrato, weaving a hearty live version that allows for the spontaneity that captured the spirit of the songs in their truest form.

The band's first two albums, Volume One and Volume Two, were included on NPR's Listeners' Pick Best Music list. Volume Two was also #1 on the US Rock, Folk, and Independent Charts for several weeks. From there, the band's A Very She & Him Christmas was included on Rolling Stone's 25 Greatest Christmas Albums of All-Time. Volume 3 was released in 2013, and Pitchfork applauded Deschanel's "certain kind of charisma that allows a song to hang loosely but never fall apart," continuing, "Ward gives them enough room to sway leisurely, as though a warm breeze is rustling through."

Press for Classics is nothing but positive: "Breezy but sturdy, impeccably styled" - The New York Times, "As M. Ward's unflustered, vintage-sounding guitars gift memories of Chet Atkins and Les Paul, there's a welcome, brandies-by-the fireside serenity afoot." MOJO, "Pretty love songs set in a 'nation where summer never ends." - Rolling Stone.


TRACK LISTING
1. Stars Fell on Alabama (1934 composed by Frank Perkins / lyrics by Mitchell Parish)
Recorded by: Guy Lombardo, Billie Holiday, Ella FitzGerald and Louis Armstrong

2. Oh No, Not My Baby (1964 written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King)
Recorded by: Maxine Brown, Dusty Springfield, Aretha Franklin, Carole King

3. It's Not for Me to Say (1957 music by Robert Allen / lyrics by Al Stillman)
Recorded by: Johnny Mathis

4. Stay Awhile (1959 written by Mike Hawker)
Recorded by: Dusty Springfield

5. This Girl's In Love With You (1959 written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David)
Recorded by: Herb Alpert

6. Time After Time (1947 written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne)
Recorded by: Frank Sinatra, Chet Baker and Shirley Bassey

7. She (1974 written by Charles Aznavour)
Recorded by: Charles Aznavour, Elvis Costello

8. Teach Me Tonight (1953 music by Gene De Paul / lyrics by Sammy Cahn)
Recorded by: Frank Sinatra, The DeCastro Sisters

9. It's Always You (1940 music by Jimmy Van Heusen / lyrics by Johnny Burke)
Recorded by: Bing Crosby, Benny Goodman, Chet Baker

10. Unchained Melody (1955 music by Alex North / lyrics by Hy Zaret)
Recorded by: The Righteous Brothers, Elvis Presley, Lee Ann Rimes

11. I'll Never Be Free (1950 written by Bennie Benjamin and George David Weiss)
Recorded by: Van Morrison, Willie Nelson, Jean Shepard

12. Would You Like to Take a Walk (1930 music by Harry Warren / lyrics by Mort Dixon and Billy Rose)
Recorded by: Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong

13. We'll Meet Again (1939 written by Ross Parker and Hugh Charles)
Recorded by: Vera Lynn, The Byrds