Oscar-Nominated Actress Amy Irving Will Release First Album (Exclusive)
Oscar-nominated actress Amy Irving is ready to release her first album.
The artist tells The Hollywood Reporter That Born in a trunk, featuring 10 covers from her life and career, will be released digitally on April 7. “Why Don’t You Do Right?” – the first single in which Irving sang as Jessica Rabbit Who framed Roger Rabbit — will be available on digital platforms on March 3.
Irving, 69, made her film debut in Brian De Palma’s carry in 1976 and two years later was in supernatural thriller The anger. Her role in Yentl earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress and she scored Golden Globes nominations for Best Actress Cross Delancey And Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna. She also has a number of stage credits and earned an Obie Award for her off-Broadway performance in a production of The road to Mecca.
Born in a trunk also includes Irving covers such as Pino Donaggio’s “I Never Dreamed” (from carry) and Death Cab for Cutie’s “I’ll Follow You Into the Dark”, dedicated to her husband Ken Bowser. Jules David Bartkowski aka Goolis arranged the album and sings covers of Jimmy Webb’s “Children’s Song” (from Voice creams) and Tom Jobim’s ‘How Insensitive’, with Roy Nathanson on saxophone.
“Singing makes me happy. I thought of myself as an actor who could carry a tune, not a singer,” says Irving. “My youngest son, music manager Gabriel Barreto, introduced me to a great band he represents: Goolis. He convinced me to make an album with them. It was so exciting to step into another world.”
She adds that she chose the 10 songs “from my life’s work, contacts, marriages and family.”
“We made the album and then COVID hit,” she continues. “I worked with Celeste Simone for two years, a great vocal coach, who taught me how to get on stage and sing the songs for the launch. My husband Ken Bowser helped me write intros for the songs. This is my story. It’s been quite a ride. And thanks to Gabe and Jules and Ken (and our 2 dogs) the ride continues.”
by Amy Irving Born in a trunk cover design
Courtesy image
Willie Nelson heard Irving’s version of his song “I’m Waiting Forever,” reworked as a galloping calypso, and asked to sing harmonies on the song for the new album. The song, which Nelson recorded for his 1996 album Spiritwas written for Irving and refers to their relationship during the 1980s production Honeysuckle rose.
“It’s a real pleasure to sing with my good friend Amy Irving. She has a great bond behind her and I look forward to doing more with her,” said Nelson THR in a statement.
The Born in a trunk the cover features Irving’s mother, actress Priscilla Pointer, smearing makeup on a 2-and-a-half-year-old Irving. The artist’s father, Jules Irving, was a director and actor.
Irving recorded the album live in the studio with Goolies and eight other band members. A full track list follows:
- “Why Don’t You Do It Right” [reference Who Framed Roger Rabbit] — Joe McCoy cover
- “Children’s Song” (feat. Goolis) [reference Voices] — Jimmy Webb cover
- “People Only” [reference The Competition] — Lalo Schifrin cover
- “I’m Waiting Forever” (feat. Willie Nelson) – [reference Honeysuckle Rose] —Willie Nelson Cover
- “How Insensitive” (feat. Goolis) [reference Bossa Nova] — Antonio Carlos Jobim Cover
- “Queen of the Castle” [reference Rumpelstiltskin] – Max Roberts cover
- “Old Boyfriends” [reference Arthur Miller’s Broken Glass] — Tom Waits Cover
- “I’ll Follow You In The Dark” – Death Cab for Cutie Cover
- “I never dreamed of someone like you” [reference Carrie] — Cover by Pino Donaggio/Katie Irving
- “Errol Flynn” – Amanda McBroom cover
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