I purchased this cd based soley on the concept. We all have our "letters never sent" our "phone calls never made" our "I love you's never said". So I thought I'd gamble on this cd. A very good gamble it turned out to be. Musically this is one of Carly's finest collections of songs. Track two "Letters Never Sent" has some interesting lyrics that break the ice nicely. Track three "Lost In Your Love" is an uncomplicated moment of reflective rapture recalled by Carly. Her voice soars! Track four "Like A River" is the centerpiece of this cd. The loss of a mother, the harsh realities sprinkled with fond memories. Carly takes both lyrics and melody on a rollercoaster ride, high and low, of the aftermath and myth of death and moving forward. Track six "Touched By The Sun," written for Jacqueline Onassis, is the stuff of legends and myths and dreamers and artists and lovers all of whom have been touched by the sun, sprayed by its warmth and light, caught in its madness and majesty. Carly's tribute to Mrs. Onassis is fitting. Track thirteen "Born To Break My Heart" are some of Carly's best lyrics. The music and the voice are forceful, this one seems driven from some past and painful experience still lingering too close. This one could have been on "No Secrets". It's that good. Same honesty and lyrical imagery. Track fourteen "I'd Rather It Was You" leaves us with Carly calling out for someone, for something not quite realized. A song easy to relate to.

Carly took alot of risk on this concept album,and it paysoff."Letters never Sent," the first song has alittle tasteof all the songs on the record.What a great idea."Touched by the Sun,"about Carly's good friend,Jackie Kennedy Onassis,is so different for Carly.I can't beleive she wrote this song.This should have been a top ten hit."Davy," a duet with Andreas Vollenweider is my favortie from the Album. What a voice Carly has,going in all kinds of directions.I played this song over and over again."Like a River,"about Carly's Mom, is so different. A happy song about death.I lost my Mom also when this CD came out,and it helped alot.To know my Mom's soul was in heaven,dancing,eating,without anymore pain.Carly's son,Ben,blew my mind when I heard "Time works on all the Wild Young Men." When record companys heard this ,they were rushing to be the first to sign him. I can't wait for his first record to come out. Carly's new album,A record that has a new name every week,This week its called,"The Bedroom Tapes; it must be another concept album. I already ordered the CD from Amazon.com.It will be like Christmas when I put this new record in my Stero when it arives.

This album is Carly Simons masterpiece. It should not be missed by anyone who already loves her music, and it would be a great introduction for the uninitiated. It is at times funky, sweet, sad and lusty and her voice has never sounded better.

This CD is one of the most cohesive CDs Carly has done for quite some time. Like a River flows with sound and lyric, the addition of music from her opera is very fitting. This CD stands out from her other resent releases. Coming Around Again, may have had the hits on it, but overall wasn't consistent. I recommend this CD highly.

LETTERS NEVER SENT is one of Ms. Simon's most personal albums. She tackles issues of lost love, infidelity, even death. Son Ben Taylor even shows up on one of the short "interludes" called "Time Works on All the Wild Young Men". Carly sings her heart out and her co-production with Frank Fillipetti provides great support for each song. Her "signature" of "Love comma Carly", while coy, is a nice finish. While all of the songs don't work for me, there are some good tracks: the frantic LETTERS NEVER SENT; the mood switches of LIKE A RIVER; the poignant TOUCHED BY THE SUN; the global infection of HALFWAY ROUND THE WORLD; the seductive urgency of THE REASON and the pathos of BORN TO BREAK MY HEART.

Carly has had a long, sometimes uneven career, but has been a potent creative career as one of pop's foremost composers. LETTERS is a commendable, if imperfect, inclusion of Simon's prolific catalogue.