Sheena Easton - No Strings (1993)

In 1993, Sheena Easton took a detour from the R&B, Prince-flavored dance music that kept her near the top of the charts through the mid- to late 1980s and early 1990s and recorded a superb standards album. Easton's voice has never sounded so clear, and this stellar set truly allows the singer to shine, as she subtly wraps her pipes around these timeless tunes, effortlessly transforming each into her own. From the opening, oft-covered classic "Someone to Watch Over Me" to the finger-snappin' closer "Never Will I Marry," this timeless, sexy, romantic disc, which features stellar arrangements courtesy of Patrice Rushen, is 100 percent class, with each track superbly produced and performed. Highlights include "The Nearness of You," which was featured in the film Indecent Proposal, and "If You Go Away," which Easton delivers with such understated heartache that one would believe the song were specifically written for her. Everything about this album, from the song selection to the glamour shots, and especially the way Easton's voice takes to the standards, signifies that this genre is perfectly suited for the songstress. One could only wish that she would wisely choose to retread this musical path in the near future, because she shines just as brightly as yesterday's singers who originally made these songs famous so long ago.