Is A Time in My Life a good place to start with Sarah Vaughan?

Yes, A Time in My Life is recommended as a starting point for new Sarah Vaughan listeners. A lush blend of jazz and soul, featuring Vaughan's powerful vocals against rich instrumental backdrops. By the time 'A Time in My Life' was released in 1972, Sarah Vaughan was already an established figure in jazz, having gained fame since the late 1940s. This album came three years after her acclaimed record 'Sarah Vaughan with Michel Legrand', showcasing Vaughan's continued evolution as an artist while exploring new themes and sounds.

Who is A Time in My Life for?

A Time in My Life works well if you're into steady mid-tempo reflections, soulful moments of introspection and emotional depth in every track.

How many songs are on A Time in My Life?

A Time in My Life has 10 tracks, running approximately 36 minutes.

A Time in My Life

Sarah Vaughan · 1972

36 min · 10 tracks · jazz

A lush blend of jazz and soul, featuring Vaughan's powerful vocals against rich instrumental backdrops.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Imagine Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
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Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) — This track stands out as a poignant reinterpretation that addresses urban struggles and social issues, showcasing Vaughan's ability to convey deep emotion through her voice.
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That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be — The song captures a reflective tone about societal expectations, with Vaughan's delivery emphasizing vulnerability and introspection.
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Sweet Gingerbread Man — An upbeat and whimsical track that highlights Vaughan's playful vocal style, making it a lively contrast to the more serious themes present on the album.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

59 /100

Treeline

Higher than 57% of albums we've rated

The album showcases Vaughan's vocal strength within rich arrangements, balancing thematic depth with musical variety.

What we noticed

The album opens with a cover of 'Imagine', featuring lush orchestration that sets a reflective tone.
Vaughan's vocal delivery varies from powerful to nuanced, often accompanied by rich instrumental arrangements that include strings and brass.
Several tracks incorporate social themes, particularly evident in the arrangement and lyrical content of 'Inner City Blues'.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady mid-tempo reflections
soulful moments of introspection
emotional depth in every track
for cozy evenings

Maybe skip if you

prefer fast-paced excitement
seek short, standalone tracks

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Experimental — It reflects a fusion of genres and social consciousness, differing from earlier works.
Career context: By the time 'A Time in My Life' was released in 1972, Sarah Vaughan was already an established figure in jazz, having gained fame since the late 1940s. This album came three years after her acclaimed record 'Sarah Vaughan with Michel Legrand', showcasing Vaughan's continued evolution as an artist while exploring new themes and sounds.
Stylistic neighbors: Ella Fitzgerald· Billie Holiday· Nancy Wilson