About the Blues
Julie London · 1957
42 min · 15 tracks · jazz
A sultry collection of blues-infused jazz, showcasing London’s smoky vocals against lush instrumental backdrops.
Top tracks — play these first
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I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues — This track exemplifies London's ability to convey deep emotion through minimalistic arrangements, allowing her voice to take center stage as she navigates themes of heartache.
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Basin Street Blues — The opening track sets the tone for the album with its playful yet melancholic vibe, showcasing London's distinctive phrasing and timing that draws listeners into the blues experience.
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Blues in the Night — This song highlights London's interpretive skills, transforming a classic into a haunting rendition that captures both despair and beauty through her nuanced vocal performance.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong vocal performances against well-crafted jazz backdrops, though it follows familiar blues structures.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of slow to mid-tempo tracks, with the majority maintaining a relaxed groove throughout.
- London's vocals are often layered over lush instrumental arrangements, creating a rich, atmospheric sound.
- Several tracks incorporate call-and-response patterns between London’s voice and the accompanying instruments, enhancing the bluesy feel.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
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
- intimate atmosphere of clubs
- steady pacing for relaxed listening
- smooth vocals for evening wind-down
- cohesive journey through themes
- for solo reflection time
Maybe skip if you
- seeking upbeat party vibes
- prefer fast-paced listening experiences
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1957, About the Blues was Julie London's seventh studio album, following her successful recordings that solidified her as a prominent figure in the cool jazz and pop genres. At this point, London had established a reputation for her rich voice and emotional delivery, making this album a seamless continuation of her artistic direction.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Ella Fitzgerald· Sarah Vaughan· Nina Simone
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Basin Street Blues 3:06
- 2 I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues 2:58
- 3 A Nightingale Can Sing the Blues 3:11
- 4 Get Set for the Blues 2:44
- 5 Invitation to the Blues 2:51
- 6 Bye Bye Blues 1:41
- 8 About the Blues 3:08
- 9 Sunday Blues 2:56
- 10 The Blues Is All I Ever Had 2:53
- 11 Blues in the Night 3:41
- 12 Bouquet of Blues 2:58
- 13 Baby, Baby, All the Time 2:25
- 14 Shadow Woman 2:39
- 15 Meaning of the Blues (45 single take) 2:58
- 16 Dark 2:38
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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