Released 40 years ago
Any Old Time
Carmen McRae · 1986
60 min · 13 tracks · jazz
Richly textured jazz arrangements weave through heartfelt vocals, showcasing Carmen McRae's timeless artistry and emotional depth.
Top tracks — play these first
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Tulip or Turnip Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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Body and Soul — This track stands out for its poignant delivery and intricate phrasing, reflecting McRae's mastery of emotional nuance in performance.
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Have You Met Miss Jones? — The playful yet sophisticated interpretation showcases McRae's unique vocal style and her ability to convey both charm and depth within a classic framework.
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Love Me Tender — McRae transforms this well-known ballad into a lush jazz experience, revealing her knack for blending pop sensibilities with traditional jazz expressions.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
McRae's emotive interpretations and rich arrangements create a compelling yet familiar jazz experience.
What we noticed
- The album features lush orchestral arrangements that complement McRae's vocals, with strings and horns weaving in and out of the mix.
- 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
- long, immersive listening sessions
- late-night contemplative moods
- dynamic emotional journeys
- rich vocal storytelling
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Showcases McRae's continued vitality and emotional depth in jazz standards.
- Career context
- By the time 'Any Old Time' was released in 1986, Carmen McRae was an established jazz vocalist with a career spanning over three decades. This album came after her commercial peak during the 1970s and marked a return to classic standards, highlighting her deep connection to jazz traditions while exploring new interpretations of beloved songs.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Billie Holiday· Sarah Vaughan· Ella Fitzgerald
Tracklist
- 1 Tulip or Turnip Start here 4:37
- 2 Old Devil Moon 4:20
- 3 Have You Met Miss Jones? 5:20
- 4 Love Me Tender 5:56
- 5 I Hear Music 4:48
- 6 This Is Always 5:05
- 7 Body and Soul 6:30
- 8 Prelude to a Kiss 5:25
- 9 Mean to Me 4:23
- 10 Any Old Time 3:01
- 11 It Could Happen to You 2:22
- 12 I'm Glad There's You 3:51
- 13 Billie's Blues 5:14
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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