Back to the Blues
Dinah Washington · 1963
52 min · 15 tracks · blues
A lush blend of blues and jazz with Washington's powerful, emotive vocals at the forefront, steeped in heartbreak and resilience.
Top tracks — play these first
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The Blues Ain’t Nothin’ But a Woman Cryin’ for Her Man — This track encapsulates the album's emotional core, with Washington's voice conveying a profound sense of longing and heartache.
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How Long, How Long Blues — Washington's interpretation of this classic showcases her powerful phrasing and emotional depth, making it a defining moment on the album.
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Nobody Knows the Way I Feel This Morning — With its extended runtime, this track allows Washington to explore complex emotions, illustrating her versatility and control as a vocalist.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Washington's emotive vocal style and orchestral arrangements create a strong blend of blues and jazz.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of lush orchestration, with strings and horns complementing Washington's vocals on most tracks.
- Several songs employ a call-and-response structure between Washington's voice and the instrumental sections, enhancing the emotional delivery.
- The tempo varies throughout, with some tracks maintaining a slow, bluesy feel while others pick up to a more swinging jazz rhythm.
- The last three tracks shift to a more reflective tone, with slower tempos that create a sense of closure.
- 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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8/10
- 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
- dynamic emotional journeys
- long, immersive listening sessions
- late-night contemplative moods
- layered, dense sonic textures
- steady, consistent energy levels
Where this album fits
- Career context
- By 1963, Dinah Washington was already a celebrated figure in jazz and blues, known for her vibrant vocal style. 'Back to the Blues' came during a prolific period following her successful crossover hits, showcasing her continued ability to convey deep emotion through song.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Billie Holiday· Sarah Vaughan· Ella Fitzgerald
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 The Blues Ain’t Nothin’ But a Woman Cryin’ for Her Man 3:48
- 2 Romance in the Dark 2:14
- 3 You’ve Been a Good Old Wagon 3:52
- 4 Let Me Be the First to Know 2:41
- 5 How Long, How Long Blues 5:00
- 6 Don’t Come Running Back to Me 2:25
- 7 It’s a Mean Old Man’s World 3:12
- 8 Key to the Highway 2:42
- 9 If I Never Get to Heaven 3:46
- 10 Duck Before You Drown 2:13
- 11 No Hard Feelings 2:36
- 12 Nobody Knows the Way I Feel This Morning 8:42
- 13 Don’t Say Nothing At All 2:36
- 14 No One Man 2:07
- 15 Me and My Gin 4:14
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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