Bigger & Better
David "Fathead" Newman · 1968
31 min · 6 tracks · jazz
A soulful blend of jazz and rhythm & blues that showcases rich melodies and resonant brass arrangements.
Top tracks — play these first
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A Change Is Gonna Come — This track stands out for its emotional depth and poignant delivery, reflecting the struggles of the civil rights era while showcasing Newman's expressive saxophone work.
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And I Love Her — Newman's interpretation of this Beatles classic transforms it into a jazz ballad, highlighting his ability to bridge popular music with sophisticated jazz arrangements.
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The Thirteenth Floor — With its intricate harmonies and captivating groove, this track exemplifies Newman's skillful blending of jazz improvisation with accessible melodies.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends jazz and R&B effectively, showcasing strong melodies and arrangements throughout.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a slow, soulful rendition of 'Yesterday' that sets a reflective mood.
- Each track features prominent brass arrangements, with the saxophone leading melodies while the rhythm section provides a steady groove.
- The fifth track, 'A Change Is Gonna Come', incorporates a more pronounced R&B influence, contrasting with the jazzier tones of earlier tracks.
- 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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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
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
- steady melodic progression throughout
- soulful moments of reflection
- rich saxophone artistry highlights
- for intimate gatherings
Maybe skip if you
- prefer fast-paced, energetic tracks
- seek standalone singles experience
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in January 1968, Bigger & Better was David 'Fathead' Newman's third studio album, coming after his successful collaboration with Ray Charles. At this point, Newman had established himself as a prominent saxophonist within the jazz genre, further solidifying his reputation with this release.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Cannonball Adderley· Stan Getz· John Coltrane
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Yesterday 3:58
- 2 And I Love Her 5:40
- 3 The Thirteenth Floor 5:47
- 4 Ain't That Good News 3:47
- 5 A Change Is Gonna Come 5:27
- 6 For Sylvia 6:34
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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