Birds of a Feather
Carmen McRae · 1958
39 min · 12 tracks · jazz
Warm and inviting jazz vocals intertwine with lush arrangements, creating an atmosphere of nostalgia and elegance.
Top tracks — play these first
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Skylark Start here — This track highlights McRae's ability to imbue a classic standard with personal interpretation, blending melancholy and warmth that resonates throughout the album.
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Bye Bye Blackbird — McRae's rendition transforms this well-known tune into a poignant farewell, demonstrating her skill in conveying emotion through phrasing and dynamics.
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His Eye Is on the Sparrow — This track showcases McRae's gospel influences, allowing her vocal delivery to shine as she brings a deep sense of spirituality to the performance.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
McRae's expressive vocals and the album's lush arrangements create a memorable jazz experience.
What we noticed
- The album features lush orchestral arrangements that complement McRae's vocals, creating a rich sonic texture.
- Each track showcases a different standard from the jazz repertoire, allowing for varied interpretations and emotional expressions.
- The tempo varies across tracks, with several ballads interspersed with more upbeat selections, maintaining listener engagement.
- 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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5/10
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 journey throughout
- rich vocals evoke nostalgia
- for relaxed evenings
- gentle background for conversation
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of high-energy tracks
- prefer standalone hit singles
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This album solidified McRae's status in jazz, gaining her wider recognition.
- Career context
- By the time 'Birds of a Feather' was released in 1958, Carmen McRae was gaining recognition as a prominent jazz vocalist following her debut in the early 1950s. This album represents a pivotal moment in her career, showcasing her ability to reinterpret standards with emotional depth and sophistication.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Billie Holiday· Sarah Vaughan· Ella Fitzgerald
Tracklist
- 1 Skylark Start here 3:02
- 2 Bob White 2:57
- 3 A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square 4:58
- 4 Mister Meadowlark 2:44
- 5 Bye Bye Blackbird 3:27
- 6 Flamingo 3:47
- 7 The Eagle and Me 2:47
- 8 Baltimore Oriole 3:53
- 9 When the Red, Red Robin Come Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along 2:29
- 10 Chicken Today and Feathers Tomorrow 3:11
- 11 When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano 2:35
- 12 His Eye Is on the Sparrow 3:19
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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