Bittersweet
Carmen McRae · 1964
43 min · 13 tracks · jazz
A lush collection of jazz standards infused with Carmen McRae's emotive vocal delivery and rich, introspective arrangements.
Top tracks — play these first
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Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most — This track showcases McRae's ability to convey deep melancholy through her expressive phrasing, transforming a simple narrative into a profound emotional experience.
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Here's That Rainy Day — McRae’s interpretation of this standard highlights her unique vocal nuances, capturing the song's wistfulness while adding her personal touch that resonates with listeners.
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When Sunny Gets Blue Start here — The opening track sets the tone for the album with its haunting arrangement and McRae’s soulful delivery, establishing the thematic depth explored throughout the record.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
McRae's emotive vocals and varied arrangements create a compelling jazz experience, though it follows familiar standards.
What we noticed
- Carmen McRae's vocal delivery often employs subtle phrasing and emotional nuance, particularly in the slower ballads.
- Several tracks include extended instrumental sections that showcase the accompanying musicians, adding depth to the overall sound.
- 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
Significant within its genre. 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 emotional journey throughout
- soulful reflections on love lost
- for rainy day listening
- thoughtful moments in solitude
- expressive vocals that resonate deeply
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of upbeat tempos
- prefer standalone catchy tracks
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This album solidified Carmen McRae's reputation in jazz and gained wider recognition.
- Career context
- Released in 1964, 'Bittersweet' is a pivotal album for Carmen McRae, marking her emergence as a leading voice in jazz. This album followed her previous release, 'The Great American Songbook', which helped establish her signature style blending emotional depth with sophisticated phrasing.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Billie Holiday· Sarah Vaughan· Ella Fitzgerald
Tracklist
- 1 When Sunny Gets Blue Start here 3:50
- 2 How Did He Look 3:08
- 3 Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry 3:36
- 4 The Meaning of the Blues 2:49
- 5 If You Could Love Me 2:08
- 6 Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most 6:21
- 7 Second Chance 3:37
- 8 If You Could See Me Now 2:52
- 9 Here's That Rainy Day 2:44
- 10 I'm Gonna Laugh You Right Out of My Life 3:23
- 11 Ghost of Yesterday 3:09
- 12 I'm Lost 2:53
- 13 Come Sunday 2:40
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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