Black Drops
Charles Earland · 1970
38 min · 6 tracks · jazz
A vibrant mix of soulful melodies and intricate rhythms that showcase a masterful blend of jazz improvisation and bebop influences.
Top tracks — play these first
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Sing a Simple Song — This track features an infectious groove that highlights Earland's ability to merge catchy melodies with complex improvisations, setting the tone for the entire album.
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Don't Say Goodbye — With its lush harmonies and emotional depth, this song showcases Earland's skillful organ work and ability to convey a narrative through music.
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Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head — Earland's interpretation transforms this pop standard into a jazz-infused masterpiece, demonstrating his talent for reimagining familiar tunes within a fresh context.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalThe album features strong improvisation and varied tempos, showcasing Earland's skill while maintaining a cohesive sound.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a lively track that features a prominent organ melody, setting a vibrant tone for the record.
- Each track showcases extended improvisation sections, allowing musicians to explore themes and motifs in depth.
- The last two tracks feature slower tempos, creating a contrast that allows the album to breathe before concluding.
- 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
- vibrant melodies for afternoon relaxation
- intricate rhythms for focused listening
- playful improvisation with friends
- soulful moments of reflection
Maybe skip if you
- seeking instant gratification
- prefer short, standalone tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1970, Black Drops was Charles Earland's third studio album, following his breakthrough record, Black Talk! in 1969. This album further solidified his reputation as a prominent figure in the jazz scene, showcasing his evolving style and mastery of the organ as a lead instrument.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Jimmy Smith· Larry Young· Booker T. Jones
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Don't Say Goodbye
The bridge introduces a poignant shift in melody that contrasts with the rest of the song, creating an emotional climax.
This melodic shift enhances the narrative tension, inviting listeners to feel a deeper connection to the themes of longing and farewell.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Sing a Simple Song 5:45
- 2 Don't Say Goodbye 7:10
- 3 Lazy Bird 7:18
- 4 Letha 7:23
- 5 Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head 3:48
- 6 Buck Green 7:18
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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