Born to Be Blue
Grant Green · 1985
59 min · 9 tracks · jazz
A soulful blend of smooth jazz and blues-infused guitar that showcases Grant Green's lyrical improvisation.
Top tracks — play these first
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Born to Be Blue — The title track embodies the album's emotional core, featuring Green's expressive guitar work that conveys a deep sense of longing and introspection. Its arrangement highlights the balance between melodic beauty and improvisational flair.
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If I Should Lose You — This track features lush harmonies and a poignant melody, showcasing Green's ability to evoke emotion through subtle phrasing and dynamic interplay with accompanying musicians. It captures a reflective mood that permeates the album.
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Cool Blues — With its laid-back groove and intricate solos, Cool Blues exemplifies Green’s mastery of blending rhythm and melody, making it a standout piece that encapsulates the album’s overall vibe.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalThe album blends soulful guitar work with smooth jazz elements, showcasing Green's improvisational talent.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of bluesy guitar lines that are often accompanied by smooth, laid-back rhythms.
- Each track typically showcases Green's improvisational skills, with extended solos that explore melodic variations.
- The first half of the album maintains a slower tempo, while the latter half introduces slightly more upbeat 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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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
- long, immersive listening sessions
- steady, consistent energy levels
- reflective and contemplative moods
- dynamic emotional journeys
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1985, Born to Be Blue was Grant Green's last studio album before his untimely death in 1979. This album marked a return to his roots after years of exploring jazz-funk and fusion styles, showcasing his ability to shift seamlessly between genres. It reflects both a retrospective look at his career and an exploration of the emotional depths of jazz.
- Stylistic neighbors
- George Benson· Kenny Burrell· Jimmy Ponder
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Someday My Prince Will Come 6:30
- 2 Born to Be Blue 4:54
- 3 Born to Be Blue (alternate take) 4:41
- 4 If I Should Lose You 6:05
- 5 Back in Your Own Back Yard 8:04
- 6 My One and Only Love 5:50
- 7 Count Every Star 6:21
- 8 Cool Blues 7:57
- 9 Outer Space 8:43
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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