What makes Born to Be Blue! by Bobby Timmons notable?

The album is notable for its blend of jazz standards and original compositions, showcasing Timmons' unique ability to infuse emotional depth into his performances. It received critical acclaim and helped solidify his reputation as a prominent jazz pianist in the early 1960s. Released in 1963, 'Born to Be Blue!' marked Bobby Timmons' third studio album, following his breakthrough with 'This Here Is Bobby Timmons.' At this point in his career, Timmons was establishing himself as a significant figure in the hard bop movement, known for his gospel-inflected style and rhythmic complexity.

How many songs are on Born to Be Blue!?

Born to Be Blue! has 7 tracks, running approximately 41 minutes.

Born to Be Blue!

Bobby Timmons · 1963

41 min · 7 tracks · jazz

Soulful jazz piano intertwines with emotive melodies, capturing a sense of longing and introspection throughout the album.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Born to Be Blue — This title track encapsulates Timmons' signature blend of soulful melodies and rich harmonic textures, setting the emotional tone for the entire album.
→
Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child — This interpretation highlights Timmons’ ability to evoke deep emotion through expressive phrasing and dynamic contrasts, making it a standout moment on the album.
→
Namely You — This track showcases Timmons’ skillful interplay between melody and rhythm, creating a captivating dialogue between piano and bass that underscores his musical versatility.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

59 /100

Treeline

Higher than 57% of albums we've rated

Timmons' emotive piano work and varied structures create a compelling jazz experience that rewards attentive listening.

What we noticed

Several tracks incorporate a call-and-response structure between the piano and subtle rhythm section, enhancing the conversational feel of the music.
The first three tracks establish a reflective mood, while the subsequent pieces introduce more rhythmic complexity and variation in tempo.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 4/10

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.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Born to Be Blue 4:28
2 Malice Towards None 5:00
3 Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child 4:45
4 Know Not One 7:57
5 The Sit-in 4:19
6 Namely You 6:05
7 Often Annie 9:18

What to play next

Listen next

Chun-King

1964

Go back to

Sweet and Soulful Sounds

1962

Full Bobby Timmons discography Artists like Bobby Timmons

jazz

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata