Feelin' Good cover

Released 60 years ago

Feelin' Good

Lena Horne · 1966

30 min · 11 tracks · jazz

Lena Horne's rich vocals blend jazz elegance with pop sensibility across lush orchestral arrangements.

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Feelin’ Good — The title track serves as the album's centerpiece, encapsulating Horne's powerful delivery and emotional depth while becoming an anthem for empowerment and renewal.
  • →
    I Wanna Be Around — This track showcases Horne's ability to convey longing through nuanced phrasing, revealing her skill in interpreting complex emotions within simple melodies.
  • →
    The Boy From Ipanema — Horne's rendition brings a fresh perspective to this classic bossa nova hit, blending her jazz roots with Brazilian rhythms to create an engaging interpretation.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

59 /100
Treeline
Higher than 57% of albums we've rated

Lena Horne's vocal prowess and orchestral arrangements create a compelling jazz-pop blend, though it follows familiar standards.

What we noticed

  • The album features lush orchestral arrangements that complement Horne's vocal delivery, creating a rich soundscape.
  • Each track showcases Horne's ability to convey emotion through phrasing and dynamics, particularly in the title track 'Feelin' Good'.
  • The sequencing includes several well-known standards, with the tempo varying from mid-tempo ballads to more upbeat tracks.
  • Vocals are prominent throughout, with instrumental sections serving to enhance rather than dominate the overall sound.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
6/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
7/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 6/10

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

  • short bursts of uplifting energy
  • elegant orchestral arrangements
  • rich vocal performances
  • feel-good moments of nostalgia

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer lengthy, immersive albums
  • want modern production styles

Where this album fits

Career context
Released in 1966, Feelin' Good marked Lena Horne's return to the recording studio after a long hiatus from album releases since her last in 1955. At this point in her career, Horne had established herself as a prominent figure in entertainment, transitioning from stage and screen to focus on music. The album showcases her iconic vocal style during an era of personal and professional reinvention.
Stylistic neighbors
Ella Fitzgerald· Billie Holiday· Sarah Vaughan

Tracklist

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

  • 1 On a Wonderful Day Like Today 2:17
  • 2 Take the Moment 2:33
  • 3 I Wanna Be Around 2:30
  • 4 Feelin’ Good 3:43
  • 5 Who Can I Turn To 2:48
  • 6 Less Than a Second 2:43
  • 7 Willow Weep for Me 2:41
  • 8 The Boy From Ipanema 2:40
  • 9 Softly as I Leave You 3:03
  • 10 And I Love Him 2:56
  • 11 Hello Young Lovers 2:18

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata