Incomparable!
Anita O'Day · 1964
37 min · 12 tracks · jazz
Anita O'Day's vibrant vocal dexterity dances through jazz standards with a playful, swinging charm that captivates and enchants.
Top tracks — play these first
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It Could Happen to You Start here — This track showcases O'Day's effortless vocal phrasing and her ability to convey warmth and sophistication, setting the tone for the entire album.
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Old Devil Moon — With its intricate rhythms and expressive vocals, this track exemplifies O'Day's unique interpretative style, making it a definitive highlight of the album.
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The Party's Over — O'Day’s emotive delivery on this poignant ballad captures a sense of melancholy that resonates deeply, showcasing her range as an artist.
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Slaughter on the 10th Avenue — The extended arrangement allows O'Day to explore dynamic contrasts and improvisational flair, demonstrating her mastery of stage presence and vocal control.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
O'Day's vibrant vocals and engaging arrangements create a lively jazz experience, though it doesn't redefine the genre.
What we noticed
- Each track features O'Day's vocals prominently, often accompanied by a small jazz ensemble that emphasizes rhythm and swing.
- The arrangements frequently include call-and-response sections between O'Day and the instrumentalists, highlighting her vocal agility.
- Several tracks incorporate tempo changes, with some starting slowly and building to a more upbeat finish, creating dynamic contrasts.
- 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
- steady mid-tempo listening experience
- vibrant energy for gatherings
- easy background for conversation
- playful charm in every track
- short bursts of joyful rhythms
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy excitement
- prefer longer, sprawling albums
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — Helped elevate O'Day's status after her hiatus, showcasing her distinctive jazz style.
- Career context
- Released in 1964, Incomparable! marked Anita O'Day's return to the recording scene after a brief hiatus. This album followed her acclaimed performances at the Newport Jazz Festival and showcases her evolution as a jazz vocalist, solidifying her reputation within the genre during a period of significant personal and professional rejuvenation.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Ella Fitzgerald· Sarah Vaughan· Billie Holiday
Tracklist
- 1 It Could Happen to You Start here 2:34
- 2 Blue Champagne 2:35
- 3 Avalon 2:12
- 4 Old Devil Moon 3:01
- 5 The Party's Over 3:10
- 6 Why Shouldn't I 3:06
- 7 Easy Living 3:18
- 8 Can't We Be Friends 2:14
- 9 Slaughter on the 10th Avenue 6:18
- 10 If I Love Again 2:46
- 11 Speak Low 3:02
- 12 Indian Summer 3:13
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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