What makes Intensity by Charles Earland notable?

Intensity received positive critical acclaim upon its release, with praise for its energetic performances and sophisticated arrangements. The album helped popularize the use of the Hammond organ in jazz, influencing future generations of musicians and contributing to the development of soul jazz during the early 1970s. Released in 1972, Intensity was Charles Earland's third studio album, following his breakthrough with Black Talk! in 1970. By this time, he had established himself as a prominent figure in the jazz scene, noted for his expressive playing and ability to fuse different styles. Intensity further solidified his reputation, highlighting his innovative approach to the organ as a lead instrument.

Who is Intensity for?

Intensity works well if you're into soulful grooves for dancing, patient exploration of themes and headphone detail hunting.

How many songs are on Intensity?

Intensity has 6 tracks, running approximately 52 minutes.

Intensity

Charles Earland · 1972

52 min · 6 tracks · jazz

A vibrant blend of soulful grooves and intricate bebop melodies that showcase Earland's mastery on the organ.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Happy 'Cause I'm Goin' Home — This track opens the album with an extended improvisational journey, showcasing Earland's virtuosic command of the organ and setting a lively tone for the rest of the record.
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'Cause I Love Her — This piece combines heartfelt lyrics with lush instrumental backdrops, exemplifying how Earland blends emotive storytelling with complex jazz harmonies.
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Morgan — The intricate arrangement and dynamic rhythms in this track reveal Earland's skill in combining bebop influences with his unique soulful style, making it a standout performance.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

Instrumental

64 /100

Treeline

Higher than 79% of albums we've rated

The album features intricate compositions and strong performances, making it a notable entry in jazz organ music.

What we noticed

The album opens with a lively track that features a prominent organ riff, establishing the energetic tone.
Each track showcases complex interplay between the organ and the accompanying instruments, often shifting tempos and dynamics.
The final track concludes with a gradual deceleration, allowing the music to taper off rather than abruptly ending.

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: 8/10
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.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

soulful grooves for dancing
patient exploration of themes
headphone detail hunting
uplifting energy for gatherings

Maybe skip if you

instant gratification seekers
fans of short tracks

Where this album fits

Career context: Released in 1972, Intensity was Charles Earland's third studio album, following his breakthrough with Black Talk! in 1970. By this time, he had established himself as a prominent figure in the jazz scene, noted for his expressive playing and ability to fuse different styles. Intensity further solidified his reputation, highlighting his innovative approach to the organ as a lead instrument.
Stylistic neighbors: Jimmy Smith· Larry Young· Booker T. Jones

Tracklist

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

1 Happy 'Cause I'm Goin' Home 11:21
2 Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow 6:58
3 'Cause I Love Her 9:46
4 Morgan 10:32
5 Lowdown 8:20
6 Speedball 5:20

What to play next

Listen next

Charles III

1973

Go back to

Soul Story

1971

Full Charles Earland discography Artists like Charles Earland

bebop

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata