Is Much Les a good place to start with Les McCann?

Yes, Much Les is recommended as a starting point for new Les McCann listeners. A vibrant blend of soul jazz and rhythm and blues that captures the essence of late 1960s musical experimentation. Released at the start of 1969, Much Les is Les McCann's follow-up to the acclaimed album Swiss Movement, which had brought him considerable fame. At this point in his career, McCann was solidifying his reputation as a boundary-pushing artist who fused jazz with R&B elements, expanding his musical palette while appealing to a broader audience.

Much Les works well if you're into steady grooves for relaxed evenings, captivating flow for focused listening and infectious rhythms that invite movement.

How many songs are on Much Les?

Much Les has 6 tracks, running approximately 42 minutes.

Much Les

Les McCann · 1969

42 min · 6 tracks · jazz

A vibrant blend of soul jazz and rhythm and blues that captures the essence of late 1960s musical experimentation.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Doin' That Thing Start here — This track opens the album with an infectious groove and showcases McCann's signature piano style blended with engaging rhythms, setting the tone for the entire record.
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Burnin' Coal — The song features a compelling narrative set against dynamic instrumentation, highlighting McCann's storytelling ability through music alongside a rich arrangement.
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Love for Sale — McCann's interpretation of this classic standard adds a fresh layer of soulful expression, merging traditional jazz elements with contemporary rhythms that reflect his unique style.

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 effectively blends soul jazz and rhythm and blues, showcasing strong compositions and skilled performances.

What we noticed

The final track, 'Roberta', features a slower tempo and a more reflective mood, contrasting with the upbeat energy of earlier songs.

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

steady grooves for relaxed evenings
captivating flow for focused listening
infectious rhythms that invite movement
gradual intensity for deep engagement

Maybe skip if you

prefer short, standalone tracks
seek immediate, high-energy bursts

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — Follow-up to Swiss Movement, solidifying McCann's reputation and wider recognition.
Themes: late 1960s experimentation· soulful storytelling· R&B-infused jazz
Career context: Released at the start of 1969, Much Les is Les McCann's follow-up to the acclaimed album Swiss Movement, which had brought him considerable fame. At this point in his career, McCann was solidifying his reputation as a boundary-pushing artist who fused jazz with R&B elements, expanding his musical palette while appealing to a broader audience.
Stylistic neighbors: Ramsey Lewis· Horace Silver· Joe Sample