November Girl cover

November Girl

Carmen McRae · 1975

31 min · 8 tracks · jazz

A soulful blend of jazz and heartfelt ballads, infused with McRae's distinctive vocal warmth and emotional depth.

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    November Girl Start here — The title track captures the essence of the album with its reflective lyrics and McRae's emotive delivery, setting a poignant tone for the collection.
  • →
    'Tis Autumn — This classic standard showcases McRae’s ability to infuse traditional jazz with contemporary emotion, highlighting her vocal agility and interpretive skill.
  • →
    Dear Death — In this hauntingly beautiful piece, McRae confronts mortality with raw honesty, making it one of the album's most powerful tracks both lyrically and musically.

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

The album combines introspective songwriting with skilled musicianship, creating an engaging yet familiar jazz experience.

What we noticed

  • The album opens with a title track that features a slow tempo and layered instrumentation, setting a reflective mood.
  • McRae's vocal delivery is often accompanied by subtle piano and string arrangements, creating an intimate atmosphere throughout.
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 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 melodic journey throughout
  • soulful introspection during listening
  • velvet vocals for evening relaxation
  • short tracks for quick enjoyment

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer high-energy, fast-paced music
  • seek standalone hits over cohesion

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Fan Favorite — Recognized for emotional authenticity, appealing to dedicated fans of McRae's work.
Career context
By the time 'November Girl' was released in 1975, Carmen McRae had already established herself as a significant voice in jazz since her debut in the early 1950s. This album followed her acclaimed works and marked a continued exploration of personal and poignant themes in her music, demonstrating her evolution as an artist.
Stylistic neighbors
Billie Holiday· Sarah Vaughan· Ella Fitzgerald

Tracklist

  • 1 November Girl Start here 4:36
  • 2 Just Give Me Time 2:22
  • 3 'Tis Autumn 4:24
  • 4 A Handful Of Soul 4:09
  • 5 Dear Death 4:15
  • 6 I Don't Want Nothin' From Nobody 4:25
  • 7 You're Getting to Be a Habit With Me 4:06
  • 8 My Kinda World 3:13

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata