Is Now He Sings, Now He Sobs a good place to start with Chick Corea?

Yes, Now He Sings, Now He Sobs is recommended as a starting point for new Chick Corea listeners. A vibrant interplay of avant-garde jazz and post-bop, showcasing intricate melodies and dynamic improvisation. Released in January 1968, Now He Sings, Now He Sobs was Chick Corea's first album as a leader after gaining recognition with Miles Davis. This pivotal moment marked Corea's emergence as a significant figure in jazz, showcasing his innovative approach to composition and improvisation that would define his subsequent career.

Who is Now He Sings, Now He Sobs for?

Now He Sings, Now He Sobs works well if you're into dynamic progression with peaks, patient improvisation rewards deep listening and evocative moments of lyrical depth.

How many songs are on Now He Sings, Now He Sobs?

Now He Sings, Now He Sobs has 13 tracks, running approximately 69 minutes.

Now He Sings, Now He Sobs

Chick Corea · 1968

69 min · 13 tracks · jazz

A vibrant interplay of avant-garde jazz and post-bop, showcasing intricate melodies and dynamic improvisation.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Matrix Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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Now He Beats the Drum - Now He Stops — This track exemplifies Corea's skillful balance of structure and spontaneity, featuring complex rhythms that shift seamlessly between serene passages and frenetic bursts.
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Steps - What Was — A powerful exploration of emotional depth and technical virtuosity, this piece showcases Corea's ability to blend intricate melodies with rich harmonic layers.
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My One and Only Love — In this interpretation, Corea transforms a standard into a deeply personal statement, highlighting his lyrical touch on the piano while maintaining a contemporary feel.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

Instrumental

61 /100

Treeline

Higher than 71% of albums we've rated

Corea's debut as a leader blends avant-garde and post-bop elements, showcasing strong compositions and distinct improvisation.

What we noticed

The interplay between piano and bass is particularly prominent, with Corea often engaging in call-and-response patterns that highlight both musicians' virtuosity.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

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

dynamic progression with peaks
patient improvisation rewards deep listening
evocative moments of lyrical depth
exploratory sessions for curious minds

Maybe skip if you

prefer straightforward song structures
seek instant gratification in tracks

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — This album marked Corea's emergence as a significant artist post-Miles Davis.
Themes: dynamic improvisation· emotional depth· avant-garde exploration
Career context: Released in January 1968, Now He Sings, Now He Sobs was Chick Corea's first album as a leader after gaining recognition with Miles Davis. This pivotal moment marked Corea's emergence as a significant figure in jazz, showcasing his innovative approach to composition and improvisation that would define his subsequent career.
Stylistic neighbors: Herbie Hancock· Keith Jarrett· McCoy Tyner