Once in Every Life
Johnny Hartman · 1980
39 min · 9 tracks · jazz
Smooth jazz vocals intertwine with lush arrangements, creating an intimate and reflective atmosphere throughout the album.
Top tracks — play these first
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Easy Living — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its tender lyrics and Hartman's velvety voice, showcasing his ability to convey deep emotion through phrasing.
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Wave — Hartman's rendition of this bossa nova classic highlights his skill in blending jazz with Latin influences, demonstrating his versatility as a vocalist.
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I Could Write a Book — The intricate interplay between Hartman’s vocals and the piano underscores his storytelling ability, creating a vivid narrative that resonates throughout the song.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong vocal performances supported by lush arrangements, creating an intimate listening experience.
What we noticed
- The album features lush orchestral arrangements that complement Hartman's smooth vocal delivery, creating a rich soundscape.
- Each track maintains a slow to mid-tempo pace, with the majority focusing on ballads and reflective themes.
- Hartman's voice often takes center stage, with minimal instrumental solos, emphasizing his emotive interpretation of the lyrics.
- 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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8/10
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
- gentle peaks of emotional depth
- nostalgic reflections on love
- for intimate evenings
- steady pacing for relaxed listening
Maybe skip if you
- prefer fast-paced music
- seek high-energy tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1980, Once in Every Life marked Johnny Hartman's return to recording after a decade-long hiatus. This album came at a time when Hartman was looking to reconnect with his audience and showcase his unique vocal style once more, following the success of his collaboration with John Coltrane earlier in his career.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Nat King Cole· Billie Holiday· Sammy Davis Jr.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Easy Living 5:54
- 2 It Was Almost Like a Song 2:32
- 3 Wave 6:47
- 4 By Myself 4:09
- 5 For All We Know 5:05
- 6 Will You Still Be Mine 3:34
- 7 Nobody Home 3:31
- 8 I Could Write a Book 3:29
- 9 I See Your Face Before Me 4:37
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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