Round Midnight cover

Round Midnight

Betty Carter · 1975

41 min · 9 tracks · jazz

Betty Carter's expressive vocal mastery intertwines with lush arrangements, creating a rich tapestry of jazz emotion and sophistication.

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Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    'Round Midnight — This rendition of Thelonious Monk's classic features Carter's haunting interpretation that highlights her ability to convey deep emotion through subtle vocal nuances.
  • →
    Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye — Carter delivers a poignant performance filled with intricate phrasing, transforming a standard into a personal statement on love and loss.
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    Surrey With the Fringe on Top — This track showcases Carter’s playful scatting and rhythmic precision, exemplifying her ability to blend storytelling with technical artistry.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

61 /100
Treeline
Higher than 71% of albums we've rated

Carter's innovative vocal techniques and complex arrangements create a distinctive jazz experience.

What we noticed

  • The album features intricate vocal phrasing that often overlaps with the instrumental arrangements, creating a conversational dynamic.
  • Several tracks employ unexpected tempo changes, such as 'Round Midnight', which shifts from a slow ballad to a more upbeat swing.
  • The use of dissonance in the harmonies adds emotional complexity, particularly in tracks like 'I Wonder' and 'Two Cigarettes in the Dark'.
Composition 25% of the score
8/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
7/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
8/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
5/10

running order, pacing, length

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

  • wave-like pacing with dynamic shifts
  • intimate late-night listening experience
  • sophisticated vocal improvisation moments
  • emotional depth in each performance

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer fast-paced, instant gratification
  • seeking straightforward structures

Where this album fits

Career context
Released in 1975, 'Round Midnight' was Betty Carter's first album for the jazz label Verve after establishing herself as a formidable vocalist in the 1960s. At this point, she was transitioning into a more prominent role in the jazz scene, blending her unique stylistic innovations with classic standards.
Stylistic neighbors
Sarah Vaughan· Ella Fitzgerald· Nina Simone

Moments worth listening for

Where the writing does something specific.

  • 'Round Midnight

    The final verse shifts from minor to major tonality, evoking a sense of hope amidst melancholy.

    This tonal shift not only emphasizes the thematic complexity of longing but also showcases Carter's innovative approach to emotional delivery.

Tracklist

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

  • 1 Do Something 2:56
  • 2 Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye 5:47
  • 3 My Shining Hour 2:39
  • 4 Something Wonderful 6:33
  • 5 What's New 2:42
  • 6 By the Bend in the River 1:42
  • 7 I'm Pulling Through 4:31
  • 8 'Round Midnight 5:53
  • 9 Surrey With the Fringe on Top 8:25

What to play next

Now It's My Turn
Listen next

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Finally, Betty Carter

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Full Betty Carter discography Artists like Betty Carter
post-bop

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata