Sarah: Dedicated to You
Carmen McRae · 1991
78 min · 18 tracks · jazz
A lush tribute blending jazz standards with McRae's soulful interpretations and emotive vocal delivery.
Top tracks — play these first
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Poor Butterfly Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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Misty — McRae's rendition of this classic infuses it with a poignant vulnerability, showcasing her ability to convey deep emotion through nuanced phrasing.
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Send in the Clowns — Her interpretation transforms this well-known piece into a moment of profound introspection, highlighting McRae's skill in storytelling through song.
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Black Coffee — In this track, McRae delivers a captivating performance that captures the song's themes of longing and despair, demonstrating her vocal mastery.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases McRae's emotive vocal style within lush arrangements, honoring Vaughan while maintaining its own identity.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of lush arrangements, with strings and piano complementing McRae's vocals throughout.
- Each track is performed in a slow to mid-tempo range, creating a reflective mood that permeates the entire record.
- 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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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
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
- wave-like pacing with emotional peaks
- headphone detail hunting for nuances
- for late-night introspection
- heartfelt interpretations of classics
- soulful moments for quiet evenings
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy party vibes
- prefer instant gratification tracks
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Critical Peak — This album showcases McRae's artistry through a tribute to a jazz legend, reflecting her mastery.
- Career context
- By 1991, Carmen McRae was a seasoned jazz vocalist, having released numerous albums since her debut in the 1940s. 'Sarah: Dedicated to You' showcases her deep appreciation for the music of Sarah Vaughan, marking one of her later works as she continued to influence the jazz scene with her distinct style.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Billie Holiday· Sarah Vaughan· Ella Fitzgerald
Tracklist
- 1 Poor Butterfly Start here 3:58
- 2 I've Got the World on a String 3:25
- 3 Misty 4:10
- 4 Wonder Why 2:46
- 5 Send in the Clowns 3:51
- 6 Black Coffee 6:21
- 7 Tenderly 5:22
- 8 The Best Is Yet to Come 2:30
- 9 I Will Say Goodbye 2:38
- 10 The Lamp Is Low 3:02
- 11 It's Magic 4:58
- 12 Dedicated to You 6:02
- 13 I'll Be Seeing You 4:54
- 14 Sarah 3:49
- 15 If You Could See Me Now 4:59
- 16 Wave 4:04
- 17 Embraceable You 7:41
- 18 Sarah 3:36
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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