Steal Away
Charlie Haden · 1995
65 min · 14 tracks · jazz
A contemplative fusion of jazz and spirituals, blending deep emotional resonance with Haden's signature melodic bass lines.
Top tracks — play these first
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Wade in the Water — This track exemplifies Haden's ability to evoke deep emotion through minimalist arrangements, allowing the listener to fully absorb the spiritual message of the piece.
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Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child — Haden's interpretation brings a haunting quality to this classic, using silence and subtlety to convey a profound sense of loss and longing.
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We Shall Overcome — The rendition transforms this anthem into a meditative experience, highlighting Haden's dedication to social justice through his musical expression.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalThe album blends jazz improvisation with spiritual themes, showcasing strong composition and craft.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of melodic bass lines that guide the harmonic structure, with each track exploring different spiritual themes.
- Several pieces incorporate call-and-response patterns, reflecting traditional spirituals while allowing for improvisational dialogue among the musicians.
- 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
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
- contemplative moments for reflection
- intimate late-night listening sessions
- emotional resonance with each track
- melodic bass lines to savor
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of fast-paced energy
- prefer upbeat party anthems
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1995, Steal Away marked a significant phase in Charlie Haden's career as he transitioned toward more thematic projects. This album followed his acclaimed work on the Liberation Music Orchestra and showcased Haden’s exploration of American spirituals, revealing a deeper connection to his musical roots.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Paul Bley· Keith Jarrett· Ornette Coleman
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 It’s Me, O Lord (Standin’ in the Need of Prayer) 5:21
- 2 Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen 3:44
- 3 Spiritual 4:19
- 4 Wade in the Water 4:04
- 5 Swing Low, Sweet Chariot 2:04
- 6 Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child 4:31
- 7 L’Amour de Moy 4:54
- 8 Danny Boy 5:50
- 9 I’ve Got a Robe, You’ve Got a Robe (Goin’ to Shout All Over God’s Heav’n) 3:49
- 10 Steal Away 2:48
- 11 We Shall Overcome 5:32
- 12 Go Down, Moses 6:03
- 13 My Lord, What a Mornin’ 4:34
- 14 Hymn Medley: Abide With Me / Just as I Am Without One Plea / What a Friend We Have in Jesus / Amazing Grace 7:37
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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