That's How I Love the Blues!
Mark Murphy · 1963
39 min · 12 tracks · jazz
A vibrant blend of jazz and blues, showcasing soulful vocals over rich instrumental arrangements.
Top tracks — play these first
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Going to Chicago Blues — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its upbeat tempo and infectious energy, showcasing Murphy's dynamic vocal delivery and phrasing. It captures both the essence of the blues tradition and the improvisational spirit of jazz.
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Señor Blues — Murphy's rendition of this classic highlights his ability to convey emotion while maintaining a playful groove. The arrangement allows for a seamless blend of Latin influences within a jazz context, demonstrating his versatility as an artist.
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Blues in the Night — This track features a haunting interpretation that showcases Murphy's depth as a vocalist, transforming a well-known standard into a personal statement through nuanced phrasing and emotional resonance. His ability to inhabit the song's melancholy mood is particularly striking.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Murphy's blend of jazz and blues is well-executed, but it doesn't significantly redefine the genre.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of call-and-response between Murphy's vocals and the instrumental sections, creating a dynamic interplay.
- Each track maintains a mid-tempo groove, with several songs incorporating bluesy riffs that complement the vocal lines.
- The arrangements often include brass and woodwind instruments, which add depth and texture to the overall sound.
- 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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7/10
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
- vibrant storytelling through vocals
- short tracks for quick enjoyment
- soulful moments of reflection
- playful energy for gatherings
Maybe skip if you
- prefer longer, immersive experiences
- need continuous high-energy pace
Where this album fits
- Career context
- That's How I Love the Blues! is Mark Murphy's third album, released in 1963 after his earlier works established him as a promising voice in jazz. At this point, he had begun to carve out his unique style, blending jazz with blues influences that would define his career. This album followed his breakthrough work on the West Coast jazz scene and further solidified his reputation as a skilled interpreter of the genre.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Carmen McRae· Ella Fitzgerald· Sarah Vaughan
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Going to Chicago Blues 4:14
- 2 Señor Blues 2:27
- 3 That's How I Love the Blues 3:47
- 4 Jelly Jelly Blues 3:25
- 5 I'm Left With the Blues in My Heart 2:13
- 6 Fiesta in Blue 3:13
- 7 Rusty Dusty Blues 2:05
- 8 Blues in the Night 3:39
- 9 The Meaning of the Blues 2:52
- 10 Everybody's Crazy 'Bout the Doggone Blues 2:25
- 11 Blues, You're the Mother of Sin 3:19
- 12 Wee Baby Blues 5:17
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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