The Great American Songbook
71 min · 18 tracks · jazz
Carmen McRae's lush vocal stylings breathe new life into timeless standards with soulful interpretations and intricate arrangements.
Top tracks — play these first
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Satin Doll Start here — This track exemplifies McRae's ability to blend smooth phrasing with rhythmic complexity, making it a highlight of her interpretative style.
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A Song for You — McRae's deeply emotional delivery transforms this classic into a personal confession, showcasing her skill in conveying vulnerability through song.
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Medley: Easy Living / The Days of Wine and Roses / It’s Impossible — This medley displays McRae’s ability to weave multiple narratives together seamlessly, demonstrating her artistry in transitioning between different emotional landscapes.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
McRae's interpretations breathe new life into standards, but the album's pacing and structure vary widely.
What we noticed
- Several tracks incorporate medleys, blending multiple songs into cohesive segments that highlight thematic connections.
- The pacing varies significantly, with some tracks maintaining a brisk tempo while others slow down to allow for emotional expression.
- 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
- smoky vocals for cozy evenings
- wave-like pacing with emotional peaks
- nostalgic reflections on classic standards
- for intimate gatherings
- engaging medleys that surprise
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of fast-paced tracks
- prefer modern, upbeat sounds
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This album contributed to a resurgence of interest in jazz standards, enhancing her reputation.
- Career context
- Released in 1973, The Great American Songbook was a significant project for Carmen McRae, who was already an established jazz vocalist. This album came after her acclaimed work in the 1960s and showcased her deep connection to classic American songs, reaffirming her status as a leading interpreter of jazz standards.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Billie Holiday· Sarah Vaughan· Ella Fitzgerald
Tracklist
- 1 Satin Doll Start here 4:35
- 2 At Long Last Love 2:27
- 3 If the Moon Turns Green 4:22
- 4 Day by Day 2:23
- 5 What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life 4:15
- 6 I Only Have Eyes for You 4:12
- 7 Medley: Easy Living / The Days of Wine and Roses / It’s Impossible 9:14
- 8 Sunday 4:10
- 9 A Song for You 4:46
- 10 I Cried for You 2:20
- 11 Behind the Face 2:44
- 12 The Ballad of Thelonius Monk 3:29
- 13 There’s No Such Thing as Love 5:01
- 14 They Long to Be Close to You 4:38
- 15 Three Little Words 1:59
- 16 Mr. Ugly 3:59
- 17 It’s Like Reaching for the Moon 2:52
- 18 I Thought About You 3:54
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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