What's New
Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra · 1983
36 min · 9 tracks
A lush orchestral tapestry intertwines with smooth jazz-inflected vocals, evoking nostalgia and romance throughout the album.
Top tracks — play these first
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What’s New? — The title track sets the tone for the album, merging poignant lyrics with a sweeping orchestral arrangement that perfectly showcases Riddle's signature style.
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Someone to Watch Over Me — This track highlights the emotional depth of the album with its intimate arrangement, allowing the vocals to shine against a delicate backdrop.
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I Don’t Stand a Ghost of a Chance With You — The haunting melody paired with evocative lyrics captures feelings of longing and heartache, making it a standout moment in Riddle's orchestral storytelling.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album features lush arrangements and smooth vocals, creating a cohesive yet familiar sound.
What we noticed
- Each track features lush orchestral arrangements that complement the smooth jazz vocals, creating a rich sonic texture.
- The album maintains a consistent slow to mid-tempo pace, with no tracks exceeding a moderate tempo throughout its duration.
- Vocal performances are often layered with strings and brass, enhancing the emotional weight of the lyrics without overshadowing them.
- 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
Little footprint beyond its audience. 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
- elegant orchestral arrangements
- heartfelt vocal performances
- steady melodic flow
- for intimate evenings
- nostalgic moments of reflection
Maybe skip if you
- prefer high-energy tempos
- avoid orchestral instrumentation
Where this album fits
- Career context
- By 1983, Nelson Riddle had solidified his status as a premier arranger and conductor, having previously worked with iconic vocalists like Frank Sinatra. 'What's New' marked a return to the studio after a period focused on live performances, showcasing his unique ability to blend traditional pop and jazz elements into cohesive orchestral arrangements.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 What’s New? 3:54
- 2 I’ve Got a Crush on You 3:30
- 3 Guess I’ll Hang My Tears Out to Dry 4:16
- 4 Crazy He Calls Me 3:35
- 5 Someone to Watch Over Me 4:11
- 6 I Don’t Stand a Ghost of a Chance With You 4:08
- 7 What’ll I Do 4:08
- 8 Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be?) 4:22
- 9 Goodbye 4:47
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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