For Lady Day (Carmen McRae album) explained

For Lady Day
Type:Live
Artist:Carmen McRae
Cover:For Lady Day (Carmen McRae album).png
Caption:The cover of the first volume; the cover of the second is the same, only in blue
Recorded:December 31, 1983
Venue:Blue Note Club, New York
Genre:Vocal jazz
Label:Novus
Producer:Larry Clothier
Prev Title:Song Time
Prev Year:1993
Next Title:I'll Be Seeing You
Next Year:1998

For Lady Day is a live album by American singer Carmen McRae, released in two volumes in 1995 by Novus Records. The album is a tribute to singer Billie Holiday, who was McRae's mentor and friend. The set was recorded on New Year's Eve 1984 at the Blue Note nightclub in New York, live broadcast by the jazz radio station WBGO-FM (Jazz 88).[1]

Critical reception

AllMusic reviewer Scott Yanow, commenting on the first part of the album, stated that the singer is in great shape, combining the power and range of her previous years with the emotional depth and familiar phrasing of her later period, and really delves into the material, interpreting the songs in her own style, but with an understanding bias towards Holiday. In his opinion, this wonderful set far surpasses most Billie Holiday tribute albums and reminds us how much we miss Carmen McRae. Speaking about the second part, Ken Dryden stated that MacRae is not trying to sing Holiday's material in the same way, but uses his own powerful, emotional approach, often lagging behind the rhythm. Stereo Review magazine stated that the album does not represent the late Carmen McRae at her best. "There's far too much chit-chat; someone should have told her to stop talking and stick to singing," the reviewer wrote.[2]

Track listing

Volume 1

  1. "Intro" – 3:31
  2. "Miss Brown to You" – 2:34
  3. "Good Morning Heartache" – 4:22
  4. "I'm Gonna Lock My Heart (And Throw Away the Key)" – 4:24
  5. "Fine and Mellow" – 6:24
  6. "Them There Eyes" – 1:26
  7. "Lover Man" – 6:29
  8. "I Cried for You" – 2:19
  9. "God Bless the Child" – 6:42
  10. "I Hear Music" – 2:58
  11. "I'm Pulling Through" – 3:12
  12. "Don't Explain" – 4:06
  13. "What a Little Moonlight Can Do" – 2:50

Volume 2

  1. "Intro" – 3:27
  2. "Laughing at Life" – 2:06
  3. "You Ain't Gonna Bother Me No More" – 3:48
  4. "Easy Livin" – 2:53
  5. "Yesterdays" – 6:18
  6. "My Old Flame" – 1:26
  7. "Nice Work If You Can Get It" – 2:50
  8. "Billie's Blues" – 4:48
  9. "Travelin' Light" – 3:26
  10. "Medley: If You Were Mine / It's Like Reaching for the Moon" – 5:46
  11. "I'm Painting the Town Red" – 1:36
  12. "You've Changed" – 5:31
  13. "Mean to Me" – 3:12

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[3]

Charts

Chart (1995)! scope="col"
Peak
position
US Top Jazz Albums (Billboard)[4] 17

Notes and References

  1. Jim. Macnie. The Blue Notes. Billboard. New York. Billboard Publications Inc.. April 25, 1995. 107. 17. 30. 0006-2510.
  2. Popular Music Reviews. Stereo Review. New York. Hachette Filipacchi Magazines. Inc.. August 1995. 60. 8. 78. 0039-1220.
  3. For Lady Day. Carmen. McRae. 1995. liner notes. Novus Records. 01241 63163-2. US.
  4. Top Jazz Albums. Billboard. New York. Billboard Publications Inc.. May 6, 1995. 107. 18. 27. 0006-2510.

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