| Book of Ballads | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1959 | |||
| Recorded | December 1–2, 1958, New York City [1] | |||
| Genre | Vocal jazz | |||
| Length | 40:46 | |||
| Label | Kapp KL-1117 | |||
| Producer | Frank Hunter | |||
| Carmen McRae chronology | ||||
| ||||
Book of Ballads is a 1959 album by jazz singer Carmen McRae, arranged by Frank Hunter. [2] [3]
Billboard chose the cover of Book of Ballads as their 'Album Cover of the Week' in their January 19, 1959 issue. [4]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [2] |
Allmusic awarded the album four stars and reviewer Jason Ankeny wrote that "The Book of Ballads in question is the Great American Songbook, and Carmen McRae breathes new life into some of its most dog-eared pages on this wonderful session..." Ankney also wrote that McRae's readings of "When I Fall in Love", "Isn't It Romantic?" and "How Long Has This Been Going On?" were sung with "...uncommon care and intelligence, summoning rich new meaning from the familiar lyrics. In her hands, the songs pulse with energy and life." Ankeny praised the album's arranger, Frank Hunter, and pianist Don Abney and his trio for their "...nuanced, evocative backings that afford McRae the necessary space to do her thing." [2]
Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday at Newport is a 1958 live album by Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, recorded at the 1957 Newport Jazz Festival.
The Carmen McRae-Betty Carter Duets is a 1987 live album of duets by the American jazz singers Betty Carter and Carmen McRae. Originally released on American Music Hall Records, it was reissued in 1996 by Verve under the title Duets: Live at the Great American Music Hall with three previously unreleased tracks by McRae alone.
The Man I Love is an album by jazz singer Peggy Lee with an orchestra arranged by Nelson Riddle and conducted by Frank Sinatra. This was Lee's first album after returning to Capitol.
"Glad to Be Unhappy" is a popular song composed by Richard Rodgers, with lyrics by Lorenz Hart. It was introduced in their 1936 musical On Your Toes, sung by Doris Carson and David Morris, although it was not popular at the time, as there was only one recording of the song. In the 1937 London production, it was sung by Gina Malo and Eddie Pola. The song was performed in the 1954 Broadway revival by Kay Coulter and Joshua Shelley.
When Harry Met Sally... is the soundtrack to the movie When Harry Met Sally... starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan. The songs are performed by pianist Harry Connick Jr., who won the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Male Vocal Performance.
It's All Over but the Swingin is a 1957 album by Sammy Davis Jr., arranged by Jack Pleis and Morty Stevens.
Boy Meets Girl is a 1957 studio album by Sammy Davis Jr. and Carmen McRae.
Yesterday's Love Songs/Today's Blues is a 1963 studio album by Nancy Wilson, arranged by Gerald Wilson. It was her highest charting album, entering the Billboard Top 200 on January 25, 1964, and ultimately reaching No. 4. It remained on the chart for 42 weeks. The 1991 CD edition featured a different cover image and added five bonus tracks drawn from other sessions with Gerald Wilson.
Bottoms Up! is the second album by jazz group The Three Sounds featuring performances recorded in 1958 and 1959 and released on the Blue Note label.
The Rhythms and Ballads of Broadway is a double album by American pop singer Johnny Mathis that was released in September 1960 by Columbia Records. Despite the order of the words in the title, the ballads actually make up sides one and two while the uptempo numbers fill sides three and four.
Love Lost is a studio album, released on June 11, 1959, by jazz vocal and instrumental group The Four Freshmen. Released at the height of their fame, the album is now considered a "vintage" recording. In the same year, The Four Freshmen won both the Metronome and Playboy polls as top jazz vocal group.
Romance on Film, Romance on Broadway is a 2000 album by American vocalist Michael Feinstein arranged by Alan Broadbent and John Oddo. It was Feinstein's third album for the Concord label.
Sinatra: Best of the Best is a 2011 double compilation album by American singer Frank Sinatra.
Blue Moon is an album by jazz singer Carmen McRae, released on Decca Records in 1956.
"By Myself" is a 1937 jazz standard. It was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz.
Isn't It Romantic: The Standards Album is an album by the American pop singer Johnny Mathis that was released on February 1, 2005, by Columbia Records. In an interview that year with NPR's Ed Gordon, the singer describes a conversation he had with record company executives: "They said, 'We want you to sing the most popular songs from the American musical theater that you haven't sung in the past.'... I sat down and finally came up with a list of nine songs that I hadn't recorded that were very familiar to the public."
Live at Bubba's is a 1981 live album by jazz singer Carmen McRae.
Ultimate Sinatra is a 2015 compilation album by American singer Frank Sinatra released specifically to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of his birth. The collection consists of songs recorded from 1939 to 1979 during his sessions for Columbia Records, Capitol Records, and Reprise Records. The 4-CD set consists of 100 songs, plus a never before released bonus track of a rehearsal recording of "The Surrey With the Fringe On Top" from the musical Oklahoma! This edition also features an 80-page booklet with a new essay by Sinatra historian and author Charles Pignone, as well as rare photos and quotes from Sinatra, his family members and key collaborators.
Something to Swing About is a 1960 album by jazz singer Carmen McRae, arranged by Ernie Wilkins.
And I Thought About You is a studio album by American jazz singer Johnny Hartman, released in 1959 by Roost Records. Teddy Reig, owner of Roost, served as producer, and Rudy Traylor did the arrangements. It was the only album Hartman managed to record between December 1956 and his session with John Coltrane in March 1963.
