Mark II (Mark Murphy album)

Last updated
Mark II
Mark II (Mark Murphy album).png
Studio album by
Mark Murphy
Released1974
Recorded1973
StudioBasement Studios
Genre Vocal jazz
Length38:27
Label Muse
Producer Helen Keane, David Matthews
Mark Murphy chronology
Bridging a Gap
(1972)		Mark II
(1974)		 Mark Murphy Sings
(1975)

Mark II is a 1973 studio album by Mark Murphy.

Mark II is the 13th studio album by American jazz vocalist Mark Murphy. It was recorded in 1973 when Murphy was 41 years old and released by the Muse label in the United States in 1974. The album is a collection of then contemporary rock tunes backed by a jazz sextet. Songs by Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell, The Band, Jefferson Airplane and Bread are included. Murphy contributes two original tunes.

Contents

Background

This album was a follow up to his first Muse album Bridging a Gap. "This time the idea was not so much to bridge a gap between rock and jazz, but to make a slightly jazz-influenced rock album". [1] Peter Jones, Murphy's biographer, calls the album "an obvious attempt to reach the rock generation". He also finds a "strong country influence", suggesting Murphy was "floundering". [1] Jones writes, "Many singing stars of the Fifties had experienced similar helplessness in the face of pop and rock's continuing onslought". [1]

Recording

Producer Dave Matthews was also the arranger for this release. He worked with Murphy on four Muse Records records including Mark II, Bridging a Gap , The Artistry of Mark Murphy and Mark Murphy Sings. Producer Helen Keane also worked with Murphy on Bridging a Gap and Mark Murphy Sings.

Jimmy Madison on drums worked with Murphy on Muse releases Bridging A Gap, Mark Murphy Sings and Satisfaction Guaranteed. The album feature two guitarists, John Tropea, who recorded with Eumir Deodato,and Sam Brown, who worked with Gary Burton and Keith Jarrett, and who also appeared on Bridging a Gap. Bassist Michael Moore and pianist Kenny Ascher make their only studio appearance with Murphy. Percussionist Sue Evans also worked with Murphy on the Muse releases The Artistry Of Mark Murphy and Mark Murphy Sings.

"Lookin' For Another Pure Love" is from Stevie Wonder's Talking Book."Barangrill" is from Joni Mitchell's For the Roses."Triad" is by David Crosby and was first recorded by Jefferson Airplane on Crown of Creation. Bread's "Too Much Love" and "Truckin' " are from Manna, both written by James Griffin and Robb Royer. The Band's "The Unfaithful Servant" by Robbie Robertson is from their album The Band and "Sleeping" by Richard Manuel and Robertson is from Stage Fright. "Chicken Road" had been previously recorded by Tennessee Earnie Ford. Murphy contributes two original songs, "They" and "Lemme Blues".

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
DownBeat Star full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]

Reception

AllMusic assigns the album 4 stars. [2] Ron Wynn writes, "Strong, individualistic material featuring Murphy doing scat, interpretations, and reworkings of jazz and pre-rock pop tunes with his vivid delivery and dynamic manner". [2]

The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide assigned the album 2 stars (meaning, "Mediocre: records that are artistically insubstantial, though not truly wretched"). [3]

Colin Larkin assigns 3 stars in The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music . [4] (Three stars means, "Good. By the artist's usual standards and therefore recommended". [4]

DownBeat assigned the album 1 star (meaning, poor). [5] Bill Adler wrote, "Vocalist Murphy has nothing to offer the readers of this magazine. Despite ludicrously overblown liner commentary claims to the contrary, he is little more than a “polite supper-club singer” who decided, this time, to record tunes by the likes of Joni Mitchell and Stevie Wonder instead of by Irving Berlin or Bacharach/David. His versions add nothing to the originals". [5]

In his book A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers, Will Friedwald laments, "Much of his second Muse release, Mark II, is a waste". [6] He calls having Murphy perform 70s pop/soft rock tunes over synthesizers a "misguided idea that he could sell more records" this way. [6]

Murphy biography Peter Jones writes the album, "failed to ignite popular enthusiasm for Mark Murphy". [1]

Track listing

  1. "Chicken Road" (Joe Greene ) – 5:46
  2. "Too Much Love" (James Griffin, Robb Royer) – 3:29
  3. "The Unfaithful Servant" (Robbie Robertson) – 2:51
  4. "Lookin' For Another Pure Love" ( Stevie Wonder, Syreeta) – 2:51
  5. "Barangrill" (Joni Mitchell) – 3:38
  6. "Triad" (David Crosby) – 4:12
  7. "They" (Mark Murphy) – 3:37
  8. 'Sleeping" (Richard Manuel, Robbie Robertson) – 3:36
  9. "Lemme Blues" (Murphy) – 5:40
  10. "Truckin' " (Griffin, Royer) – 2:87

Personnel

Performance
Production

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joni Mitchell</span> Canadian-American singer-songwriter (born 1943)

Roberta Joan "Joni" Mitchell is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and painter. As one of the most influential singer-songwriters to emerge from the 1960s folk music circuit, Mitchell became known for her personal lyrics and unconventional compositions which grew to incorporate pop and jazz elements. She has received many accolades, including eleven Grammy Awards and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. Rolling Stone called her "one of the greatest songwriters ever", and AllMusic has stated, "Joni Mitchell may stand as the most important and influential female recording artist of the late 20th century."

<i>The Hissing of Summer Lawns</i> 1975 studio album by Joni Mitchell

The Hissing of Summer Lawns is the seventh studio album by the Canadian-American singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, released in November 1975 on Asylum Records. It continues the jazz-influenced sound of Mitchell's previous album, Court and Spark, with more unconventional and experimental material. It features sampling, synthesizers such as the Moog and ARP, and contributions from acts including the jazz-rock groups the L.A. Express and the Jazz Crusaders and James Taylor, David Crosby, and Graham Nash.

<i>Court and Spark</i> 1974 studio album by Joni Mitchell

Court and Spark is the sixth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. Released in January 1974, it infuses the folk rock style of her previous albums with jazz elements.

<i>Hejira</i> (album) 1976 studio album by Joni Mitchell

Hejira is the eighth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, released in 1976 on Asylum Records. Its material was written during a period of frequent travel in late 1975 and early 1976, and reflects Mitchell's experiences on the road during that time. It is characterized by lyrically dense, sprawling songs and musical backing by several jazz-oriented instrumentalists, most prominently fretless bass player Jaco Pastorius, guitarist Larry Carlton, and drummer John Guerin.

<i>For the Roses</i> 1972 studio album by Joni Mitchell

For the Roses is the fifth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. It was released in November 1972, between her two biggest commercial and critical successes—Blue and Court and Spark. In 2007 it was one of 25 recordings chosen that year by the Library of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Murphy (singer)</span> American jazz singer (1932–2015)

Mark Howe Murphy was an American jazz singer based at various times in New York City, Los Angeles, London, and San Francisco. He recorded 51 albums under his own name during his lifetime and was principally known for his innovative vocal improvisations. He was the recipient of the 1996, 1997, 2000, and 2001 Down Beat magazine readers' jazz poll for Best Male Vocalist and was also nominated five times for the Grammy Award for Best Vocal Jazz Performance. He wrote lyrics to the jazz tunes "Stolen Moments" and "Red Clay".

<i>Gershwins World</i> 1998 studio album by Herbie Hancock

Gershwin's World is a thirty-seventh studio album by the American jazz pianist Herbie Hancock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camille (American singer)</span> American singer

Camille Filfiley, known professionally as Camille, is an American singer best known for her recordings with Eumir Deodato and her prominence in the early 1990s freestyle music and dance music genres.

<i>Bridging a Gap</i> 1973 studio album by Mark Murphy

Bridging a Gap is an album by vocalist Mark Murphy which was recorded in 1972 and released on the Muse label.

<i>Bop for Kerouac</i> 1981 studio album by Mark Murphy

Bop for Kerouac is a 1981 studio album by Mark Murphy.

<i>Satisfaction Guaranteed</i> (Mark Murphy album) 1979 studio album by Mark Murphy

Satisfaction Guaranteed is a 1979 studio album by Mark Murphy.

<i>Stolen Moments</i> (Mark Murphy album) 1978 studio album by Mark Murphy

Stolen Moments is a 1978 studio album by Mark Murphy.

<i>What a Way to Go</i> (Mark Murphy album) 1990 studio album by Mark Murphy

What a Way to Go is a studio album by Mark Murphy.

<i>Mark Murphy Sings Nats Choice The Complete Nat "King" Cole Songbook Volumes 1 and 2</i> 1986 compilation album by Mark Murphy.

Mark Murphy Sings Nat's Choice The Complete Nat "King" Cole Songbook Volumes 1 and 2 is a 1986 studio compilation album by Mark Murphy.

<i>Mark Murphy Sings Nats Choice: The Nat "King" Cole Songbook, Volume Two</i> 1983 studio album by Mark Murphy

Mark Murphy Sings Nat's Choice: The Nat "King" Cole Songbook, Volume Two is a studio album by Mark Murphy.

<i>Brazil Song</i> (Cancões Do Brasil) 1983 studio album by Mark Murphy

Brazil Song is the 20th album by American jazz vocalist Mark Murphy. It was recorded when Murphy was 51 years old in 1983 and released by the Muse label in the United States in 1984. This album is collection of Brazilian jazz songs.

<i>The Artistry of Mark Murphy</i> 1982 studio album by Mark Murphy

The Artistry of Mark Murphy is a 1982 studio album by Mark Murphy.

<i>Stolen...And Other Moments</i> 1997 compilation album by Mark Murphy

Stolen...And Other Moments is a compilation album of American jazz vocalist Mark Murphy's Muse Records recordings. It was released by the 32 Jazz label in the United States in 1997. This album is collection of songs from his Muse years from 1972 to 1991.

<i>Jazz Standards</i> (Mark Murphy album) 1998 compilation album by Mark Murphy

Jazz Standards is a compilation album of American jazz vocalist Mark Murphy's Muse Records recordings. It was released by the 32 Jazz label in the United States in 1998. This album is a collection of jazz songs from his Muse years from 1972 to 1991.

<i>Mark Murphy Sings Nat King Cole & More</i> 1999 compilation album by Mark Murphy

Mark Murphy Sings Nat King Cole & More is a compilation album of American jazz vocalist Mark Murphy's Muse Records recordings. It was released by the 32 Jazz label in the United States in 1999. This album is a collection of songs from his Muse years 1972–1991.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Jones, Peter (2018). This is hip: the life of Mark Murphy. Popular music history. Sheffield, UK ; Bristol, CT: Equinox Publishing. pp. 68–69. ISBN   978-1-78179-473-9.
  2. 1 2 3 Yanow, Scott (2002). AllMusic Guide to Jazz: The Definitive Guide to Jazz Music. Vladimir Bogdanov, Chris Woodstra, Steven Thomas Erlewine (eds.) (4 ed.). Ann Arbor, Mich.: All Media Guide [u.a.] pp. 926–927. ISBN   978-0-87930-717-2.
  3. 1 2 Swenson, John (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. John Swenson (ed.) (1st ed.). New York: Random House. p. 149. ISBN   978-0-394-72643-4.
  4. 1 2 3 Larkin, Colin (2002). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Colin Larkin, Muze UK Ltd (eds.) (Concise 4th ed.). London: Virgin. pp. 899–900. ISBN   978-1-85227-923-3.
  5. 1 2 3 Adler, Bill (22 May 1975). "Mark Murphy. Mark II". DownBeat : 30.
  6. 1 2 Friedwald, Will (2010). A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers (Kindle ed.). New York: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. p. 350. ISBN   978-0-375-42149-5.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.