Carmen Mercedes McRae was an American jazz singer. She is considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century and is remembered for her behind-the-beat phrasing and ironic interpretation of lyrics.
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.
Here's to the Ladies is an album by Tony Bennett, released in 1995.
"But Beautiful" is a popular song with music written by Jimmy Van Heusen, the lyrics by Johnny Burke. The song was published in 1947.
Carmen McRae Sings Lover Man and Other Billie Holiday Classics is a 1962 studio album by Carmen McRae, recorded in tribute to McRae's idol, Billie Holiday, who had died two years previously.
"No More" is a song with music by Toots Camarata and words by Bob Russell. It is usually mentioned in connection with Billie Holiday, who recorded it on October 4, 1944. The song is sometimes listed as "(You Ain't Gonna Bother Me) No More".
Boy Meets Girl is a 1957 studio album by Sammy Davis Jr. and Carmen McRae.
Two for the Road is a 1980 album by the jazz singer Carmen McRae and the jazz pianist George Shearing.
Sarah: Dedicated to You is a 1991 studio album by Carmen McRae, with the Shirley Horn trio. The album was recorded in tribute to McRae's friend and fellow jazz singer Sarah Vaughan, and was McRae's last recording.
All The Way... and Then Some! is a studio album by Sammy Davis Jr., released in 1958.
Jack K. Pleis was an American jazz pianist, arranger, conductor, composer and producer. He recorded on London and Decca Records in the 1950s, and Columbia Records in the 1960s. During the course of his career, Pleis worked with many artists, including Louis Armstrong, Harry Belafonte, Bing Crosby, Sammy Davis Jr., Benny Goodman, Earl Grant, Brenda Lee, and Joe Williams. Between 1950 and 1976, more than 150 songs were arranged by Pleis. His surname is pronounced "Pleece".
Alive! is a 1973 live album by the American jazz singer Carmen McRae recorded at The Village Gate in New York City in 1965. This is a compilation album of two albums already released on Mainstream Records, Woman Talk (1966), and "Live" and Wailing (1968), with Woman Talk covering the first twelve songs, the latter the last nine. The double LP was digitally mastered and released on CD by Sony Music in 1994 on their Columbia/Legacy labels in the "Columbia Jazz Masterpieces" series.
Book of Ballads is a 1959 album by jazz singer Carmen McRae, arranged by Frank Hunter.
Carmen for Cool Ones is a 1958 album by jazz singer Carmen McRae, arranged and directed by cellist Fred Katz.
Mad About the Man is a 1958 album by American jazz singer Carmen McRae, arranged by Jack Pleis, of songs written by Noël Coward.
Porgy and Bess is a 1959 album by Sammy Davis Jr. of selections from George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess co-starring Carmen McRae. Davis is accompanied by orchestras conducted by Buddy Bregman and Morty Stevens, sometimes supported by the Bill Thompson singers. McRae is featured on three of the ten songs, "Summertime", "My Man's Gone Now" and the only duet, "I Loves You, Porgy", all three backed by an orchestra directed by Jack Pleis. "The record is piled to the sky with strings, harps, choruses, and pillowy orchestration," writes Tim Sendra on Allmusic, but "credit[s] Sammy and Carmen for holding up their end of the deal."
Birds of a Feather is a 1958 album by Carmen McRae. The album was arranged by Ralph Burns, and features the saxophonist Ben Webster. All the songs on the album reference birds in some way.
The Great American Songbook is a 1972 live album by Carmen McRae, accompanied by a jazz quartet including Jimmy Rowles and Joe Pass. McRae was a great fan of Rowles and described him in the liner notes to the album as "the guy every girl singer in her right mind would like to work with". Rowles's humorous country and western song, "The Ballad of Thelonious Monk", is featured on the album.
Something to Swing About is a 1960 album by jazz singer Carmen McRae, arranged by Ernie Wilkins.
It Takes a Whole Lot of Human Feeling is an album by American jazz vocalist Carmen McRae recorded in 1973 and released on the Groove Merchant label. The album's title track is a song from the 1971 musical Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope.
