What a Way to Go | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1990 | |||
Recorded | September 1990 | |||
Studio | Sound on Sound Studios, New York | |||
Genre | Vocal jazz | |||
Length | 42:49 | |||
Label | Muse | |||
Producer | Larry Fallon | |||
Mark Murphy chronology | ||||
|
What a Way to Go is a studio album by Mark Murphy.
What a Way to Go is the 28th album by American jazz vocalist Mark Murphy. It was recorded when Murphy was 58 years old and released by the Muse label in the United States in 1990. This album is a tribute to Sammy Davis Jr. who died May 16, 1990.
In the liner notes Mark Murphy wrote, "| dedicate this record to the living memory and genius of Sammy Davis, Jr., who discovered me at the Ebony Club in Syracuse, N.Y. in 1952. And here’s a hug for Sammy's widow, Altovise". [1] According to Hal Webman and also to Peter Jones, Murphy mis-remembered the name of the club and also the year of the meeting: it was actually the Embassy Club on Harrison Street in Syracuse in 1953. [2] [3] At that meeting, Davis invited Murphy to sing with him at a nearby nightclub where Davis was appearing. The encounter led to an introduction to Stan Kenton and correspondence with Steve Allen. [3] Five years later, after recording for Decca, Allen would have Murphy on his talk show, The Tonight Show, several times and also on his show Jazz Scene USA. [4]
In letters Murphy wrote to the Mark Times fanzine he said, "This whole thing was a chance since I did not know Larry Fallon the producer/arranger. Joe Fields insisted Larry had the sound of the 90s at his fingertips, and I listened to tape he did with Gloria Lynne that has sold well. I am here to tell you the chance paid off...The strings and horns are the best synthesized orchestra sounds I've yet heard with a singer". [5] He added that the album was targeted for the new-age music crowd in the USA.
Joe Fields, founder of Muse Records, hired producer, arranger Larry Fallon, who Murphy did not know, for this recording. [5] Fallon had previously done arrangements for Van Morrison ( Astral Weeks) , Nico ( Chelsea Girl), Jimmy Cliff ( Wonderful World, Beautiful People), the Rolling Stones ("Gimme Shelter"), Gil Scott-Heron (Bridges), Cy Coleman ( Seesaw ), and on Muse Records, Gloria Lynne (A Time for Love). [6]
The supporting musicians included pianist Pat Rebillot who Murphy had worked with on Bridging a Gap (1972). The supporting band was composed of bass, drums, percussion, saxophone and guitar in addition to piano and synthesizer. But Murphy had worked with none of them before, except Rebillot. [5]
The songs included unknown compositions from June Tonkin, a Seattle pianist, Stanley Ellis, a Boston drummer, and Reuben Brown. Murphy included an original composition, "Ding Walls" and also wrote lyrics to Lee Morgan's "Ceora". "Ding Walls", the final track, was a Gilles Peterson tribute. Peterson was the DJ who had helped revive Murphy's career in the 80s with the Acid-Jazz crowd. The album also includes standard ballads that Murphy loved. [5]
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Guide | [7] |
The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [8] |
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings | [9] |
Andy Rowan assigns this album 4 stars in The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Guide. [7] (4 stars means, "Excellent: Four-star albums represent peak performances in an artist's career. Generally speaking, albums that are granted four or more stars constitute the best introductions to an artist's work for listeners who are curious"). [7]
Colin Larkin assigns 3 stars to the album in The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music. [8] (3 stars means, "Good: a record of average worth, but one that might possess considerable appeal for fans of a particular style"). [8]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings assigns the album 3 stars. [9] (3 stars means," A good, middleweight set; one that lacks the stature or consistency of the finest records, but which will reward the listener tuned to its merits"). [9] Cook and Martin write Murphy "still sets himself the most inventive of programs - Lee Morgan's 'Ceora', Reuben Brown's 'Clown In My Window' - and makes them happen". [9]
Scott Yanow includes the album in his list of some of the best individual Muse sets by Mark Murphy in his book The Jazz Singers: The Ultimate Guide. [10]
Murphy biographer Peter Jones said the reviews to this release were "muted", with some reviewers criticizing the use of synthesizers. [5]
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".
Cornbread is an album by American jazz trumpeter Lee Morgan. Recorded in September 1965 but released on the Blue Note label in early 1967, the album features performances by Morgan, along with sidemen Herbie Hancock, Billy Higgins, Jackie McLean, Hank Mobley, and Larry Ridley.
I'll Close My Eyes is a 1991 studio album by Mark Murphy.
Living Room is a 1984 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.
Song for the Geese is a 1997 studio album by Mark Murphy.
Bop for Kerouac is a 1981 studio album by Mark Murphy.
Kerouac, Then and Now is a 1989 studio album by Mark Murphy.
September Ballads is a 1987 studio album by Mark Murphy.
Once to Every Heart is a 2005 studio album by Mark Murphy.
Memories of You: Remembering Joe Williams is a 2003 studio album by Mark Murphy.
Wild and Free: Live at the Keystone Korner is a 1980 live album by Mark Murphy.
Satisfaction Guaranteed is a 1979 studio album by Mark Murphy.
Midnight Mood is a 1967 studio album by Mark Murphy.
Beauty and the Beast is a 1986 studio album by Mark Murphy.
Stolen Moments is a 1978 studio album by Mark Murphy.
Mark Murphy Sings Mostly Dorothy Fields & Cy Coleman is a 1977 studio 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.
Mark Murphy Sings the Nat King Cole Songbook, Volume One is a 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.