Carmen McRae - The Sound Of Silence (Japanese Atlantic Vinyl LP Gatefold)

One of jazz's most sophisticated and emotionally astute vocalists, Carmen McRae delivers a masterclass in interpretive singing on The Sound Of Silence, an album that finds her tackling a diverse repertoire ranging from Duke Ellington standards to contemporary pop material. This 1969 Japanese pressing, the first Japanese release officially licensed by Atlantic Records and manufactured by Nippon Grammophon on their green and light blue label, captures McRae's artistry in a beautifully presented gatefold edition.

The album's title track, Simon & Garfunkel's "The Sound Of Silence", demonstrates McRae's remarkable ability to take popular songs and transform them into jazz vehicles without losing their essential character. Similarly, her interpretation of Jimmy Webb's sprawling "MacArthur Park" is audacious and successful, proof that McRae could inhabit virtually any material and make it her own. These contemporary choices sit comfortably alongside timeless standards like Ellington's "I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good", Hoagy Carmichael's "Stardust", and the Hungarian suicide song "Gloomy Sunday", which McRae performs with haunting restraint.

What sets McRae apart from many of her contemporaries is her musician's approach to singing. Her pitch is impeccable, her time feel sophisticated, and her phrasing constantly interesting without calling attention to itself. She never over-sings or relies on vocal acrobatics, instead using her rich, slightly husky tone and innate musicality to serve each song's emotional truth. Whether delivering the melancholy of "Poor Butterfly" or the wistfulness of "The Folks Who Live On The Hill", McRae's artistry is consistently compelling.

This Japanese gatefold pressing represents an important moment when Atlantic Records was expanding McRae's reach internationally. The Nippon Grammophon manufacturing ensures excellent sound quality that does justice to McRae's voice and the arrangements.

Vinyl: VG+
Sleeve: VG+
Obi: None

Our grading system explained here.

Photo is of the actual item.