The Great American Songbook (Carmen McRae album)

Reception

Reviewing the album for AllMusic, Scott Yanow wrote that McRae "...had what was at the time a rare opportunity to record a live, spontaneous, jazz-oriented set. She sounds quite enthusiastic about both her accompaniment and the strong repertoire". Phyl Garland, reviewing the album for Ebony magazine, wrote that "this is one of the finest heaping portions of McRae in ages...it captures her banter between song all the wit of a mature woman rapping about how to make it in any situation." Garland described "If the Moon Turns Green" and "I Thought About You" as "masterpieces of delicacy and phrasing". Billboard magazine described the album as a "sensational performance...the lady is beautiful, lending her own interpretations and great style to the lucky composers and stylists".

Diana Krall said in an interview that she wishes she had been present at this performance as "Those were the days when they were singing songs, and they weren't into worrying about whether you scat sang or not. You knew you were a jazz singer by the way you approached things".

Track listing

1. "Satin Doll" (Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Johnny Mercer) - 4:34
2. "At Long Last Love" (Cole Porter) - 2:26
3. "If the Moon Turns Green" (Paul Coates, Bernie Hanighen) - 4:26
4. "Day by Day" (Axel Stordahl, Paul Weston, Sammy Cahn) - 2:23
5. "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" (Michel LeGrand, Alan and Marilyn Bergman) - 4:14
6. "I Only Have Eyes For You" (Al Dubin, Harry Warren) - 4:13
7. Medley: "Easy Living"/"The Days of Wine and Roses"/"It's Impossible" (Leo Robin, Ralph Rainger)/(Henry Mancini, Mercer)/(Sid Wayne, Armando Manzanero) - 9:45
8. "Sunday" (Chester Conn, Benny Krueger, Ned Miller, Jule Styne) - 4:25
9. "A Song for You" (Leon Russell) - 4:34
10. "I Cried for You" (Gus Arnheim, Abe Lyman, Arthur Freed) - 1:50
11. "Behind the Face" (Jimmy Rowles, Jimmy McHugh) - 2:38
12. "The Ballad of Thelonious Monk" (Rowles, McHugh) - 3:29
13. "There's No Such Thing As Love" (Anthony Newley, Ian Fraser) - 5:01
14. "(They Long to Be) Close to You" (Hal David, Burt Bacharach) - 4:38
15. "Three Little Words" (Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby) - 2:54
16. "Mr. Ugly" (Norman Mapp) - 3:35
17. "It's Like Reaching for the Moon" (Al Sherman, Gerald Marqusee, Al Lewis) - 2:53
18. "I Thought About You" (Jimmy Van Heusen, Mercer) - 3:25

Personnel

Production