Sarah Vaughan "Crazy and Mixed Up" (1982)

Crazy and Mixed Up

release date: 1982

format: vinyl / cd (1985 reissue)

[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,85]

producer: Sarah Vaughan

label: Pablo Records - nationality: USA

Studio album by Sarah Vaughan released on the Pablo label is recognised as one her better albums in the last decade of a long career. The album follows the release of Send in the Clowns (1981) recorded with the Count Basie Orchestra also on Pablo. Crazy and Mixed Up is a collection of standards and vocal jazz songs, which count the two Rodgers & Hart songs "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" and "You Are Too Beautiful", the Kosma and Prévet composition "Autumn Leaves" (org. ""Les Feuilles mortes") with English lyrics by Johnny Mercer, the Haymes and Brandt classic "That's All", and four other fine and nicely fitting compositions by various others - all showing that Vaughan in her late 50s still is alive and kicking.

Highly recommended.

[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings 4 / 4 stars ]

Tindersticks "Soft Tissue" (2024)

Soft Tissue

release date: Sep. 13, 2024

format: vinyl (Lucky Dog41LP) / digital (9 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,96]

producer: Stuart A. Staples

label: Lucky Dog / City Slang - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: A) 1. "New World" - 3. "Nancy" - 4. "Falling, the Light" (4 / 5) - - B) 1. "Always a Stranger" (4 / 5) - "The Secret of Breathing" - 3. "Turned My Back" (4 / 5) - 4. "Soon to Be April"

14th studio album by Tindersticks following 3½ years after Distractions (Feb. 2021) is as usual produced by songwriter and front-figure Stuart Staples, who is credited all songs, two tracks (#A4 and #B4) are co-composed with bassist and keyboardist Dan McKinna.

From scratch on, it's evident tat Soft Tissue goes in quite a different direction than the electronic bits suggested on the predecessor - except for the drum-programming heard on track #2 "Don't Walk, Run". These eight / nine songs - the vinyl issue comes with eight tracks, the digital with a ninth bonus track "New World (Edit)" - are kept at more normal running lengths varrying from 3:35 to 6:15 mins, but whats most striking is a strong dominance of strings - making it a characteristic chamber pop album. And then, when strings are not dominating the single arrangement, keyboards either hold focus with a sound of an accordion or a Wurlitzer piano, or an organ is often taking a leading stance. Perhaps with the exception of track #B3, which is a soul-like chorus-based warm side-step, the songs are arranged in quiet, simple, and mellow tones. Ordinary drums are not hardly heard throughout the album - instead, there's either subtle jazz-like percussion, glockenspiel, bells, or bongos.

Overall, it's once again an album where Staples' narating and haunted vocal dominate the picture, but it's done with delicacy and that neccesary variation that makes it all so much more appetising.

As with the 2021 album, cover art is credited Staples' daughter Sidonie Osborne Staples.

Again, Tindersticks deliver a solid and strong collection of songs.

Recommended.

[ 👍allmusic.com, Rolling Stone, 👍The Guardian 4 / 5, Gaffa.dk 4 / 6 stars ]