Carmen McRae

Carmen McRae on vinyl: the singer who meant every word

In short: Carmen McRae from Harlem was one of the great jazz singers – and a pianist. Her idol was Billie Holiday, her trademark a phrasing in which every word counts. With us you’ll find her early recordings on Bethlehem, her sixties live albums on Mainstream and “Take Five” with Dave Brubeck. The Vinyl Room currently has 19 Carmen McRae records.

What makes Carmen McRae special?

Carmen McRae didn’t sing over a song, she told it. She placed pauses, stressed syllables in unusual ways and could almost speak a ballad – that’s what makes her records so special to this day. You hear it best live: we have “Woman Talk”, recorded at the Village Gate in New York, “"Live" & Wailing” and “In Person / San Francisco”, plus a live record from the Dug jazz club in Tokyo.

Her first albums came out on Bethlehem in the mid-fifties – on the sampler “Bethlehem’s Girl Friends” she stands next to Chris Connor and Julie London. With the Dave Brubeck Quartet she recorded “Take Five” with lyrics. Later came albums on Mainstream, Atlantic and other labels.

From our stock

First pressings

All Carmen McRae records

→ Bethlehem Records · Jazz on vinyl · How to spot a first pressing · Grading explained

FAQ

Who was Carmen McRae? An American jazz singer and pianist (1920–1994) from Harlem, New York.

Did Carmen McRae sing “Take Five”? Yes, with the Dave Brubeck Quartet – the sung version of the famous piece.

Which Carmen McRae live albums do you have? Among others “Woman Talk (Live At The Village Gate)”, “"Live" & Wailing” and “In Person / San Francisco”.

How many Carmen McRae records do you have? Currently 19 records – studio and live recordings.