Created article for Mark Murphy album What a Way to Go
New page
{{Short description|1990 studio album by Mark Murphy}}
{{Infobox album
| name = What a Way to Go
| type = studio
| artist = [[Mark Murphy (singer)|Mark Murphy]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 1990
| recorded = September 1990
| venue =
| studio = [[Sound on Sound Studios]], New York
| genre = [[Vocal jazz]]
| length = 42:49
| label = [[Muse Records]]
| producer = [[Larry Fallon]]
| chronology = [[Mark Murphy (singer)|Mark Murphy]]
| prev_title = [[Kerouac, Then and Now]]
| prev_year = 1989
| next_title = [[I'll Close My Eyes (Mark Murphy album)|I'll Close My Eyes]]
| next_year = 1991
}}
'''''What a Way to Go''''' is a [[studio album]] by [[Mark Murphy (singer)|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 Records|Muse]] label in the [[United States]] in 1990. This album is a tribute to [[Sammy Davis Jr.]] who died May 16, 1990.
== Background ==
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 Gore|Altovise]]".<ref>Murphy, Mark. (1990). What a Way to Go. (Liner notes). Mark Murphy. Muse Records.</ref> According to Hal Webman and also to Peter Jones, Murphy mis-remebered 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.<ref>Webman, Hal. (1956). Meet Mark Murphy. (Liner notes). Mark Murphy. Decca Records.</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Jones |first=Peter |title=This is hip: the life of Mark Murphy |date=2018 |publisher=Equinox Publishing |isbn=978-1-78179-473-9 |series=Popular music history |location=Sheffield, UK ; Bristol, CT |pages=9-10}}</ref> 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]].<ref name=":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]].''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jones |first=Peter |title=This is hip: the life of Mark Murphy |date=2018 |publisher=Equinox Publishing |isbn=978-1-78179-473-9 |series=Popular music history |location=Sheffield, UK ; Bristol, CT |pages=23}}</ref>
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 (producer)|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 "*****" 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".<ref name=":4" /> He went on to say the album was targeted for the [[New-age music|new-age]] music crowd in the USA.
== Recording ==
Joe Fields, founder of Muse Records, hired producer, arranger Larry Fallon, who Murphy did not know, for this recording. Fallon had previously done arrangements for [[Van Morrison]] (''[[Astral Weeks|Astral Weeks)]]'', [[Nico]] (''[[Chelsea Girl (album)|Chelsea Girl]])'', [[Jimmy Cliff]] (''[[Wonderful World, Beautiful People (album)|Wonderful World, Beautiful People]])'', the [[Rolling Stones]] ("[[Gimme Shelter]]"), [[Gil Scott-Heron]] (''Bridges),'' [[Cy Coleman]] (''[[Seesaw (musical)|Seesaw]]''), and on Muse Records, [[Gloria Lynne]] (''A Time for Love'')''.''
The supporting musicians included pianist <bdi>[[Pat Rebillot]] who Murphy had worked with on ''[[Bridging a Gap]]'' (1972). The supporting band was comprised of bass, drums, percussion, saxophone and guitar in addition to piano and synthesizer. But Murphy had worked with none of them before, except Rebillot.</bdi>
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 [[Disc jockey|DJ]] who had helped revive Murphy's career in the 80s with the [[Acid jazz|Acid-Jazz]] crowd. The album also includes standard ballads that Murphy loved.{{Music ratings
| rev1 = [[The Rolling Stone Album Guide|The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Guide]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name=":0" />
| rev2 = [[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]
| rev2score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name=":1" />
| rev3 = [[The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings]]
| rev3score = {{Rating|3|4}}<ref name=":2" />
| rev4 =
| rev4score =
| rev5 =
| rev5score =
| rev6 =
| rev6score =
}}
== Reception ==
Andy Rowan assigns this album 4 stars in [[The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide|''The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Guide'']].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Swenson |first=John |title=The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Guide |date= |publisher=[[Random House]] |others= |year=1999 |isbn=978-0-679-76873-9 |editor-last=Swenson |editor-first=John |edition=1st |series=A Random House/Rolling Stone Press Book |location=New York |pages=509}}</ref> (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").<ref name=":0" />
Colin Larkin assigns 3 stars to the album in ''[[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music]].''<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Larkin |first=Colin |title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2002 |publisher=Virgin |others=Colin Larkin, Muze UK Ltd (eds.) |isbn=978-1-85227-923-3 |edition=Concise 4th |location=London |pages=899-900}}</ref> (3 stars means, "Good: a record of average worth, but one that might possess considerable appeal for fans of a particular style").<ref name=":1" />
''[[The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings]]'' assigns the album 3 stars.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Cook |first=Richard |url= |title=The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, LP and Cassette; A Comprehensive, Critical Guide to Recorded Jazz; From its Beginnings Until the Present |last2=Morton |first2=Brian |date=1994 |publisher=London; New York: [[Penguin Books]] |isbn=978-0-14-017949-1 |edition=New |pages=949 |access-date=}}</ref> (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").<ref name=":2" /> 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".<ref name=":2" />
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.''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Yanow |first=Scott |title=The Jazz Singers: The Ultimate Guide |date=2008 |publisher=Backbeat Books |isbn=978-0-87930-825-4 |location=New York |pages=161-162}}</ref>
Murphy biographer Peter Jones said the reviews to this release were "muted", with some reviewers criticizing the use of synthesizers.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Jones |first=Peter |title=This is hip: the life of Mark Murphy |date=2018 |publisher=Equinox Publishing |isbn=978-1-78179-473-9 |series=Popular music history |location=Sheffield, UK ; Bristol, CT |pages=105}}</ref>
== Track listing ==
# <bdi>"What a Way to Go" (June Tonkin</bdi>[[Don't Blame Me (Dorothy Fields and Jimmy McHugh song)|)]] – 6:09
# "<bdi>Ceora Lives" ([[Lee Morgan]], Mark Murphy) – 4:10</bdi>
# "<bdi>I Fall in Love Too Easily" ([[Jule Styne]], [[Sammy Cahn]]) – 4:15</bdi>
# "<bdi>Saxophone Joe" (H. Smith) – 3:36</bdi>
# "<bdi>[[All My Tomorrows (song)|All My Tomorrows]]" ([[Jimmy Van Heusen]], Cahn) – 6:02</bdi>
# "<bdi>Jamaica (A Little Island of Calm)" ([[Randy Goodrum]]) – 5:57</bdi>
# "<bdi>I Never Noticed Until Now" (Stanley Ellis) – 6:01</bdi>
# "<bdi>Clown in My Window" (Reuben Brown) – 4:16</bdi>
# "<bdi>Ding Walls" (Murphy) – 2:50</bdi>
== Personnel ==
; Performance
* [[Mark Murphy (singer)|Mark Murphy]] – vocals
* <bdi>Francisco Centeno – bass</bdi>
* <bdi>[[Chris Parker (musician)|Chris Parker]] – drums</bdi>
* <bdi>[[Allan Schwartzberg]] – drums</bdi>
*[[Larry Fallon|<bdi>Larry Fallon</bdi>]] <bdi>– synthesizer, arranger</bdi>
*<bdi>[[Sammy Figueroa]] – percussion</bdi>
*<bdi>John Kaye – percussion</bdi>
*<bdi>[[Pat Rebillot]] – piano</bdi>
*<bdi>John Cobert – synthesizer</bdi>
*<bdi>Danny Wilensky – tenor saxophone</bdi>
*[[David Spinozza]] <bdi>– guitar</bdi>
;
; Production
* <bdi>Jay Messina</bdi> – [[Audio engineering|engineer]]
* [[Larry Fallon]] – producer
* <bdi>Ron Warwell –</bdi> graphic <bdi>design</bdi>
* <bdi>Fred Bouchard – liner notes</bdi>
* <bdi>David Sinclair –</bdi> photography
* <bdi>Joe Brescio –</bdi> mastering at <bdi>Master Cutting Room, NYC</bdi>
== References ==
<references />
== External links ==
* ''[https://musicbrainz.org/release/1bd8f9f4-15f0-4eaa-9264-f2d51651c0c8 What a Way to Go]'' at [[MusicBrainz]] (release group)
* ''[https://www.discogs.com/release/3763361-Mark-Murphy-What-A-Way-To-Go What a Way to Go]'' at [[Discogs]] (master release)
* ''[https://www.allmusic.com/album/what-a-way-to-go-mw0000612782 What a Way to Go]'' at [[AllMusic]] (release)
* ''[https://archive.org/search?query=external-identifier:"urn:upc:016565541926" What a Way to Go]'' at [[Internet Archive]]
* Mark Murphy in ''[https://archive.org/search?query=external-identifier:"urn:oclc:record:1280806807" The Penguin Guide to Jazz]'' at Internet Archive
* Mark Murphy in ''[https://archive.org/search?query=external-identifier:"urn:oclc:record:1036937988" The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide]'' at Internet Archive
{{Mark Murphy (singer)}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT
ream, The}}
Okumaya devam et...
New page
{{Short description|1990 studio album by Mark Murphy}}
{{Infobox album
| name = What a Way to Go
| type = studio
| artist = [[Mark Murphy (singer)|Mark Murphy]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 1990
| recorded = September 1990
| venue =
| studio = [[Sound on Sound Studios]], New York
| genre = [[Vocal jazz]]
| length = 42:49
| label = [[Muse Records]]
| producer = [[Larry Fallon]]
| chronology = [[Mark Murphy (singer)|Mark Murphy]]
| prev_title = [[Kerouac, Then and Now]]
| prev_year = 1989
| next_title = [[I'll Close My Eyes (Mark Murphy album)|I'll Close My Eyes]]
| next_year = 1991
}}
'''''What a Way to Go''''' is a [[studio album]] by [[Mark Murphy (singer)|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 Records|Muse]] label in the [[United States]] in 1990. This album is a tribute to [[Sammy Davis Jr.]] who died May 16, 1990.
== Background ==
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 Gore|Altovise]]".<ref>Murphy, Mark. (1990). What a Way to Go. (Liner notes). Mark Murphy. Muse Records.</ref> According to Hal Webman and also to Peter Jones, Murphy mis-remebered 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.<ref>Webman, Hal. (1956). Meet Mark Murphy. (Liner notes). Mark Murphy. Decca Records.</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Jones |first=Peter |title=This is hip: the life of Mark Murphy |date=2018 |publisher=Equinox Publishing |isbn=978-1-78179-473-9 |series=Popular music history |location=Sheffield, UK ; Bristol, CT |pages=9-10}}</ref> 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]].<ref name=":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]].''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jones |first=Peter |title=This is hip: the life of Mark Murphy |date=2018 |publisher=Equinox Publishing |isbn=978-1-78179-473-9 |series=Popular music history |location=Sheffield, UK ; Bristol, CT |pages=23}}</ref>
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 (producer)|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 "*****" 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".<ref name=":4" /> He went on to say the album was targeted for the [[New-age music|new-age]] music crowd in the USA.
== Recording ==
Joe Fields, founder of Muse Records, hired producer, arranger Larry Fallon, who Murphy did not know, for this recording. Fallon had previously done arrangements for [[Van Morrison]] (''[[Astral Weeks|Astral Weeks)]]'', [[Nico]] (''[[Chelsea Girl (album)|Chelsea Girl]])'', [[Jimmy Cliff]] (''[[Wonderful World, Beautiful People (album)|Wonderful World, Beautiful People]])'', the [[Rolling Stones]] ("[[Gimme Shelter]]"), [[Gil Scott-Heron]] (''Bridges),'' [[Cy Coleman]] (''[[Seesaw (musical)|Seesaw]]''), and on Muse Records, [[Gloria Lynne]] (''A Time for Love'')''.''
The supporting musicians included pianist <bdi>[[Pat Rebillot]] who Murphy had worked with on ''[[Bridging a Gap]]'' (1972). The supporting band was comprised of bass, drums, percussion, saxophone and guitar in addition to piano and synthesizer. But Murphy had worked with none of them before, except Rebillot.</bdi>
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 [[Disc jockey|DJ]] who had helped revive Murphy's career in the 80s with the [[Acid jazz|Acid-Jazz]] crowd. The album also includes standard ballads that Murphy loved.{{Music ratings
| rev1 = [[The Rolling Stone Album Guide|The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Guide]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name=":0" />
| rev2 = [[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]
| rev2score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name=":1" />
| rev3 = [[The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings]]
| rev3score = {{Rating|3|4}}<ref name=":2" />
| rev4 =
| rev4score =
| rev5 =
| rev5score =
| rev6 =
| rev6score =
}}
== Reception ==
Andy Rowan assigns this album 4 stars in [[The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide|''The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Guide'']].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Swenson |first=John |title=The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Guide |date= |publisher=[[Random House]] |others= |year=1999 |isbn=978-0-679-76873-9 |editor-last=Swenson |editor-first=John |edition=1st |series=A Random House/Rolling Stone Press Book |location=New York |pages=509}}</ref> (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").<ref name=":0" />
Colin Larkin assigns 3 stars to the album in ''[[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music]].''<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Larkin |first=Colin |title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2002 |publisher=Virgin |others=Colin Larkin, Muze UK Ltd (eds.) |isbn=978-1-85227-923-3 |edition=Concise 4th |location=London |pages=899-900}}</ref> (3 stars means, "Good: a record of average worth, but one that might possess considerable appeal for fans of a particular style").<ref name=":1" />
''[[The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings]]'' assigns the album 3 stars.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Cook |first=Richard |url= |title=The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, LP and Cassette; A Comprehensive, Critical Guide to Recorded Jazz; From its Beginnings Until the Present |last2=Morton |first2=Brian |date=1994 |publisher=London; New York: [[Penguin Books]] |isbn=978-0-14-017949-1 |edition=New |pages=949 |access-date=}}</ref> (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").<ref name=":2" /> 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".<ref name=":2" />
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.''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Yanow |first=Scott |title=The Jazz Singers: The Ultimate Guide |date=2008 |publisher=Backbeat Books |isbn=978-0-87930-825-4 |location=New York |pages=161-162}}</ref>
Murphy biographer Peter Jones said the reviews to this release were "muted", with some reviewers criticizing the use of synthesizers.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Jones |first=Peter |title=This is hip: the life of Mark Murphy |date=2018 |publisher=Equinox Publishing |isbn=978-1-78179-473-9 |series=Popular music history |location=Sheffield, UK ; Bristol, CT |pages=105}}</ref>
== Track listing ==
# <bdi>"What a Way to Go" (June Tonkin</bdi>[[Don't Blame Me (Dorothy Fields and Jimmy McHugh song)|)]] – 6:09
# "<bdi>Ceora Lives" ([[Lee Morgan]], Mark Murphy) – 4:10</bdi>
# "<bdi>I Fall in Love Too Easily" ([[Jule Styne]], [[Sammy Cahn]]) – 4:15</bdi>
# "<bdi>Saxophone Joe" (H. Smith) – 3:36</bdi>
# "<bdi>[[All My Tomorrows (song)|All My Tomorrows]]" ([[Jimmy Van Heusen]], Cahn) – 6:02</bdi>
# "<bdi>Jamaica (A Little Island of Calm)" ([[Randy Goodrum]]) – 5:57</bdi>
# "<bdi>I Never Noticed Until Now" (Stanley Ellis) – 6:01</bdi>
# "<bdi>Clown in My Window" (Reuben Brown) – 4:16</bdi>
# "<bdi>Ding Walls" (Murphy) – 2:50</bdi>
== Personnel ==
; Performance
* [[Mark Murphy (singer)|Mark Murphy]] – vocals
* <bdi>Francisco Centeno – bass</bdi>
* <bdi>[[Chris Parker (musician)|Chris Parker]] – drums</bdi>
* <bdi>[[Allan Schwartzberg]] – drums</bdi>
*[[Larry Fallon|<bdi>Larry Fallon</bdi>]] <bdi>– synthesizer, arranger</bdi>
*<bdi>[[Sammy Figueroa]] – percussion</bdi>
*<bdi>John Kaye – percussion</bdi>
*<bdi>[[Pat Rebillot]] – piano</bdi>
*<bdi>John Cobert – synthesizer</bdi>
*<bdi>Danny Wilensky – tenor saxophone</bdi>
*[[David Spinozza]] <bdi>– guitar</bdi>
;
; Production
* <bdi>Jay Messina</bdi> – [[Audio engineering|engineer]]
* [[Larry Fallon]] – producer
* <bdi>Ron Warwell –</bdi> graphic <bdi>design</bdi>
* <bdi>Fred Bouchard – liner notes</bdi>
* <bdi>David Sinclair –</bdi> photography
* <bdi>Joe Brescio –</bdi> mastering at <bdi>Master Cutting Room, NYC</bdi>
== References ==
<references />
== External links ==
* ''[https://musicbrainz.org/release/1bd8f9f4-15f0-4eaa-9264-f2d51651c0c8 What a Way to Go]'' at [[MusicBrainz]] (release group)
* ''[https://www.discogs.com/release/3763361-Mark-Murphy-What-A-Way-To-Go What a Way to Go]'' at [[Discogs]] (master release)
* ''[https://www.allmusic.com/album/what-a-way-to-go-mw0000612782 What a Way to Go]'' at [[AllMusic]] (release)
* ''[https://archive.org/search?query=external-identifier:"urn:upc:016565541926" What a Way to Go]'' at [[Internet Archive]]
* Mark Murphy in ''[https://archive.org/search?query=external-identifier:"urn:oclc:record:1280806807" The Penguin Guide to Jazz]'' at Internet Archive
* Mark Murphy in ''[https://archive.org/search?query=external-identifier:"urn:oclc:record:1036937988" The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide]'' at Internet Archive
{{Mark Murphy (singer)}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT
ream, The}}Okumaya devam et...