1974 Carole King – Jazzman (US:#2)
“Jazzman” is a 1974 song performed by Carole King, from her album Wrap Around Joy. King composed the music for the song, while David Palmer (formerly of Steely Dan) wrote the lyrics.
The song is best known for its lengthy saxophone solos, performed by Tom Scott, while King sings an ode to ‘the Jazzman’ and the effect he has on her. Curtis Amy, saxophonist, composer, and former musical director for the Ray Charles band, was the ‘jazz man’ of the song.
Shortly after arriving on the Billboard Hot 100, the single rose to the #2 spot for a week in mid-November 1974 (stuck behind “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” by Bachman Turner Overdrive). The song also reached No. 4 in the Billboard easy listening chart. The B-side of the “Jazzman” single was “You Go Your Way, I’ll Go Mine”.
Billboard described “Jazzman” as one of King’s most commercial songs, and praised the saxophone playing and backup vocals. Cash Box said that “the artist’s unique vocal is powerfully backed by strong horns and a great pop arrangement.”
“Jazzman” was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1975 in the category Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, losing out to Olivia Newton-John’s song “I Honestly Love You”.
“Jazzman” is also prominently featured in The Simpsons episode “‘Round Springfield”, sung by Yeardley Smith as Lisa Simpson; it is presented as a duet between Lisa and recurring character Bleeding Gums Murphy, who plays the saxophone.
Album
Wrap Around Joy is the sixth album by American singer and songwriter Carole King, released in 1974. The album peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart in late 1974 and spun off successful singles with “Jazzman”, reaching number two on the Pop chart and earning Carole King a nomination for Best Pop […]
Muscians
| Bass | Charles Larkey |
| Drums | Andy Newmark |
| Guitar | Danny Kortchmar |
| Guitar | Dean Parks |
| Keyboards | Carole King |
| Sax | Tom Scott |
| Background Vocals | Abigale Haness |
| Vocals | Carole King |
Produced By
Lou Adler
Songwriters
Carole King
David Palmer
Charts
US:# 2
UK:# –