News

Craft Recordings has announced another anticipated reissue from their rich catalogue of jazz’s most celebrated labels.  Due May 28, it’s Abbey Is Blue by renowned vocalist, songwriter, and activist Abbey Lincoln (1930-2010).  Originally released on Riverside in 1959 as her fourth overall album and final release on the label, the album saw Lincoln team up with Max Roach, Stanley Turrentine, Philly Joe Jones, and other great sidemen for a selection of tracks hand-picked by Lincoln.

From the Street Scene number “Lonely House,” penned by Langston Hughes and Kurt Weill, to the Mongo Santamaria/Oscar Brown standard “Afro-Blue,” Weill and Maxwell Anderson’s stirring “Lost in the Stars,”  and the original composition “Let Up,” Abbey Is Blue shows Lincoln demonstrating creative control and using her music to speak out against injustice.

The album arrives newly remastered from the original analog tapes by Kevin Gray at CoHEARent Audio.  The result will be available on 180-gram vinyl pressed at RTI.  And if this title is anything like Craft’s previous jazz reissues, it’ll no doubt be a pleasure to experience for listeners old and new.

Abbey is Blue will be released May 28.  You can pre-order your copy of the 180-gram vinyl remaster with the links below.  High-resolution digital audio will also be available from HD Tracks, Qobuz, and similar services on release day.

Abbey Lincoln, Abbey Is Blue (originally released as Riverside LP RLP-12-308, 1959 – reissued Craft Recordings, 2021) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Your Local Record Shop)

Side 1:

1. Afro-Blue
2. Lonely House
3. Let Up
4. Thursday’s Child
5. Brother, Where Are You?

Side 2:

1. Laugh, Clown, Laugh
2. Come Sunday
3. Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise
4. Lost in the Stars
5. Long As You’re Living