Albums that exist in the same realm as Sinatra's 'saloon songs' or 'noir' albums

“Down River” is a very moving song......

 

Dominique Fils-Aimé: Nameless

 

kd lang - Drag fits in here. Great album.

 

Dinah Washington: What a Diff'rence a Day Makes

 

It's a nice album. She has a sweet voice. I like her okay.

But there's no gravel in her gut nor spit in her eye.
I don't doubt she feels the songs but her voice is lightweight.

In contrast when Billie Holiday or Marianne Faithful open
their mouths you know they've been through something.

 

This is the first record of I thought of when reading the thread title, an absolutely gorgeous album, if you like "late night records" and your not familiar with The Blue Nile then deprive yourself no longer...

"From a late night train"

 

His best album imo, its the album I was waiting for him to make...

 

Indeed.....heres a collection of all his ballads I put together on Spotify (the vast majority of them anyway).

Tom Waits Bawlers

 

Im a huge fan of "late night records", there's been some great suggestions here thanks everyone! (I could have won the lotto and Id still rather hear melancholy music)

 

This is a favorite thread that I have delved into numerous times.
No one has mentioned Melody Gardot, her second album.
My One and Only Thrill.



I have always found this more consistent than her first album, and darker.
Since then, she has changed directions a few times, and I've followed.
This is my go-to of hers for late night.

 

I second this recommendation.

 

Just relistened to this afternoon.



This ought to be a natural. Great songs from classic Film Noir.
Good arrangements, nicely recorded.
Lawrence's voice is too thin, however, and a bit too high in the octave range.
She wants to do it, but she ain't no Big Band canary.

 

" Johnny Hartman- I Just Dropped By To Say Hello", "Johnny Hartman and John Coltrane" and "The Intimate Ella Fitzgerald" are fine additions to anyone's late night album collection.