# Jazzman

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1974 song by Carole King

For the French magazine, see [Jazzman (magazine)](/source/Jazzman_(magazine)).

Not to be confused with [Jazz Man Records](/source/Jazz_Man_Records).

"Jazzman" Single by Carole King from the album Wrap Around Joy B-side "You Go Your Way, I'll Go Mine" Released August 22, 1974 Recorded 1974 Studio A&M (Hollywood) Genre Pop jazz Length 3:44 Label Ode Songwriters Carole King, David Palmer Producer Lou Adler Carole King singles chronology "Corazon" (1973) "Jazzman" (1974) "Nightingale" (1975)

"**Jazzman**" is a 1974 song performed by [Carole King](/source/Carole_King), from her album *[Wrap Around Joy](/source/Wrap_Around_Joy)*. King composed the music for the song, while [David Palmer](/source/David_Palmer_(vocalist)) (formerly of [Steely Dan](/source/Steely_Dan)) wrote the lyrics.

The song is best known for its lengthy [saxophone](/source/Saxophone) solos, performed by [Tom Scott](/source/Tom_Scott_(saxophonist)), while King sings an ode to 'the Jazzman' and the effect he has on her. [Curtis Amy](/source/Curtis_Amy), saxophonist, composer, and former musical director for the Ray Charles band, was the 'jazz man' of the song.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

Released in August, the song peaked at #2 on the [*Billboard* Hot 100](/source/Billboard_Hot_100) chart the week of November 9, 1974 (stuck behind "[You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet](/source/You_Ain't_Seen_Nothing_Yet_(Bachman-Turner_Overdrive_song))" by [Bachman Turner Overdrive](/source/Bachman_Turner_Overdrive)).[1] That same week, it was #1 on the [*Cash Box* Top 100](/source/Cash_Box_Top_100) chart. [2] In King's hometown of New York, "Jazzman" hit No. 1 on the [WABC Musicradio 77](/source/WABC_(AM)) Survey for the week of November 12.[3] The song also reached No. 4 on the [*Billboard* Adult Contemporary](/source/Adult_Contemporary_(chart)) chart. [4]

"Jazzman" is also prominently featured in *[The Simpsons](/source/The_Simpsons)* episode "['Round Springfield](/source/'Round_Springfield)", sung by [Yeardley Smith](/source/Yeardley_Smith) as [Lisa Simpson](/source/Lisa_Simpson); it is presented as a duet between Lisa and the ghost of recurring character [Bleeding Gums Murphy](/source/Bleeding_Gums_Murphy), who plays the saxophone.[5]

## Reception

*[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))* described "Jazzman" as one of King's most commercial songs, and praised the [saxophone](/source/Saxophone) playing and backup vocals.[6] *[Cash Box](/source/Cash_Box)* said that "the artist's unique vocal is powerfully backed by strong horns and a great pop arrangement."[7] *[Record World](/source/Record_World)* said that its King's "most animated single...since '[I Feel the Earth Move](/source/I_Feel_the_Earth_Move)'" and "features the fine sax solos of Tom Scott, along with her own strong overdubbing."[8]

"Jazzman" was nominated for a [Grammy Award](/source/Grammy_Award) in [1975](/source/Grammy_Awards_of_1975) in the category [Best Female Pop Vocal Performance](/source/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Female_Pop_Vocal_Performance), losing out to [Olivia Newton-John](/source/Olivia_Newton-John)'s song "[I Honestly Love You](/source/I_Honestly_Love_You)".[9]

## Chart performance

Weekly charts Chart (1974) Peak position Canada Top Singles (RPM)[10] 2 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[11] 1 U.S. Billboard Hot 100[12] 2 U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary 4 U.S. Cash Box Top 100[13] 1 Year-end charts Chart (1974) Rank Canada RPM Top Singles[14] 33 U.S. (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual)[15] 42

## See also

- [1974 in music](/source/1974_in_music)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Billboard Hot 100"](http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1974-11-09). *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. 1974-11-09. Retrieved 2015-12-05.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Whitburn, Joel](/source/Joel_Whitburn) (2014). *Cash Box Pop Hits: 1952-1996*. Sheridan Books,Inc. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-89820-209-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-89820-209-0).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Musicradio77.com "Weekly Survey for 12 November 1974"](https://www.musicradio77.com/Surveys/1974/surveynov1274.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Whitburn, Joel (2007). *Top Adult Songs:1961–2006*. Record Research.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [Blankenship, Mark](/source/Mark_Blankenship) (June 26, 2023). ["How Carole King and Lisa Simpson Made "Jazzman" Work"](https://lostsongs.substack.com/p/jazzman-carole-king-lisa-simpson-bleeding-gums). *The Lost Songs Project* – via Substack.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-bb_6-0)** ["Top Single Picks"](https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1974/Billboard%201974-08-24.pdf) (PDF). *Billboard*. August 24, 1974. p. 50. Retrieved 2020-07-22.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-cb_7-0)** ["CashBox Record Reviews"](https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1974/CB-1974-08-24.pdf) (PDF). *Cash Box*. August 24, 1974. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-12-11.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-rw_8-0)** ["Hits of the Week"](https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/74/RW-1974-08-24.pdf) (PDF). *Record World*. August 24, 1974. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-03-15.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Hyatt_9-0)** Hyatt, Wesley (1999). *The Billboard Book of No. 1 Adult Contemporary Hits* (Billboard Publications)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [RPM Top Singles](http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.3868a&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.3868a.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.3868a) 9 November 1974.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada"](http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.6144&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.6144.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.6144). *Bac-lac.gc.ca*. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-10-09.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** *Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990* - [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-89820-089-X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-89820-089-X)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["CASH BOX Top 100 Singles - Week ending NOVEMBER 9, 1974"](https://web.archive.org/web/20220523200317/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/19741109.html). Archived from [the original](http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/19741109.html) on 2022-05-23. Retrieved 2016-05-19.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada"](http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.3893a&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.3893a.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.3893a). *Bac-lac.gc.ca*. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-10-09.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Whitburn, Joel (1999). *Pop Annual*. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-89820-142-X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-89820-142-X).

## External links

- [Listen to "Jazzman"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GK7c5ggNT8) on [YouTube](/source/YouTube_video_(identifier))

v t e Carole King Studio albums Writer Tapestry Music Rhymes & Reasons Fantasy Wrap Around Joy Really Rosie Thoroughbred Simple Things Welcome Home Touch the Sky Pearls: Songs of Goffin and King One to One Speeding Time City Streets Colour of Your Dreams Love Makes the World Compilations Her Greatest Hits: Songs of Long Ago The Legendary Demos Live albums In Concert The Carnegie Hall Concert: June 18, 1971 The Living Room Tour Live at the Troubadour Other albums A Holiday Carole Singles "It Might as Well Rain Until September" "Up on the Roof" "It's Too Late"/"I Feel the Earth Move" "So Far Away"/"Smackwater Jack" "You've Got a Friend"/"Beautiful" (Scandinavia only) "Sweet Seasons" "Been to Canaan" "Believe in Humanity" "Jazzman" "Nightingale" "Only Love Is Real" "One Fine Day" "Now and Forever" Other songs "Wasn't Born to Follow" "Goin' Back "I Can't Hear You No More" "Where You Lead" "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" "It's Going to Take Some Time" "No Sad Song" "Some Kind of Wonderful" "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" "Chains" Related articles Discography Troubadour Reunion Tour A Natural Woman: A Memoir Tapestry Revisited: A Tribute to Carole King Marcia Sings Tapestry Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Category

Authority control databases MusicBrainz work MusicBrainz release group

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jazzman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazzman) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazzman?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.