Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 1, 2026

Soft Samba

Soft Samba is a 1965 album by jazz arranger and vibraphonist Gary McFarland. A follow-up album, Soft Samba Strings, was released in 1966.

Last revised
Jul 1, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
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417 w
Citations
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Wikipedia ↗
Soft Samba
Studio album by
Gary McFarland
ReleasedMarch 1965
RecordedJune 15 and 16, September 3 & October 7, 1964
StudioVan Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
GenreJazz
Length28:57
LabelVerve - 8603 1
ProducerCreed Taylor
Gary McFarland chronology
Point of Departure
(1963) 		Soft Samba
(1965) 		The In Sound
(1965)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStar2

Soft Samba is a 1965 album by jazz arranger and vibraphonist Gary McFarland. A follow-up album, Soft Samba Strings, was released in 1966.2

Reception

The initial Billboard magazine review from February 20, 1965, wrote that even though "A pair of stretch socks, two ounces of sherry, and a "Soft Samba" cocktail recipe" were being used to promote the album, it would "curry favor with the public without the promotion incentives" and "The artist's humming helps too".3 Boys' Life magazine wrote that "You'd think that the artists in this album couldn't talk because all you hear is "Ba-ba, baya-baya, byu-byu" and so on with little relief. The results are unique (as you'd expect) but pleasing...We found the wedding of the soft samba to rock 'n' roll a joyous union thanks to the musical ministry of Mr. McFarland".4

Track listing

  1. "Ringo, Won't You Marry Me" (Linda Laurie, Jerry Mack) – 1:46
  2. "From Russia with Love" (Lionel Bart) – 2:34
  3. "She Loves You" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 2:16
  4. "A Hard Day's Night" (Lennon, McCartney) – 3:04
  5. "The Good Life" (Sacha Distel, Jack Reardon) – 2:05
  6. "More (Theme from Mondo Cane)" (Riz Ortolani, Nino Oliviero, Marcello Ciorciolini, Norman Newell) – 2:18
  7. "And I Love Her" (Lennon, McCartney) – 3:55
  8. "The Love Goddess" (Percy Faith, Mack David) – 1:57
  9. "I Want to Hold Your Hand" (Lennon, McCartney) – 3:13
  10. "Emily" (Johnny Mandel, Johnny Mercer) – 1:51
  11. "California, Here I Come" (Buddy DeSylva, Al Jolson, Joseph Meyer) – 1:52
  12. "La Vie en Rose" (Louiguy, Édith Piaf, David) – 2:06

Personnel

Production
References

References

  1. "Gary McFarland - Soft Samba at Discogs". discogs.com. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  2. Soft Samba at AllMusic
  3. "Album Reviews". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. February 20, 1965. p. 63. ISSN 0006-2510.
  4. Boy Scouts of America, Inc. (September 1965). "Boys' Life". Boys' Life. Inkprint Edition. Boy Scouts of America, Inc.: 16. ISSN 0006-8608.