The album was nominated for a 1991 Grammy Award, in the "Best Contemporary Jazz Performance" category.[10]
Production
Voicestra, a 10-member a capella group formed by McFerrin, and Robert McFerrin, Bobby's father, appear on the album.[11] "Common Threads" served as the theme song to the documentary Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt.[11] McFerrin wrote all of the songs on Medicine Music.[12] The lyrics to "Discipline" are based on several verses of the chapter Hebrews 12 from the New Testament, while the lyrics to "The 23rd Psalm" are based on Psalm 23 from the Old Testament.[13]
Critical reception
The Los Angeles Times wrote that "McFerrin sings splendidly, his intonation never faltering as he goes from throbbing bass notes to a soaring, light falsetto."[2] The Austin American-Statesman wrote that "McFerrin's penchant for unusual vocal innovation is present throughout the album, but it is the songs without words, nominally called instrumentals in the McFerrin musical universe, that are the most challenging."[14]
Track listing
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Medicine Man"
4:19
2.
"Baby"
3:02
3.
"Yes, You"
3:13
4.
"The Garden"
3:26
5.
"Common Threads" (theme song from the documentary)