‘The Inflated Tear’ is a studio album by Rashaan Roland Kirk, released in 1968. Kirk quotes New Orleans-esque funeral marches, early bebop, he even covers Ellington's "The Creole Love Calls," and, at times, it seems like he's quoting himself. The album opens with “The Black And Crazy Blues”, a New Orleans dirge with modern elements which is followed by “A Laugh For Rory”, a fun upbeat cool jazz number on the flute(s). “The Inflated Tear” sounded like the entire spectrum of the history of African-American music rolled into one four-minute song, old slavery spirituals, work songs, field hollers, soul, modern jazz, and early blues. ‘The Inflated Tear’ is one of his most popular albums and regarded as his magnum opus.

1. The Black and Crazy Blues
2. A Laugh For Rory
3. Many Blessings
4. Fingers In the Wind
5. The Inflated Tear
6. The Creole Love Call
7. A Handful of Fives
8. Fly By Night
9. Lovellevelliloqui
10. I'm Glad There is You