Straight Ahead is an album by American jazz vocalist Abbey Lincoln featuring performances recorded in 1961 for the Candid label.

[1] The editors of AllMusic awarded the album 5 stars, and reviewer Scott Yanow stated that "this is one of Abbey Lincoln's greatest recordings".

[2] The authors of The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings singled out the track titled "Retribution" for praise, writing: "For the first time, Lincoln seems willing to confront her music rather than stand up-stage of it.

'Retribution' is raw, responsive and aware.

It boded well for what was to come.