Ruth Brown

 

Ruth Brown was one of the most important female vocalists of any time or genre. If rock & roll would've stayed on the same course as the late Alan Freed envisioned, she would be known today as the “Queen of Rock & Roll”. She was soulful, passionate and deep. Brown remained elegant and graceful right up to the end of her life in 2006. Also known as “Miss Rhythm”, her range of music goes from cheerful R&B and early soul to exuberant jazz. This release compiles two of her complete Atlantic albums: Ruth Brown - R&R (1957) and Miss Rhythm (1959). Both LPs contain the cream of the crop from Brown's hitmaking stretch for the Atlantic label during her early years. In addition, we have included 4 bonus tracks from the same period. The consistent high quality of the material and the strong performances make this edition highly desirable to Ruth Brown fans and fans of first rate R&B/rock & roll, as well. These splendid recordings feature a virtual who's who of great sidemen including King Curtis, Budd Johnson, Hank Jones, Willis Jackson, Jimmy Cleveland, Eddie Condon, Al Caiola, Clyde McPhatter, Joe Marshall and Connie Kay, among others.

“I’ve heard anyone that sounds like Ruth Brown, before or after. She was a combination of sass and innocence,
 and she was extremely funky.” – Bonnie Raitt
“Ms. Brown is among the top black pop singers of the 1950s.” - The Washington Post
“Her relaxed, half-sobbing style with her little trick of swallowing high notes on the off-beat was dynamite.” - Guy Remark

16-PAGE BOOKLET - RARE PHOTOS - VINTAGE MEMORABILIA - DETAILED LINER NOTES

RUTH BROWN, vocals on all tracks, plus:

King Curtis, Arnett Cobb, Willis Jackson (tenor sax)
Budd Johnson (baritone sax)
Jimmy Cleveland (trombone)
Taft Jordan (trumpet)
Bobby Hackett (cornet),
Mundell Lowe, Eddie Condon, Al Caiola, Mickey Baker (guitar)
Lloyd Trotman, Abbie Baker (bass)
Hank Jones, Mike Stoller (piano)
Joe Marshall, Connie Kay (drums)
Clyde McPhatter (backing vocals), among others.

Further personnel information is detailed inside booklet.
Produced by Ahmet Ertegun, Herb Abramson & Jerry Wexler.

Recorded in New York, between 1949 and 1959.


TRACKS:

RUTH BROWN – R&R
01 LUCKY LIPS 2:12
02 AS LONG AS I’M MOVING 2:44
03 WILD WILD YOUNG MEN 2:33
04 DADDY DADDY 2:56
05 MAMBO BABY 2:43
06 TEARDROPS FROM MY EYES 2:55
07 HELLO LITTLE BOY 2:38
08 MAMA, HE TREATS YOUR DAUGHTER MEAN 2:56
09 5-10-15 HOURS 3:15
10 IT’S LOVE BABY (24 HOURS A DAY) 2:44
11 SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY 2:37
12 OLD MAN RIVER 2:15
13 SO LONG 2:41
14 OH WHAT A DREAM 2:55

MISS RHYTHM
15 THIS LITTLE GIRL’S GONE ROCKIN’ 1:51
16 JUST TOO MUCH 2:29
17 I HOPE WE MEET (ON THE ROAD SOMEDAY) 2:43
18 WHY ME 2:25
19 SOMEBODY TOUCHED ME 2:27
20 WHEN I GET YOU BABY 2:10
21 JACK O’DIAMONDS 2:32
22 I CAN’T HEAR A WORD YOU SAY 2:30
23 ONE MORE TIME 2:40
24 BOOK OF LIES 2:33
25 I CAN SEE EVERYBODY’S BABY 3:02
26 SHOW ME 2:38
BONUS TRACKS
27 EVER SINCE MY BABY’S BEEN GONE 2:47
28 SHINE ON 2:54
29 I GOTTA HAVE YOU 2:18
30 I DON’T KNOW 2:53

Total Time: 78:53