RUTH BROWN-Black Is Brown And Brown Is Beautiful-R&B CD

RUTH BROWN:

"Black Is Brown And Brown Is Beautiful"

  new CD

  A  hip little set from Ruth Brown -- miles away from her earlier R&B for Atlantic, and much more in the adult, righteous, and contemporary mode you'd expect from the title! The session's one of the key sides from the late 60s Skye Records catalog -- and like others on the label, it features Gary McFarland production, and some great small group backings by a group that includes Richard Tee on organ, Billy Butler on guitar, and Herbie Lovelle on drums. Ruth's trials and tribulations are listed in detail inside the notes -- and the record was one of the first re-discovery efforts that Brown undertook -- a session that was trying to help her pay her dues, and expose her to the same sort of audiences that were lapping up Aretha Franklin at the time, but not giving as much attention to older singers. Tracks are a mix of (then) contemporary numbers and updated older tunes -- with titles that include "Yesterday", "Please Send Me Someone To Love", "Lookin Back", "Try Me & See", "Miss Brown's Blues", "My Prayer", and "This Bitter Earth".

RUTH "Miss Rhythm" BROWN was the hit-making queen from 1949 to the end of the 50's to a point that ATLANTIC RECORDS was once called "the house that Ruth built". No less! She was one of the main artists who established New York label's predominance in the R&B field. She was forgotten later -only to come back stronger than ever with a worlwide reputation as R&B pioneer and advocate for the rights and royalties of her peers from her non-profit "Rhythm & Blues Foundation". Inspired by jazz legends Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday and Dinah Washington, Brown's seductive vocal delivery delighted millions on legendary chart-toppers such as "Teardrops in My Eyes", "So Long", "Mambo Baby" and many others. Later, her sharp sense of humor lead her to a TV sitcom and a role on John Waters´ movie "Hairspray", plus a Tony Award for her starring acting in "Black and Blue" at Broadway.
    On the aptly titled "Black is Brown and Brown is Beautiful", originally released in 1969, she puts her strong voice to soulful covers of "Yesterday", "Please Send Me Someone to Love" (Mayfield) and own songs such as "Miss Brown's Blues". This material is closer to soul than to jazz, and it is full of joy and, of course, rhythm. Discover a truly glorious singer and a R&B legend.

    Songs: Yesterday; Please Send Me Someone To Love; Looking Back; Try Me and See; Miss Brown's Blues; My Prayer; Since I Fell for You; This Bitter Earth.