Charles Brown was a blues and R&B singer and pianist who was one of the most admired performers of his era, both for his performances as lead singer with The Three Blazers and for his solo work. His smooth, classy phrasing and intonation and his easy-paced night club-flavoured style gave his recordings a distinctive sound which set him apart from the harder-edged R&B material of these years although his mellow approach made it hard for him to compete after rock ‘n’ roll changed the pop landscape in the mid-‘50s.
This release contains some of his later recordings with Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers on the Exclusive label where he was specifically credited on the record label, but primarily comprises selected A & B sides he recorded for Aladdin through to 1957. It naturally features all his 12 solo chart entries during this era, including the R&B No. 1s “Trouble Blues” and “Black Night”, the Top 5 hits “Get Yourself Another Fool”, “In The Evening When The Sun Goes Down”, “Homesick Blues” and “Seven Long Days”, and the Top 10 hits “A Long Time”, “My Baby’s Gone”, “I’ll Always Be In Love” and “Hard Times”. It includes recordings where he performs with his trio, with Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers and with larger bands, including recording with the Ernie Freeman Combo in New Orleans. It’s a feast of top-class uptown blues, and a fine showcase for his exceptional talents.
REVIEWS
“This collection is an enjoyable set of laid back and tasteful late night jazz-tinged music. The 50 tracks on offer represents good value and as usual with Acrobat, the accompanying booklet is full of useful information and well-illustrated.” – Gerry Stonestreet (In Tune Issue 343)
“The hits are great and the various high-class guitarists and sax-men, are never short of excellent. Good notes by Paul Watts and familiar photos complete the picture.” – Fred Rothwell (Blues & Rhythm Dec-Jan 2020-1)
“It’s not all blues, by any means… but worth listening to.” – David Osler (Blues Matters February 2021)
Disc 1 |
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Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
New Orleans Blues |
Charles Brown With Johnny Moore's Three Blazers |
2 |
I'll Miss You |
Charles Brown With Johnny Moore's Three Blazers |
3 |
If You Don't, Why Don't Ya |
Charles Brown With The Three Blazers |
4 |
Get Yourself Another Fool |
Charles Brown Trio |
5 |
Ooh! Ooh! Sugar |
Charles Brown Trio |
6 |
A Long Time |
Charles Brown Trio |
7 |
It's Nothing |
Charles Brown Trio |
8 |
Honey, Keep Your Mind On Me |
Charles Brown Trio |
9 |
Trouble Blues |
Charles Brown Trio |
10 |
In The Evening When The Sun Goes Down |
Charles Brown Trio |
11 |
Please Be Kind |
Charles Brown Trio |
12 |
Homesick Blues |
Charles Brown & His Smarties |
13 |
Let's Have A Ball |
Charles Brown & His Smarties |
14 |
Tormented |
Charles Brown Trio |
15 |
Did You Ever Love A Woman |
Charles Brown Trio |
16 |
I Wonder When My Baby's Coming Home |
Charles Brown & His Band |
17 |
My Baby's Gone (Again) |
Charles Brown & His Band |
18 |
Repentance Blues |
Charles Brown & His Band |
19 |
Again |
Charles Brown & His Band |
20 |
I've Made Up My Mind |
Charles Brown & His Band |
21 |
How High The Moon |
Charles Brown & His Band |
22 |
Texas Blues |
Charles Brown & His Band |
23 |
Black Night |
Charles Brown & His Band |
24 |
Once There Lived A Fool |
Charles Brown & His Band |
25 |
The Message |
Charles Brown & His Band |
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Disc 2 |
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Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
I'll Always Be In Love With You (1951 Version) |
Charles Brown & His Band |
2 |
Seven Long Days |
Charles Brown & His Band |
3 |
Don't Fool With My Heart |
Charles Brown & His Band |
4 |
Hard Times |
Charles Brown & His Band |
5 |
Still Water |
Charles Brown & His Band |
6 |
Without Your Love |
Charles Brown Trio |
7 |
Gee |
Charles Brown Trio |
8 |
Rollin' Like A Pebble In The Sand |
Charles Brown & His Band |
9 |
Moonrise |
Charles Brown & His Band |
10 |
Evening Shadows |
Charles Brown & His Band |
11 |
Rising Sun |
Charles Brown & His Band |
12 |
Lonesome Feeling |
Charles Brown & His Band |
13 |
Don't Leave Poor Me |
Charles Brown & His Band |
14 |
Cryin' And Driftin' Blues |
Charles Brown With Johnny Moore's Three Blazers |
15 |
I Want To Fool Around With You |
Charles Brown With Johnny Moore's Three Blazers |
16 |
Let's Walk |
Charles Brown With Johnny Moore's Three Blazers |
17 |
My Silent Love |
Charles Brown With Johnny Moore's Three Blazers |
18 |
Honey Sipper |
Charles Brown & His Band |
19 |
Night After Night |
Charles Brown & His Band |
20 |
Fool's Paradise |
Charles Brown |
21 |
My Heart Is Mended |
Charles Brown & His Band |
22 |
Please Don't Drive Me Away |
Charles Brown |
23 |
I'll Always Be In Love With You (1956 Version) |
Charles Brown |
24 |
Merry Christmas, Baby |
Charles Brown |
25 |
Please Believe Me |
Charles Brown |