RUTH BROWN
A Good Day for the Blues (Bullseye Blues)
Reviewed by Eric Steiner

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Ruth Brown's Grammy-nominated A Good Day for the Blues is a rollicking dozen from one of America's finest blues singers. B.B. King took home the hardware for Blues on the Bayou this year, but I hope that Ruth Brown will be back on her next Bullseye Blues and Jazz Release. Ruth's no stranger to the awards podium, though. She's won a W.C. Handy award for her earlier 1997 Bullseye disc, R+B=Ruth Brown. Ruth's got the punch of Koko Taylor, the swagger of Alberta Hunter and the power of the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. Ruth's no stranger to blues aficionados, either. Her first sides were cut on Atlantic in 1949, and she's kept on keepin' on, and her singing on A Good Day for the Blues belies her 71 years. The Hammond B-3- powered "Ice Water in Your Veins" is an up tempo, bluesy rocker, and when Ruth talks through "Cabbage Head," her man better watch out. She's brought her touring band into the studio and this disc was recorded live in the studio without the safety net of overdubs. As producer Scott Billington says in the liner notes, "Maybe this is the old-fashioned way of making records, but you can hear the result in the collective spirit of the moment that I hope we've captured on tape. And, really, all it takes is great musicians!" Amen to that, Scott. It's a good day for blues fans with A Good Day for the Blues.

Track List:

Good Day for the Blues * Can't Stand A Broke Man * Never Let Me Go * Hangin' By A Shoestring * A Lover Is Forever * Ice Water In Your Veins * True * Cabbage Head * The Richest One * Be Good To Me Tonight * I Believe I Can Fly

© 2000 - Eric Steiner