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Fine and Mellow (Ruth Brown album)
1991 studio album by Ruth Brown From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Fine and Mellow is an album by the American musician Ruth Brown, released in 1991.[1][2] After recuperating from leg surgery, Brown supported the album with several concert appearances.[3]
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Production
Fine and Mellow is an album of Brown's favorite songs.[4] Produced by Ralph Jungheim, it was recorded with session bands in New York City and in Hollywood.[5][6] The songs were arranged by Frank Owens.[7] Rodney Jones played guitar; Herman Riley contributed on saxophone.[8][9] The title track was written by Billie Holiday.[10] "Salty Papa Blues" is a version of the song made famous by Dinah Washington.[11] "It's Just a Matter of Time" is a cover of the Brook Benton song.[7] "Knock Me a Kiss" is a cover of the song made famous by Louis Jordan.[12]
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Critical reception
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Newsday wrote that Brown's "brash style never adapts to songs synonymous with other singers, but adopts them as her own."[6] The Los Angeles Times said that the album "underlines her versatility and her ability to use an actor's touch to inject drama or humor into a song."[15] The Vancouver Sun deemed Fine and Mellow "the blues in all its raunchy glory."[9] The Chicago Tribune opined that "her singing has plenty of snarl and bite, and she shrewdly has surrounded herself with a terrific lineup of instrumentalists."[16]
Stereo Review considered it the best album of Brown's return to recording, likening it to "taking a stroll down memory lane and on into the kind of crowded, smoke-filled club where countless organ-and-vocal combos delighted weekend crowds."[7] The Philadelphia Inquirer called it "another big, brash affair that showcases Brown as earthmother/vamp, a singer who ... can deliver lyrics with a wink and a sneer."[10] The North County Times labeled it a "mini-history of Black American music."[13]
AllMusic called the album a "nice contemporary effort with a strongly swinging R&B flavor running throughout."[11]
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Track listing
References
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