Track Listing

1. So Long
2. Teardrops From My Eyes - Ruth Brown, Budd Johnson's Orchestra
3. I'll Wait for You - Ruth Brown, Budd Johnson's Orchestra
4. I Know - Ruth Brown, Budd Johnson's Orchestra
5. Shine on (Bright Moon Shine On)
6. 5-10-15 Hours
7. Daddy Daddy
8. (Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean
9. Wild, Wild Young Men
10. Mend Your Ways
11. Oh, What a Dream - Ruth Brown, Ruth Brown
12. Mambo Baby - Ruth Brown, Ruth Brown
13. I Can See Everybody's Baby - Ruth Brown, Ruth Brown
14. As Long as I'm Movin' - Ruth Brown, Ruth Brown
15. It's Love Baby (24 Hours a Day)
16. Love Has Joined Us Together - Ruth Brown, Clyde McPhatter
17. I Want to Do More - Ruth Brown, Ruth Brown
18. Sweet Baby of Mine
19. Lucky Lips
20. This Little Girl's Gone Rockin'
21. I Don't Know
22. (Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean [Live]
23. Oh, What a Dream [Live]

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #37005 in Music
• Released on: 1996-06-18
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Customer Reviews

The Queen Of Rock and Roll
If Rock and Roll would've stayed on the same course as the late Alan Freed envisioned, this lady would be called the Queen of Rock and Roll today. You see, Freed's original Rock and Roll didn't include the likes of Elvis and teen idols like Paul Anka and Frankie Avalon or Bobby Rydell. Instead it included artists who were the innovators of pure uncommercialized Rock and Roll. The Moonglows,Wynonie Harris,Little Richard,Hank Ballard and The Midnighters,Little Willie John, Louis Jordan,Johnny Ace,The Dominoes,Laverne Baker,Big Joe Turner,Clyde McPhatter and The Drifters,Roy Brown,and this lady Ruth Brown. One of the reviewers on this post says that this cd contains only 2 minor hits that Ruth had in her career.That is the most untrue statement I have ever heard concerning an artist.In fact, her 2 pop charters are the smallest hits she ever had and are 2 of the most unrecognizable amongst true Rock and Roll fans.Let's now get to and correct the facts. Between 1950 and 1955 Ruth scored 5 #1 hits on Billboards R&B charts. Yes I said R&B charts,they were just as important and significant back then as they are today. Although not labeled as such,these 5 #1 smashes were probably all million sellers for Ruth and Atlantic records. In fact Atlantic records used to be referred to as "The House That Ruth Built". Her biggest hit period-pop or r&b-or (otherwise) came in 1950 with "Teardrops From My Eyes". I have no doubt that this was probably a million selling 78. It was #1 for 11 weeks on Billboards R&B chart and stayed on the charts for 25 weeks total. Simply a massive-massive hit that year. Her second #1 hit is a registered million seller that came in April of 1952, the hit "5-10-15 Hours" was #1 for a full 7 weeks . The next #1 for Ruth came in February of 1953 and easily is her most recognized and trademark song,the classic "Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean" was #1 for 5 weeks. In August of 1954 came another #1 classic,the great ballad written by Chuck Willis for Ruth called "Oh What A Dream".The song was #1 for 8 weeks and in all likelihood sold a million discs. Keep in mind I'm just naming her #1's during these years,Ruth had many top 10's also during these years.Ruth Weston hit #1 again in October of 1954 with "Mambo Baby".It was #1 for 1 week and was on the charts for 3 months. Now to the small potatoes-Ruth's 2 pop charters are not-I repeat-are not her biggest hits or most recognizable hits. The songs 'Lucky Lips" and "This little Girl's Gone Rockin"were her only top 40 pop charters in her career and made it to #24 and #25 respectively on the pop charts in 1957 and 1958 but are a million miles away from being her biggest sellers or hits or even her most recognizable hits. I am so sorry so many people were not exposed to her massive hits and best work she recorded between 1950 and 1955,but such were the times. After the 50's came to a close,Ruth never scored another hit on the R&B charts during the soulful 60'S except for "Don't Deceive Me" at the beginning of the decade. But she did honor us with 2 top 10 classics before the 60's hastily ushered it's way in and that was 1959's #5 hit and classic "I Don't Know" and 1960's #10 classic "Don't Deceive Me". "I Don't Know" is her best late 50's song. So now I feel so much better now that I've corrected a few people. Ruth is the Queen of Rock and Roll and Wynonie Harris is The King of Rock and Roll and this cd needs to be in your collection especially if you dig Rock the way the late Alan Freed envisioned it.I'm venturing off now into amazon land to correct other folks. Keep Rockin and a Rollin'

Good 50's R&B
This CD contains 20 of the 24 R&B charted hits by Ruth Brown on Atlantic between 1949 and 1960. Atlantic supplied her with excellent session players and varied material to make her their most popular recording artist of the 50's and the third most popular R&B performer of the decade. The best tracks are the uptempo R&B "Teardrops From My Eyes" from 1950 and "Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean" from 1953, the bluesy ballad "Oh What A Dream" from 1954 and the Rock and Roll "Lucky Lips" from 1957. Just about every track on this CD is good R&B. However the final 2 tracks are live recordings from a concert with so-so acoustics and "Love Has Joined Us Together" is a forced duet with Clyde McPhatter which is not done in her style at all. The liner notes contain good historical data about her, but there is no discography.

"Miss Rhythm" never disappoints
Frankie Laine always referred to Ruth Brown as "Miss Rhythm." Frankie was rather perceptive; Ruth possessed a unique strength in both her stage presence and incredible voice. Ruth could sing not only R&B; she could even handle those songs with an awesome twist of an early rock and roll flavor that few could ever match. This CD proves it.

The CD starts off with the comparatively slow paced "So Long;" and then moves quickly into two snazzy songs: "Teardrops From My Eyes" and "I'll Wait For You." Terrific! The musical arrangements are equally well done. "I Know" is another coup for Ruth; she mixes a bluesy song with a touch of early 50's rock and roll and the result is perfect! I also like the way Ruth emotes so beautifully with a strong piano arrangement in the song "5-10-15 Hours." Ruth also does a great job with "(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean." Although the lyrics are sad, the song has a catchy melody and this is very easy on the ears! SMILE

Other great songs on this CD include "Mambo Baby" in which The Rhythmakers accompany Ruth; the attractively slow paced blues song entitled "I Can See Everybody's Baby;" the catchy "As Long As I'm Moving;" the slick "I Want To Do More;" and the upbeat and playful "Lucky Lips." Moreover, Clyde McPhatter joins Ruth to sing "Love Has Joined Us Together."

There's still more. There are two live tracks released for the first time ever on this CD: "(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean" and "Oh What A Dream." These were recorded at Ruth's concert at Herndon Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia in May 1959. A nice plus!

The sound quality throughout is excellent when you consider that these recordings were made several decades ago. The liner notes contain a lengthy essay about Ruth's professional career and personal life by Peter A. Grendysa as well as great black and white photos of Ruth during her career.

One minor disappointment is that this CD only presents Ruth's work at Atlantic Records during the years 1949 through 1959. I wish this were a more comprehensive two CD set including songs Ruth recorded in her later years. More live recordings would have been wonderful, too!

Nevertheless, this CD is an excellent introduction to the magic of Ruth Brown. Ruth, "The Queen Of The Jukebox," never disappointed her fans. Her passing saddens me but thanks to CDs like this one we will forever remember her celebrated talent. I highly recommend this CD for fans of Ruth Brown and fans of both classic R&B and R&B/Soul music. Moreover, if you want to become acquainted with the incredible talents of Ruth Brown this is the perfect CD to start your collection!