A Good Day for the Blues is an album by the American musician Ruth Brown, released in 1999 via Bullseye Blues.[1][2] After recovering from health ailments, Brown supported the album with several concert dates.[3] The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Traditional Blues Album".[4] A Good Day for the Blues was Brown's final studio album.[5]
Production
Produced by Scott Billington, the album was recorded at Ultransonic Studios, in New Orleans.[6][7][8] "I Believe I Can Fly" is a cover of the R. Kelly song.[9] Brown learned to perform "Cabbage Head" during her childhood.[10] Dan Penn wrote "Be Good to Me Tonight" and "Can't Stand a Broke Man".[11] "True" is a cover of the Paul Gayten song.[12] Duke Robillard played guitar on A Good Day for the Blues.[13] Wardell Quezergue worked on some of the song arrangements.[14] A couple of the songs contain spoken word passages by Brown.[15]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [11] |
| The Atlanta Constitution | B+[9] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [16] |
| The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings |  [15] |
| Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | [17] |
| The Sunday Age | [18] |
The Sunday Age wrote that "Good Day represents the best, horn-driven, vintage R&B put out today."[18] The Atlanta Constitution noted that, "with Brown's experience, she's able to seamlessly explore the tricky territory between blues and jazz with ease."[9] The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette deemed the album "a tribute to her vocal skills—if anything, better with age, a voice full of whiskey and wry."[17] The Chicago Tribune determined that it leans "more on sassy, rambling story-songs like 'H.B.'s Funky Fable' than her classic belting style."[19]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Good Day for the Blues" | |
| 2. | "Can't Stand a Broke Man" | |
| 3. | "Never Let Me Go" | |
| 4. | "Hangin' by a Shoestring" | |
| 5. | "H.B.'s Funky Fable" | |
| 6. | "A Lover Is Forever" | |
| 7. | "Ice Water in Your Veins" | |
| 8. | "True" | |
| 9. | "Cabbage Head" | |
| 10. | "The Richest One" | |
| 11. | "Be Good to Me Tonight" | |
| 12. | "I Believe I Can Fly" |
References
- ^ Andrews, Laura (5 Nov 1998). "Ruth Brown delivers the rhythm & blues of Billie Holiday". New York Amsterdam News. No. 45. p. 32.
- ^ "Pop CDs". Sunday Datebook. San Francisco Chronicle. 28 Feb 1999. p. 38.
- ^ Gewertz, Daniel (1 July 1999). "Blues queen Brown returns in grand style". Arts & Lifestyle. Boston Herald. p. 27.
- ^ "Ruth Brown". Recording Academy. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
- ^ Komara, Edward M. (2006). Encyclopedia of the Blues. Routledge. p. 162.
- ^ Billington, Scott (2022). Making Tracks: A Record Producer's Southern Roots Music Journey. University Press of Mississippi.
- ^ McDonald, Sam (19 Feb 1999). "Quick Checks". Daily Press. Newport News. p. D5.
- ^ Salvail, Andre (March 1, 1999). "Ruth Brown, A Good Day for the Blues". OffBeat.
- ^ a b c Eldredge, Richard L. (6 May 1999). "Blues". The Atlanta Constitution. p. D5.
- ^ Hinckley, David (29 May 1999). "CD". New York Weekend. Daily News. New York. p. 34.
- ^ a b "Good Day for the Blues Review by Cub Koda". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
- ^ Milkowski, Bill (June 1, 1999). "Ruth Brown: A Good Day for the Blues". JazzTimes.
- ^ Cristiano, Nick (13 Aug 1999). "Ruth Brown, 'A Good Day for the Blues'". Lifestyle/Previews. The Record. Bergen County. p. 36.
- ^ Morris, Chris (Feb 13, 1999). "Ruth Brown Sticks to Winning Blueprint on Bullseye's 'Good'". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 7. p. 18.
- ^ a b The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin Books. 2006. p. 84.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press.
- ^ a b White, Jim (9 May 1999). "Releases for Chasing the Blues Away". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. G5.
- ^ a b Reilly, Terry (4 Apr 1999). "CD Reviews". Applause. The Sunday Age. p. 8.
- ^ Knopper, Steve (30 May 1999). "Ruth Brown A Good Day for the Blues". Arts & Entertainment. Chicago Tribune. p. 4.
