A Good Day for the Blues

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A Good Day for the Blues
Studio album by
Ruth Brown
Released1999
StudioUltrasonic
GenreBlues, R&B
LabelBullseye Blues
ProducerScott Billington
Ruth Brown chronology
R + B = Ruth Brown
(1997) 		A Good Day for the Blues
(1999)

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, in the "Best Traditional Blues Album" category.[4] A Good Day for the Blues was Brown's final studio album.[5]

Production[edit]

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[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[11]
The Atlanta ConstitutionB+[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[edit]

No.TitleLength
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[edit]

  1. ^ Andrews, Laura (5 Nov 1998). "Ruth Brown delivers the rhythm & blues of Billie Holiday". New York Amsterdam News. No. 45. p. 32.
  2. ^ "Pop CDs". Sunday Datebook. San Francisco Chronicle. 28 Feb 1999. p. 38.
  3. ^ Gewertz, Daniel (1 July 1999). "Blues queen Brown returns in grand style". Arts & Lifestyle. Boston Herald. p. 27.
  4. ^ "Ruth Brown". Recording Academy. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  5. ^ Komara, Edward M. (2006). Encyclopedia of the Blues. Routledge. p. 162.
  6. ^ Billington, Scott (2022). Making Tracks: A Record Producer’s Southern Roots Music Journey. University Press of Mississippi.
  7. ^ McDonald, Sam (19 Feb 1999). "Quick Checks". Daily Press. Newport News. p. D5.
  8. ^ Salvail, Andre (March 1, 1999). "Ruth Brown, A Good Day for the Blues". OffBeat.
  9. ^ a b c Eldredge, Richard L. (6 May 1999). "Blues". The Atlanta Constitution. p. D5.
  10. ^ Hinckley, David (29 May 1999). "CD". New York Weekend. Daily News. New York. p. 34.
  11. ^ a b "Good Day for the Blues Review by Cub Koda". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  12. ^ Milkowski, Bill (June 1, 1999). "Ruth Brown: A Good Day for the Blues". JazzTimes.
  13. ^ Cristiano, Nick (13 Aug 1999). "Ruth Brown, 'A Good Day for the Blues'". Lifestyle/Previews. The Record. Bergen County. p. 36.
  14. ^ Morris, Chris (Feb 13, 1999). "Ruth Brown Sticks to Winning Blueprint on Bullseye's 'Good'". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 7. p. 18.
  15. ^ a b The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin Books. 2006. p. 84.
  16. ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press.
  17. ^ a b White, Jim (9 May 1999). "Releases for Chasing the Blues Away". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. G5.
  18. ^ a b Reilly, Terry (4 Apr 1999). "CD Reviews". Applause. The Sunday Age. p. 8.
  19. ^ Knopper, Steve (30 May 1999). "Ruth Brown A Good Day for the Blues". Arts & Entertainment. Chicago Tribune. p. 4.
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