Nappy Brown Night Time Is The Right Time CD

Recorded between 1954 & 1962. Includes liner notes by Colin Escott.

Nappy Brown, who emerged onto the R&B scene in the 1950s, was the missing link between blues shouters like Wynonie Harris and Big Joe Turner, and the classic soul singers of the '60s, like Ray Charles and Jackie Wilson. Brown had both the rough, rowdy juke-joint shout and the more polished, suave and mannered (he sometimes rolled his consonants) styles down, and he was one of the architects of what became known as soul. This two-CD set collects Brown's output for the Savoy label, from the '50s through the early '60s.

On "Down In the Alley" Brown sounds as ominous as John Lee Hooker, and on "Little By Little" he recalls Jackie Wilson and Little Willie John, while occasionally slipping into a dark Hooker Detroit-boogie vocal tone. The gloriously rough-hewn musical backing is superb. Ace guitarist Mickey Baker (of Mickey & Sylvia fame) and sax legend Sam "The Man" Taylor, along with jazz players Connie Kay, Al Sears, Panama Francis and Milt Hinton, all dip their buckets into the river where the waters of swing, blues, and rock & roll combine. NIGHT TIME is Saturday night music of the highest order.

All tracks have been digitally remastered.

This is part of Savoy's Blues Legends series.

Compilation Producers: Colin Escott, Dave "Daddy Cool" Booth.

Personnel includes: Nappy Brown (vocals); Mickey Baker, Skeeter Best, Sal Salvador (electric guitar); Al Sears, Sam Taylor, King Curtis (tenor saxophone); Budd Johnson (baritone saxophone); Sam Price, Howard Biggs (piano); Leonard Gaskin (bass); Connie Kay, Dave Bailey (drums); Ray Baretto (congas).

Producers: Fred Mendelsohn, Herman Lubinsky, Ozzie Cadena.

Down Beat (3/01, p.68) - 3 out of 5 - "...Rousing performances....Brown is fortunate to often have the musical support of the splendid guitarist Mickey Baker and exciting tenor of Sam Taylor..."
JazzTimes (12/00, p.98) - "...Compiles [his] mid-to-late '50s and early '60s recordings for the Savoy label....His husky, soulful barritone voice is featured here on everything from lowdown slow blues...to 'Shake, Rattle & Roll' sequels..."
Living Blues (11-12/00, pp.78-9) - "...Represents some of the fieriest R&B of his era....these 36 killer cuts do the still-active Brown's early legacy proud..."