Stunning RUTH BROWN Rock & Roll ATLANTIC 1st LP R&B

$

163

Up for auction is:

RUTH BROWN

"Ruth Brown"

Atlantic 8004

• Silver Print on Deep Groove Black Labels
• Atlantic Recording Corporation, 157 West 57 Street, New York 19, New York Address on Jacket
• Outstanding Condition!

1957

Background Information and Selected Graphics on Ruth Brown, the "Queen of Rhythm & Blues":

[Note: These pictures and information are for background purposes only, and are not part of this auction.  For detailed descriptions of the actual LP and photos, please scroll down]

Known as "The Girl with a Tear in her Voice", "The Original Queen of Rhythm & Blues," "Miss Rhythm & Blues," and the well-known moniker of "Miss Rhythm," the first rhythm-and-blues singer, Ruth Brown is a living legend.

When she was born Ruth Weston, January 30, 1928, in Portsmouth, VA, who could have guessed back then that she would eventually hold her current icon status!  That one day you could look her up in the encyclopedia and read, "American singer and actress who earned the sobriquet "Miss Rhythm" while dominating the rhythm-and-blues charts throughout the 1950s.  Her success helped establish Atlantic Records ("The House That Ruth Built") as the era's premiere rhythm-and-blues label."

...Ruth soon won a talent contest at Harlem's Apollo Theater.  Later, while performing at a Washington, DC nightclub, she was noticed by a local deejay that contacted the top brass at Atlantic.

Herb Abramson from Atlantic came down from New York to hear Ruth sing.  He recalls, "She was superb onstage, fully professional even then.  She knocked me out; I just had to have her on Atlantic.  I signed her on the spot."  Brown gave the fledgling company its second-ever hit with "So Long," a simple, blues showcase for her trochee, church-and-jazz-schooled voice.  Her second single, "Teardrops in My Eyes," brought out her more swaggering, aggressive side, and she was rewarded with her first Number One R&B hit.  For the duration of the Fifties, Brown dominated the R&B charts with such red-hot sides as "5-10-15 Hours" and "(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean."  Brown's two dozen hit records helped Atlantic secure its footing in the record industry, a track record for which the young label was referred to as "The House That Ruth Built."

She was known as "Miss Rhythm," a testament to her stature as a female rhythm & blues singer whose only serious competition was Dinah Washington.  
 

Rounder Records explains why and how Ruth Brown was the first rhythm-and-blues singer: Every black woman before her was either a jazz, blues or gospel vocalist.  Ruth Brown was all of those with the added element of rhythm.

Simply put, the legendary Ruth Brown is a musical pioneer and a celebrated icon of rhythm and blues.  From her explosive debut in 1949 with Atlantic Records (her #1 hit "Teardrops From My Eyes" was Atlantic's first 45 rpm single), through her 1999 Lifetime Achievement Award from The Blues Foundation, Ruth Brown remains, along with giants like Ray Charles, Dinah Washington and Chuck Berry, one of the undisputed architects.Her achievements include several million-selling hit records, and induction into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a Grammy Award, two W.C. Handy Awards, a Tony Award, the Ralph Gleason Award for Music Journalism (for her 1996 autobiography), and a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation.  In fact, the Rhythm and Blues Foundation was founded as a direct result of efforts by and on behalf of Ruth to foster wider recognition and provide financial assistance to rhythm and blues musicians of any stature.  Recently, Ruth Brown's version of Brook Benton's "I Don't Know" is featured in the new Denzel Washington hit film, "Hurricane".

Major television, film and theater roles have also contributed to a body of work that most artists can only dream of achieving in one lifetime.

Yes, Ruth Brown is truly, a living legend!

Tracks (Side 1):

1. Lucky Lips
2. As Long As I'm Moving
3. Wild Wild Young Men
4. Daddy Daddy
5. Mambo Baby
6. Teardrops From My Eyes
7. Hello Little Boy

Tracks (Side 2):

1. Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean
2. 5-10-15 Hours
3. It's Love Baby
4. Sentimental Journey
5. Old Man river
6. So Long
7. Oh What A Dream

Grading:

All records are graded visually unless otherwise noted.  I try to grade conservatively, using Goldmine guidelines, in order to give the buyer the benefit of any doubt.  I try to list all significant defects.  To aid in the description, I take photos of all items at the time of listing.  Please email me with any questions.  

A further note about my grading:  I rarely grade a previously owned record NM.  I do not use this grade unless the record is virtually flawless.  After NM, my highest grade is E, followed by VG+.  I do not use NM-, E-, VG++, or VG+++ or other so-called in-between grades.  VG+ should be very acceptable to most collectors.  I will only list a VG record if it is extremely rare and hard-to-find. 

Cover: E

Glossy; clean; great color; smooth opening; sharp corners; two very small stains on back; gorgeous! displays great!

Vinyl: E

Glossy; clean; a few minor scuffs; super!

Negligible spindle wear and marks; nice!

Shipping and Handling

All items will be shipped in secure new LP mailers, sandwiched between cardboard inserts, with the vinyl outside the cover to prevent seam splits.  I will gladly combine shipping for all auctions ending within one week. 

US Postal Service Priority Mail: $8.00 (each additional LP add $3.00)

[Shipping insurance optional --contact me for rates]

Canada: $8.00 (Airmail); each additional LP add $3.00

Europe: $14.00 (Airmail); each additional LP add $6.00

Japan, Asia, Australia: $15.00 (Airmail); each additional LP add $7.00

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Guarantee: All records are unconditionally guaranteed.  I am a collector first, and make every effort to grade my records fairly and accurately.  Sometimes honest differences of opinion may arise.  If for any reason you are not satisfied with your purchase, please contact me before leaving negative feedback.  I will gladly refund your entire purchase price, including shipping, or make some other mutually satisfactory arrangement.  To activate this guarantee, you must notify me within one week of receipt of record and return the record to me in the same condition as received within two weeks.  Thanks.