Biography

Ruth Brown
Ms. B’s Blues
Rounder Perfect 10 series

Ruth Brown was an American entertainment icon, the first bona fide star of the nascent rhythm and blues era in the early 1950s, an actress in John Waters’ original Hairspray, an Tony-winning Broadway star, and a Grammy®-winning recording artist. These recordings are taken from her final two Grammy®-nominated albums. They’re a musical highpoint of her long career—witty, sophisticated and swinging—with an all-star New Orleans-centered band in support.

Ice Water In Your Veins 3:36

Go On Fool 4:35

Cabbage Head 6:08

I’m Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town 5:21

Too Little Too Late 5:16

Destination Heartbreak 3:42

That Train Don’t Stop Here 6:51

False Friend Blues 4:27

Never Let Me Go 4:35

Good Day For the Blues 4:36

Original Recordings produced by Scott Billington


Ice Water In Your Veins 3:36
(Johnny Otis/Pop and Sons Music Publishing, BMI, admin. by Bug)
arranged by Bill Easley
soloists: Bill Easley and Bobby Forrester

Go On Fool 4:35
(Dave Bartholomew-Dorothy Esther/EMI Unart Catalog, Inc., BMI)
arranged and conducted by Wardell Quezergue
soloists: Victor Goines and Ed Petersen

Cabbage Head 6:08
(traditional, arranged by Ruth Brown)

I’m Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town 5:21
(M. Weldon)
Soloist: Bonnie Raitt

Too Little Too Late 5:16
(Dennis Walker-Alan Mirikitani/Robischon Publishing, BMI, admin. by Bug)
arranged and conducted by Wardell Quezergue
soloist: Duke Robillard

Destination Heartbreak 3:42
(Doc Pomus-George Fischoff/Screen Gems-EMI Music, BMI)
arranged and conducted by Wardell Quezergue
soloist: Delfeayo Marsalis

That Train Don’t Stop Here 6:51
(Leroy Preston-Cesar Rosas/Bug Music-Whiskey Drinkin’ Music-Ceros Music, BMI, admin. by Bug)
arranged by Victor Goines
soloists: Duke Robillard (intro), Bobby Forrester and Charlie Miller

False Friend Blues 4:27
(Ivory Joe Hunter/Trio Music Co., Inc.)
arranged by Victor Goines
soloist: Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown

Never Let Me Go 4:35
(J. Scott/MCA Duchess Music Corp., BMI)
arranged and conducted by Wardell Quezergue
soloist: Bill Easley

Good Day For the Blues 4:36
(Hoy Lindsey-Ricky Ray Rector/Hoy Lindsey Music-Ricky Ray Music, BMI)
arranged by Bill Easley
soloist: Duke Robillard


“Go On Fool,” “Too Little Too Late,” “Destination Heartbreak,” “That Train Don’t Stop Here” and “False Friend Blues” are from Bullseye Blues 11661-9583-2, R+B=Ruth Brown

Ruth Brown vocals
Duke Robillard guitar
Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown lead guitar on “False Friend Blues”
Bobby Forrester piano and Hammond B-3 organ
James Singleton bass
Herlin Riley drums
Barney Floyd trumpet
Charlie Miller trumpet
Delfeayo Marsalis trombone
Wessell Anderson alto saxophone
Ed Petersen tenor saxophone
Victor Goines baritone saxophone

Recorded and mixed by David Farrell at Ultrasonic Studios, New Orleans, 1997.


“I’m Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town” is from Bullseye Blues 11661-9583-2, R+B=Ruth Brown

Ruth Brown vocal
Bonnie Raitt vocal and slide guitar
Rodney Jones guitar
Bobby Forrester Hammond B-3 organ
Rufus Reid bass
Akira Tana drums

Recorded by Steve Rosenthal at The Magic Shop, New York, February 28, 1997. Mixed by David Farrell at Ultrasonic.


“Ice Water In Your Veins,” “Cabbage Head,” “Never Let Me Go” and “Good Day For the Blues” are from Bullseye Blues 11661-9613-2, A Good Day for the Blues


Ruth Brown vocals
Duke Robillard guitars
Bobby Forrester Hammond B-3 organ and piano
James Singleton bass
Akira Tana drums
Charlie Miller trumpet
Abram Wilson trumpet
John Touchy trombone
Ray Moore alto saxophone
Bill Easley tenor saxophone
Victor Goines baritone saxophone

Recorded, mixed and edited by Steve Reynolds at Ultrasonic Studios, New Orleans, 1998.


Wessell Anderson appears courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corporation.
Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown appears courtesy of Real Records.
Bonnie Raitt appears courtesy of Capitol Records.
Duke Robillard appears courtesy of Virgin/Pointblank Records.

Compilation by Scott Billington
Mastered by Jonathan Wyner at M Works, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Photography © Jack Vartoogian/Front Porch Photos
Series design by Scott Billington and Devon Guillery