Nappy Brown: Night Time is The Right Time

This two-CD set compiles the great blues shouter’s mid-to-late ’50s and early ’60s recordings for the Savoy label. Following in the wake of Wynonie Harris, Roy Brown and Big Joe Turner, Brown scored his first hit in 1955 with “Don’t Be Angry,” which rose to No. 2 on the R&B charts and No. 25 on the pop charts. His husky, soulful baritone voice is featured here on everything from lowdown slow blues numbers like “Is It Really You?” sparked by Mickey Baker’s nasty guitar work, to “Shake, Rattle & Roll” sequels like “Open Up the Door” to lame-o novelty numbers like “Piddily Patter Patter” and “Goody Goody Gum Drop.” Nappy roars ferociously on “I’m in the Mood” (a tune later popularized by Bonnie Raitt), croons soulfully on “I’m Getting Lonesome” and wails with raw, gospel intensity on “The Right Time,” an original tune that Ray Charles later covered and hit big with. Some of the notable sidemen on these tracks include drummers Panama Francis and Connie Kay, saxophonists King Curtis, Budd Johnson, Sam Taylor and Al Sears, guitarists Baker and Sal Salvador, pianist Sam Price and bassist Milt Hinton.

Originally Published December 1, 2000