Take 5 with Ruth Brown

Ruth Brown was an amazing, pioneering woman. 'Discovered' at Washington D.C.'s Crystal Caverns (alter the Bohemian Caverns) she was a major rhythm and blues star with Atlantic Records which became known in part as The House That Ruth Built. While she had many hots for Atlantic, after her hit-making days were over she revived her career on Broadway as well as a big band vocalist with the Thad Jones-Mel Louis Orchestra (now The Vanguard Orchestra. She was never strictly a blues singer as that was too narrow to describe her artistry, although the focus of her later day recordings was the blues.

We start this short playlist with one of Ruth's big hits for Atlantic, "Hey Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean," this was a live recording with the Paul Williams Band.

Next up is a performance from the musical "Black and Brown Revue," "If I Can't Sell It, I'll Sit On It."

Often overlooked is Ruth's recording with the great Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra. Here she sings with them in 1969, "I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts of Town."

Here is Ruth with the title track of her album, "A Good Day For The Blues."

We close with a duet with B.B. King, "Ain't Nobody's Business."