View source for Fine and Mellow (Ruth Brown album)

{{Infobox album
| name       = Fine and Mellow
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[Ruth Brown]]
| cover      =  Fine and Mellow (Ruth Brown album).jpg
| alt        =
| released   = 1991
| recorded   =
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      = [[R&B]], [[blues]]
| length     =
| label      = [[Fantasy Records|Fantasy]]
| producer   = Ralph Jungheim
| prev_title = Brown, Black & Beautiful
| prev_year  = 1990
| next_title = The Songs of My Life
| next_year  = 1993
}}
'''''Fine and Mellow''''' is an album by the American musician [[Ruth Brown]], released in 1991.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ruth Brown Biography by Bill Dahl |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ruth-brown-mn0000806877 |website=AllMusic |access-date=14 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Jenkins Jr. |first1=Everett |title=Pan-African Chronology III: A Comprehensive Reference to the Black Quest for Freedom in Africa, the Americas, Europe and Asia, 1914-1929 |date=2001 |publisher=McFarland, Inc. |page=469}}</ref> After recuperating from leg surgery, Brown supported the album with several concert appearances.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hinckley |first1=David |title=Ruth's R&B for free |work=Daily News |date=24 Jun 1992 |location=New York |page=39}}</ref>
==Production==
''Fine and Mellow'' is an album of Brown's favorite songs.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Heim |first1=Chris |title=Ruth Brown returned with a new set... |work=Chicago Tribune |date=6 Dec 1991 |department=Friday |page=P}}</ref> Produced by Ralph Jungheim, it was recorded with session bands in New York City and in Hollywood.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Album Reviews — Fine and Mellow by Ruth Brown |magazine=Billboard |date=Jan 25, 1992 |volume=104 |issue=4 |page=53}}</ref><ref name=ND>{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=John |title=A Pair of Bluesy Tributes |work=Newsday |date=5 Jan 1992 |department=Fanfare |page=19}}</ref> The songs were arranged by Frank Owens.<ref name=SR/> [[Rodney Jones (guitarist)|Rodney Jones]] played guitar; [[Herman Riley]] contributed on saxophone.<ref name =GP/><ref name=VS>{{cite news |last1=Rutter |first1=Frank |title=Ruth Brown Fine and Mellow |work=The Vancouver Sun |date=21 Mar 1992 |page=D23}}</ref> The title track was written by [[Billie Holiday]].<ref name=PI/> "Salty Papa Blues" is a version of the song made famous by [[Dinah Washington]].<ref name=AM/> "[[It's Just a Matter of Time (song)|It's Just a Matter of Time]]" is a cover of the [[Brook Benton]] song.<ref name="SR">{{cite magazine |title=Fine and Mellow by Ruth Brown |magazine=Stereo Review |date=Jul 1992 |volume=57 |issue=7 |page=67}}</ref> "[[Knock Me a Kiss]]" is a cover of the song made famous by [[Louis Jordan]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wald |first1=Elijah |title=Ruth Brown Fine and Mellow |work=The Boston Globe |date=12 Mar 1992 |department=Calendar |page=6}}</ref>
==Critical reception==
{{music ratings
|rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
|rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="AM">{{cite web |title=Fine and Mellow Review by Bill Dahl |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/fine-and-mellow-mw0000677138 |website=AllMusic |access-date=14 February 2024}}</ref>
|rev2 = ''[[Grove Press|The Grove Press Guide to the Blues on CD]]''
|rev2score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="GP">{{cite book |last1=Hadley |first1=Frank-John |title=The Grove Press Guide to the Blues on CD |date=1993 |publisher=Grove Press |page=31}}</ref>
|rev3 = ''[[North County Times]]''
|rev3score = {{rating|3|4}}<ref name="NC">{{cite news |last1=Gallo |first1=Mark |title=Ruth Brown gets 'Fine and Mellow' with rhythm and blues |work=North County Times |date=7 Feb 1992 |page=13B}}</ref>
|rev4 = ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]''
|rev4score = {{rating|2.5|4}}<ref name="PI">{{cite news |last1=Stark |first1=Karl |title=Ruth Brown Fine and Mellow |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=30 Jan 1992 |page=C8}}</ref>
|rev5 = ''[[Colin Larkin|The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul]]''
|rev5score = {{rating|3|4}}<ref name="CL">{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul |date=1998 |publisher=Virgin |page=44}}</ref>
}}
''[[Newsday]]'' wrote that Brown's "brash style never adapts to songs synonymous with other singers, but adopts them as her own."<ref name=ND/> The ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' said that the album "underlines her versatility and her ability to use an actor's touch to inject drama or humor into a song."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Boehm |first1=Mike |title=The Big 3 Together |work=Los Angeles Times |date=26 Dec 1991 |department=OC Live |page=6}}</ref> ''[[The Vancouver Sun]]'' deemed ''Fine and Mellow'' "the blues in all its raunchy glory."<ref name=VS/> The ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' opined that "her singing has plenty of snarl and bite, and she shrewdly has surrounded herself with a terrific lineup of instrumentalists."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Reich |first1=Howard |title=Recordings |work=Chicago Tribune |date=17 May 1992 |department=Arts |page=29}}</ref>
''[[Stereo Review]]'' considered it the best album of Brown's return to recording, likening it to "taking a stroll down memory lane and on into the kind of crowded, smoke-filled club where countless organ-and-vocal combos delighted weekend crowds."<ref name=SR/> ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'' called it "another big, brash affair that showcases Brown as earthmother/vamp, a singer who ... can deliver lyrics with a wink and a sneer."<ref name=PI/> The ''[[North County Times]]'' labeled it a "mini-history of Black American music."<ref name=NC/>
[[AllMusic]] called the album a "nice contemporary effort with a strongly swinging R&B flavor running throughout."<ref name=AM/>
==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| all_writing =
| title1 = [[Fine and Mellow]]
| length1 =
| title2 = [[I Ain't Got Nothin' but the Blues]]
| length2 =
| title3 = A World I Never Made
| length3 =
| title4 = Salty Papa Blues
| length4 =
| title5 = [[I'll Drown in My Own Tears]]
| length5 =
| title6 = [[Knock Me a Kiss]]
| length6 =
| title7 = [[It's Just a Matter of Time (song)|It's Just a Matter of Time]]
| length7 =
| title8 = [[Don't Get Around Much Anymore]]
| length8 =
| title9 = [[Nothing Takes the Place of You]]
| length9 =
| title10 = [[I'll Be Satisfied]]
| length10 =
}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{authority control}}
{{Ruth Brown}}
[[Category:Ruth Brown albums]]
[[Category:1991 albums]]
[[Category:Fantasy Records albums]]