Charles Brown - Drifting Blues: His Underrated 1957 Long Play (2016)

This lost gem was originally issued as a 12” LP in 1957 by the Aladdin subsidiary label Score, and long unavailable on any format. In addition to the original masterpiece, this remastered collector’s edition contains 15 bonus tracks, consisting of hard-to-find sides issued by different labels, such as Aladdin, Ace, and King Records during the Fifties and early Sixties. Highlights include two of Brown’s seasonal-themed blues songs; the celebrated “Merry Christmas Baby” and “Please Come Home for Christmas.” These sensational recordings constitute a treasure of incalculable value, which would form the basis of Charles Brown’s legend and secure his reputation as one of the greatest figures of piano blues.

TRACKLIST

01. Cryin' And Driftin' Blues
02. (Hot Lips And) Seven Kisses Mambo
03. Fool's Paradise
04. Please, Don't Drive Me Away
05. By The Bend Of The River
06. I'm Saving My Love For You
07. Nite After Nite
08. Rising Sun
09. My Heart Is Mended
10. Rolling Like Pebble In Sand
11. Evening Shadows
12. Honeysipper
13. Merry Christmas Baby (1956 Version) (Bonus Track)
14. Hard Times (Bonus Track)
15. Love's Like A River (Bonus Track)
16. I Lost Everything (Bonus Track)
17. Educated Fool (With Amos Milburn) (Bonus Track)
18. I Wanna Go Home (With Amos Milburn) (Bonus Track)
19. Black Night (Bonus Track)
20. Baby, Do You Know The Game (Bonus Track)
21. Sing My Blues Tonight (Bonus Track)
22. Please Come Home For Christmas (1960 Version) (Bonus Track)
23. Trouble Blues (Bonus Track)
24. Homesick Blues (Bonus Track)
25. I'll Always Be In Love With… (1956 Version) (Bonus Track)
26. In The Evening When The Sun Goes Down (Bonus Track)
27. Merry Christmas Baby (1961 Version) (Bonus Track)