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A Good Day for the Blues
Studio album by Ruth Brown
Released	1999
Studio	Ultrasonic
Genre	Blues, R&B
Label	Bullseye Blues
Producer	Scott Billington
Ruth Brown chronology
R + B = Ruth Brown (1997) A Good Day for the Blues (1999)

A Good Day for the Blues is an album by the American musician Ruth Brown, released in 1999 via Bullseye Blues. After recovering from health ailments, Brown supported the album with several concert dates. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Traditional Blues Album". A Good Day for the Blues was Brown's final studio album.

Production

Produced by Scott Billington, the album was recorded at Ultransonic Studios, in New Orleans. "I Believe I Can Fly" is a cover of the R. Kelly song. Brown learned to perform "Cabbage Head" during her childhood. Dan Penn wrote "Be Good to Me Tonight" and "Can't Stand a Broke Man". "True" is a cover of the Paul Gayten song. Duke Robillard played guitar on A Good Day for the Blues. Wardell Quezergue worked on some of the song arrangements. A couple of the songs contain spoken word passages by Brown.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
The Atlanta Constitution	B+
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Sunday Age

The Sunday Age wrote that "Good Day represents the best, horn-driven, vintage R&B put out today." The Atlanta Constitution noted that, "with Brown's experience, she's able to seamlessly explore the tricky territory between blues and jazz with ease." The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette deemed the album "a tribute to her vocal skills—if anything, better with age, a voice full of whiskey and wry." The Chicago Tribune determined that it leans "more on sassy, rambling story-songs like 'H.B.'s Funky Fable' than her classic belting style."

Track listing

References

1. Andrews, Laura (5 Nov 1998). "Ruth Brown delivers the rhythm & blues of Billie Holiday". New York Amsterdam News. No. 45. p. 32.
2. "Pop CDs". Sunday Datebook. San Francisco Chronicle. 28 Feb 1999. p. 38.
3. Gewertz, Daniel (1 July 1999). "Blues queen Brown returns in grand style". Arts & Lifestyle. Boston Herald. p. 27.
4. "Ruth Brown". Recording Academy. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
5. Komara, Edward M. (2006). Encyclopedia of the Blues. Routledge. p. 162.
6. Billington, Scott (2022). Making Tracks: A Record Producer's Southern Roots Music Journey. University Press of Mississippi.
7. McDonald, Sam (19 Feb 1999). "Quick Checks". Daily Press. Newport News. p. D5.
8. Salvail, Andre (March 1, 1999). "Ruth Brown, A Good Day for the Blues". OffBeat.
9. ^ Eldredge, Richard L. (6 May 1999). "Blues". The Atlanta Constitution. p. D5.
10. Hinckley, David (29 May 1999). "CD". New York Weekend. Daily News. New York. p. 34.
11. ^ "Good Day for the Blues Review by Cub Koda". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
12. Milkowski, Bill (June 1, 1999). "Ruth Brown: A Good Day for the Blues". JazzTimes.
13. Cristiano, Nick (13 Aug 1999). "Ruth Brown, 'A Good Day for the Blues'". Lifestyle/Previews. The Record. Bergen County. p. 36.
14. Morris, Chris (Feb 13, 1999). "Ruth Brown Sticks to Winning Blueprint on Bullseye's 'Good'". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 7. p. 18.
15. ^ The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin Books. 2006. p. 84.
16. Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press.
17. ^ White, Jim (9 May 1999). "Releases for Chasing the Blues Away". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. G5.
18. ^ Reilly, Terry (4 Apr 1999). "CD Reviews". Applause. The Sunday Age. p. 8.
19. Knopper, Steve (30 May 1999). "Ruth Brown A Good Day for the Blues". Arts & Entertainment. Chicago Tribune. p. 4.

• Ruth Brown albums
• 1999 albums
• Rounder Records albums