Album of the Day

With a string of R&B hits whose playful energy also appealed to first-generation rock fans, Ruth Brown was one of Atlantic Records' biggest stars of the 1950s. Following a singles compilation, LATE DATE WITH RUTH BROWN was the singer's second album for the label but the first cut specifically for the LP market; recorded 60 years ago, it's aged remarkably well. Presenting a more sophisticated side of her sometimes-bawdy persona, the dozen tracks include classics by Rodgers & Hart, Duke Ellington, the Gershwins and Irving Berlin, and Brown's sultry, after-hours vocals (and Richard Wess' big-band arrangements) fit the songs perfectly. We'll remember the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer with another LATE DATE WITH RUTH BROWN.