b. February 25th, 1937 in Jackson (Mississippi)

d. December 11th, 1985 in Harvey (Illinois)

BIG BROWN'S BLUES

Black Magic

1964 - 1965 / 1973 / August 1979 / October 1981 / August 1982 / August 1983 / October 1984

Originaire du Mississippi, il s'installe à Chicago en 1946 avec sa mère. Il y cotoie son ami Magic Sam, Earl Hooker, Shakey Jake et Freddie King avec lesquels il joue fréquemment. Entre 1956 (l'année de la mort de sa mère) et 1958, il sert sous les drapeaux. A son retour, il travaille dans une acierie puis enregistre son premier simple en 1964 pour le label USA (l'excellent "You better stop") suivi, l'année suivante, d'une poignée de titres pour 4 Brothers (en particulier le puissant "You ought to be ashamed"), un label dirigé par William Barney. Mais ces titres ne rapportent pas grand chose à Andrew qui continue de jouer derrière Jimmy Johnson ou Denise LaSalle. Il lui faudra attendre 1973 pour pouvoir à nouveau entrer dans un studio pour une séance qu'il doit financer lui-même (une heure et demie, le maximum qu'il puisse dépenser). Encore une fois, le succès sera inexistant (malgré un beau "Blue monday") et Andrew reprendra son métier dans une acierie. Souffrant d'importants problèmes médicaux (il a une attaque cardiaque dans les années 70 et souffre fréquemment du dos depuis un accident), il doit finalement patienter jusqu'à la fin des années 70 pour que le producteur Bruce Iglauer lui propose de figurer dans son anthologie "Livng Chicago Blues" et relance sa carrière. Cette participation sera suivie de deux albums fabuleux qui installent Andrew Brown comme un des meilleurs bluesmen de Chicago. Hélas, il décède en 1985 sans pouvoir véritablement profiter de cette renommée tardive. Grâce au label Black Magic et aux compilateurs Gerard Robs et Kees Van Wijngaarden, l'intégralité de l'oeuvre d'Andrew est rééditée dans ce coffret (à l'exception des 3 morceaux Alligator) avec aussi de nombreux titres inédits ("You were meant for me", "Easy now", "Baby don't you worry").

Originally from Mississippi, he moved to Chicago in 1946 with his mother. There, he rubbed shoulders with his friend Magic Sam, Earl Hooker, Shakey Jake and Freddie King with whom he frequently played. Between 1956 (the year of his mother's death) and 1958, he served in the army. Upon his return, he worked in a steel mill and then recorded his first single in 1964 for the USA label (the excellent "You better stop") followed, the following year by a handful of tracks for 4 Brothers (particularly the powerful "You ought to be ashamed"), a label run by William Barney. But these tracks didn't earn much for Andrew who continued to play behind Jimmy Johnson and Denise LaSalle. It wasn't until 1973 that he was able to enter a studio again for a session, which he had to finance himself (an hour and a half, the maximum he could spend). Once again, success was nonexistent (despite the good "Blue monday") and Andrew returned to his job in a steel mill. Suffering from significant medical problems (he had a heart attack in the 1970's and suffered frequent back pain after an accident), he finally had to wait until the late 1970's for producer Bruce Iglauer to offer him a spot on his "Living Chicago Blues" anthology and revive his career. This appearance was followed by two fabulous albums that established Andrew Brown as one of Chicago's finest bluesmen. Sadly, he died in 1985 without truly enjoying this belated fame. Thanks to the Black Magic label and compilers Gerard Robs and Kees Van Wijngaarden, Andrew's entire body of work is reissued in this box set (with the exception of the 3 Alligator tracks) along with many previously unreleased tracks ("You were meant for me", "Easy now", "Baby don't you worry").

LIVING CHICAGO BLUES vol.5 (lp) / vol.4 (cd)

Alligator

Sonet

August 1979

Dans la célèbre série supervisée par Bruce Iglauer pour documenter la scène chicagoane de l'époque co-financée par Alligator et Sonet, Andrew Brown propose trois titres, en particulier, les superbes "I got news for you" et "Two years" qui montrent à quel point il est un bluesman sous-estimé. Magnifique chanteur, superbe guitariste influencé par Albert King, Andrew trouve enfin un peu d'attention et reprend son activité de bluesman grâce au succès de l'anthologie.

In the famous series supervised by Bruce Iglauer to document the Chicago scene co-financed by Alligator and Sonet, Andrew Brown delivers three tracks, in particular the superb "I got news for you" and "Two years", which demonstrate what an underrated bluesman he is. A magnificent singer and superb guitarist influenced by Albert King, Andrew finally finds some attention and resumes his blues work thanks to the success of the anthology.

BIG BROWN'S CHICAGO BLUES

Black Magic

October 1981

Avec le regain de notoriété apporté par sa participation à l'anthologie "Living Chicago blues", Andrew trouve l'opportunité de graver - enfin - un album complet pour le label hollandais Black Magic, co-produit par lui-même et Dick Shurman. Il donne un superbe album de Chicago Blues où brillent ses talents de chanteur et de guitariste sur des titres remarquables comme "No more talking", "Mary Jane", "It's your fault", "Love me", "Tin Pan Alley", "You're gonna need me".

With the renewed notoriety brought by his participation in the "Living Chicago Blues" anthology, Andrew found the opportunity to record — at last — a full-length album for the dutch label Black Magic, co-produced by himself and Dick Shurman. He gives a superb Chicago Blues album, where his talents as a singer and guitarist shine on remarkable tracks such as "No more talking", "Mary Jane", "It's your fault", "Love me", "Tin Pan Alley", "You're gonna need me".

ON THE CASE

Double Trouble

August 1983 / October 1984

Malgré de graves soucis médicaux qui l'épuisent, Andrew trouve la force d'enregistrer ce magnifique album pour le label hollandais Double Trouble. Produit par Dick Shurman, gravé lors de trois séances en 1983 et 1984 aux studios Gerim, "On the case" s'impose comme un chef d'oeuvre du Chicago Blues inspiré et plein de feeling. Brillant à la guitare, Andrew propose ici des morceaux inoubliables comme "Losing hand", "Can't let you go", "Lead me on", "I'm so tired", "Blues do something to me", "Spring", "I can hear my baby talking". Malheureusement, Andrew Brown ne profite pas longtemps de ce regain d'intérêt pour sa musique puisqu'il décède dans les derniers jours de l'année 1985.

Despite serious medical problems that left him exhausted, Andrew found the strength to record this magnificent album for the dutch label Double Trouble. Produced by Dick Shurman, recorded during three sessions in 1983 and 1984 at Gerim Studios, "On the case" stands out as a masterpiece of inspired and emotional Chicago blues. Brilliant on guitar, Andrew offers unforgettable tracks like "Losing hand", "Can't let you go", "Lead me on", "I'm so tired", "Blues do something to me", "Spring", "I can hear my baby talking". Unfortunately, Andrew Brown didn't enjoy this renewed interest in his music for long, as he passed away in the final days of 1985.