Napoleon Brown Goodson Culp
b. October 12th, 1929 in Charlotte (North Carolina)
d. September 20th, 2008 in Charlotte (North Carolina)
DON'T BE ANGRY
Savoy Jazz
March 1954 - October 1956
DOWN IN THE ALLEY
Jasmine
March 1954 - December 1962
NIGHT TIME IS THE RIGHT TIME
Savoy Jazz
March 1954 - December 1962
Fils de Kathryn Culp et Sammie Lee Brown, il est élevé par Fred et Maggie Culp à la mort de sa mère. Nappy commença par chanter le Gospel avant de se tourner vers le Rhythm & Blues. Il signe en 1954 avec le label Savoy pour lequel il enregistre d'excellents titres au tempo souvent irrésistible : "Don't be angry", "That man", "Just a little love", "I'm in the mood", "Is it really you", "A long time", "The right time", "Is you is or is you ain't my baby", "Baby cry cry baby", "Love locks", "The hole I'm in". Superbe chanteur à la voix exubérante, il a derrière lui d'excellents sidemen comme Sam Taylor, Budd Johnson, Mickey Baker, Al Sears, David "Panama" Francis. Il connait le succès jusqu'en 1957. Dès l'année suivante - comme la plupart des blues-shouters - sa renommée baisse et Nappy tombe progressivement dans l'oubli. Le label Savoy met fin à son contrat à la fin de l'année 1962.
Son of Kathryn Culp and Sammie Lee Brown, he was raised by Fred and Maggie Culp after the death of his mother. Nappy began singing Gospel before turning to Rhythm & Blues. He signed in 1954 with the Savoy label for which he recorded excellent songs with often irresistible tempo : "Don't be angry", "That man", "Just a little love", "I'm in the mood", "Is it really you", "A long time", "The right time", "Is you is or is you ain't my baby", "Baby cry cry baby", "Love locks", "The hole I'm in". A superb singer with an exuberant voice, he has behind him excellent sidemen like Sam Taylor, Budd Johnson, Mickey Baker, Al Sears and David "Panama" Francis. He has success until 1957. The following year - like most blues shouters - his fame goes down and Nappy gradually falls into oblivion. The Savoy label ends his contract at the end of 1962.
THANKS FOR NOTHING
Elephant
September 1969
Produit par Thomas Kaye et Herb Rooney, cet album signe le retour de Nappy au premier plan après quelques années d'absence. Malheureusement, celui-ci ne remporta aucun succès et ne relança pas sa carrière. Pourtant, il s'agit d'un programme sympathique, une tentative de renouvellement entre Soul et Rock : "I gotta go", "Done got over it", "Thanks for nothing", "Long time".
Produced by Thomas Kaye and Herb Rooney, this album marks the return of Nappy to the fore after a few years of absence. Unfortunately, this one was not successful and did not relaunch his career. However, it is a nice program, a renewal attempt between Soul and Rock : "I gotta go", "Done got over it", "Thanks for nothing", "Long time".
YES I KNOW THE MAN
Jewel
1974
WHEN I GET INSIDE
Savoy Jazz
1977
I DONE GOT OVER
Stockholm
ROOTS OF SCANDINAVIAN BLUES
Hot Club
February - March 1983
Redécouvert par Bill Millar au début des années 80 puis soutenu par Bob Margolin, il part sur le sol européen enregistrer un nouveau disque. Gravé lors de plusieurs séances studio/live en Suisse, Norvège et Suède. En forme au chant et accompagné par un solide groupe suédois, Nappy y joue essentiellement des relectures de ses faces des années 50 : "Who", "If you need some lovin'", "It's been a long time coming", "That man". Produit par Jonas Bernholm, Jon Larsen et Knut Reiersrud.
Rediscovered by Bill Millar in the early 80's and then supported by Bob Margolin, he leaves for European ground to record a new album. Cut during several studio / live sessions in Switzerland, Norway and Sweden. In form with singing and accompanied by a strong Swedish band, Nappy plays mainly re-readings of his 50's faces : "Who", "If you need some lovin'", "It's been a long time coming", "That man". Produced by Jonas Bernholm, Jon Larsen and Knut Reiersrud.
TORE UP
Landslide
Alligator
Nightlife
August 1984
D'abord sorti sur le petit label Landslide, cet album fut réédité par Alligator. Nappy Brown y est accompagné par les Heartfixers - le groupe du guitariste Tinsley Ellis - et une belle section cuivres. Produit efficacement par Eddy Offord, Michael Rothschild et Ricky Keller, l'album recèle quelques bonnes faces comme "Who", "Losing hand", "Tore up over you", "Hard luck blues".
First released on the small Landslide label, this album was reissued by Alligator. Nappy Brown is accompanied by the Heartfixers - guitarist Tinsley Ellis' band - and a beautiful brass section. Produced effectively by Eddy Offord, Michael Rothschild and Ricky Keller, the album has some good sides like "Who", "Losing hand", "Tore up over you", "Hard luck blues".
SOMETHING GONNA JUMP OUT THE BUSHES
Black Top
April 1987
Gravé à Dallas, remarquablement produit par Hammond Scott, avec une cohorte de superbes musiciens (Anson Funderburgh, Ronnie Earl, Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff, Earl King, Ron Levy, Eugene Ross), voici un disque créatif et varié entre Blues et Rhythm & Blues. Plusieurs excellents morceaux méritent une écoute attentive : "Have mercy mercy baby", "Something gonna jump out the bushes", "Flamingo", "Life's ups and downs", "Your love is real".
Recorded in Dallas, remarkably produced by Hammond Scott, with a cohort of superb musicians (Anson Funderburgh, Ronnie Earl, Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff, Earl King, Ron Levy, Eugene Ross), it is a creative and varied disc between Blues and Rhythm & Blues. Several excellent songs deserve a careful listening : "Have mercy mercy baby", "Something gonna jump out the bushes", "Flamingo", "Life's ups and downs", "Your love is real".
BLACK TOP BLUES-A-RAMA vol.2
Black Top
April 1988
Trois titres live captés au club Tipitina's de La Nouvelle Orleans avec les mêmes excellents musiciens.
Three live songs captured at Tipitina's Club in New Orleans with the same great musicians.
JUST FOR ME
JSP
1988
Malheureusement, ce disque n'est pas aussi bien produit que les précédents. Le son est froid et métallique (un peu d'écho aussi). Les musiciens - emmenés par le guitariste Richard Studholme - sont compétents mais peu inspirés. Nappy livre une performance vocale correcte. On remarque la participation de "Big" Jay Mac Neely.
Unfortunately, this albuù is not as well produced as the previous ones. The sound is cold and metallic (a little echo too). The musicians - led by guitarist Richard Studholme - are competent but uninspired. Nappy delivers a decent vocal performance. We note the participation of "Big" Jay Mac Neely.
DEEP SEA DIVER
Meltone
1989
Enregistré à Atlanta et produit par Haran Griffin, cet album n'a jamais été réédité en CD. Quelques bonnes versions de "Things have changed", "Mary Lue", "Deep sea diver". Un album mineur mais sympathique.
Recorded in Atlanta and produced by Haran Griffin, this album has never been reissued on CD. Some good versions of "Things have changed", "Mary Lue", "Deep sea diver". A minor but nice record.
APPLES & LEMONS
Ichiban
1990
Toujours à Atlanta mais cette fois sous la bannière du label Ichiban, Nappy livre une belle tranche de blues cuivré accompagné par un groupe compétent (agrémenté des Kala Horns). Un programme agréable mais peu original produit par Nappy, Lord Howard Hertz et Simon Eyes.
Still in Atlanta but this time under the banner of Ichiban label, Nappy delivers a beautiful slice of brassy blues accompanied by a competent group (embellished by The Kala Horns). A nice but unoriginal program produced by Nappy, Lord Howard Hertz and Simon Eyes.
AW SHUCKS
Ichiban
January - February 1991
Second album pour Ichiban produit cette fois par le batteur Bryan Cole. Surproduit et peu inspiré, on trouve ici un seul morceau de Nappy (le compassé "Still holding on"). Le reste du programme n'étant que des reprises (quatre d'entre elles de Walter "Lightnin' Bug" Rhodes). On peut éventuellement ressortir "It's not what you do" et "Mind your own business".
Second album for Ichiban produced this time by drummer Bryan Cole. Overproduced and uninspired, we find here only one track of Nappy (the stuffy "Still holding on"). The rest of the program being only covers (four of them from Walter "Lightnin 'Bug" Rhodes). We can possibly point out "It's not what you do" and "Mind your own business".
ICHIBAN BLUES AT CHRISTMAS vol.1
Ichiban
1991
I'M A WILD MAN
New Moon
1993
DOWN IN THE ALLEY
Alligator
1993
Deux titres en acoustique avec notamment une superbe version de "Down in the alley".
Two titles in acoustics including a superb version of "Down in the alley".
WHO'S BEEN FOOLIN' YOU
New Moon
1994 - 1995
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
Ripete
Westside
1995
Réunion entre Nappy Brown et Kip Anderson produite par Marion Carter pour le petit label Ripete. Le programme fait la part belle aux reprises Jump Blues bien orchestrées mais manquant parfois de flamme. Parmi les meilleurs pistes, retenons "Drinkin' wine spo-dee-o-dee", "It should've been me", "Down in the bottom", "When you're ugly like me". Mais, le reste du programme s'avère beaucoup plus poussif.
Meeting between Nappy Brown and Kip Anderson produced by Marion Carter for the small Ripete label. The program is heavily loaded with a well orchestrated Jump Blues but sometimes lacking flame. Among the best tracks, let's remember "Drinkin' wine spo-dee-o-dee", "It should've been me", "Down in the bottom", "When you're ugly like me". But the rest of the program turns out to be wheezy.
RHYTHM ROOM REVUE
Hightone
June 1997
Une reprise de son "Lemon squeezin' baby" sur la scène du Rhythm Room, le club de Bob Corritore.
A cover of his "Lemon squeezin' baby" on the Rhythm Room stage, Bob Corritore's club.
ALL-STAR BLUES SESSIONS
HMG
March 1998
Une belle version de son "Driftin' blues" avec d'excellents sidemen derrière lui (Bob Corritore, Kid Ramos, Chico Chism).
A nice version of his "Driftin' blues" with excellent sidemen behind him (Bob Corritore, Kid Ramos, Chico Chism).
HARMONICA BLUES
Delta Groove
March 1998
Nappy chante "Baby don't you tear my clothes" dans cette anthologie produite par Bob Corritore.
Nappy sings "Baby don't you tear my clothes" in this anthology produced by Bob Corritore.
LONG TIME COMING
Blind Pig
February 2002 - May 2007
Nappy montre ici qu'il est toujours en excellente forme au chant malgré quelques limitations. Parfaitement accompagné par de superbes musiciens : Bob Margolin, Sean Costello, Jim Pugh et les Mighty Lester Horns. Quelques moments brillants : "Keep on pleasin' you", "You were a long time coming", "That man", "Cherry red", "Aw shucks baby", "Take care of me". Un disque produit par Scott Cable pour le label Blind Pig.
Nappy shows here that he is still in excellent shape despite some limitations. Perfectly accompanied by great musicians : Bob Margolin, Sean Costello, Jim Pugh and the Mighty Lester Horns. Some brilliant moments : "Keep on pleasin' you", "You were a long time coming", "That man", "Cherry red", "Aw baby shucks", "Take care of me". A record produced by Scott Cable for Blind Pig label.