Maxine Brown
Although she never had many hits, Maxine Brown was one of the most underrated soul and R&B vocalists of the '60s, during which time she released a series of singles for Nomar and Wand, with only a few songs -- "All in My Mind," "Funny," "Something You Got," "Oh No Not My Baby" -- managing to become either pop or R&B hits. Despite this, Brown is acknowledged as one of the finest R&B vocalists of her time, capable of delivering soul, jazz, and pop with equal aplomb.
Born in Kingstree, South Carolina, Brown began singing as child, singing with two New York-based gospel groups when she was a teenager. In 1960, she signed with the small Nomar label, who released the smooth soul ballad "All in My Mind" late in the year. The single became a hit, climbing to number two on the R&B charts (number 19 pop), and it was quickly followed by "Funny," which peaked at number three. Brown was poised to become a star, and she moved to ABC-Paramount in 1962, but left the label within a year without scoring any hits. She signed to the New York-based, uptown soul label Wand in 1963.
Brown recorded her best work at Wand, having a string of moderate hits for the label over the next three years. Among these were the Carole King/Gerry Goffin song "Oh No Not My Baby," which reached number 24 on the pop charts; "It's Gonna Be Alright"; and the Chuck Jackson duets "Something You Got," "Hold On I'm Coming," and "Daddy's Home." Part of the reason Brown didn't receive much exposure is that the label focused much of their attention on Dionne Warwick, leaving Maxine Brown to toil in semi-obscurity. In 1969, she left Wand and signed with Commonwealth United, where she had the minor hits "We'll Cry Together" and "I Can't Get Along Without You." In 1971, she moved to Avco Records, but all of her recordings for the label were ignored and she faded away over the course of the decade.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
-
Yesterday's Kisses - Maxine Brown
Soul - Released by ISIS on 6 Sep 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Funny Kind of Feeling: Complete 1960-1962 Recordings
Soul - Released by Yeah Mama Records on 6 May 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Funny (Billboard Hot 100 - No. 25)
Soul - Released by Music Manager on 19 Dec 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Maxine Brown - Music History
Gospel - Released by Vintage Jukebox on 24 May 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Maxine Brown (Vintage Charm)
R&B - Released by Don't stop the music on 2 Mar 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Spotlight on Maxine Brown
World - Released by TP4 Music on 6 Jan 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Maxine Brown - Vintage Sounds
R&B - Released by Retro Music Box on 24 Feb 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Little Girl Lost
Funk - Released by exclusiv for streaming partners on 29 Jan 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
The Fabulous Sound Of
Pop - Released by Rarity Music on 11 Oct 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -