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
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Spotlight on Maxine Brown
Soul - Released by Roadshow Records on 6 Jan 2023
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Out Of Sight
Soul/Funk/R&B - Released by Legacy Recordings on 11 Feb 1968
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Very Best of Maxine Brown
Soul - Released by Classic Music International on 4 Jan 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Her Golden Years (Remastered)
Soul - Released by Master Tape Records on 3 Oct 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
All in My Mind
Jazz - Released by Black Sheep Music on 22 Oct 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
My Life (Mono Version)
Pop - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1961
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
She's Got Everything
R&B - Released by Golden Bridge Records on 13 Nov 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
It's All in My Mind / Funny
Funk - Released by Warwick Records on 19 Apr 1961
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
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When I Fall in Love
Soul - Released by Serenity Records on 3 Jan 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Funny Kind of Feeling (26 Tracks)
Pop - Released by Bamboodi on 31 Jan 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Treat Me Like A Lady / I.O.U.
Soul - Released by AVCO Records Corp. on 18 Oct 1972
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Bella Mia / Picked Up, Packed and Put Away
Soul - Released by AVCO Records Corp. on 7 Feb 1973
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
All In My Mind
Pop - Released by Essential Media Group on 4 Dec 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
If I Knew Then What I Know Now
R&B - Released by Jasmine Records on 6 Nov 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Funny Kind of Feeling
R&B - Released by Mojo Workin' on 9 Nov 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Two of a Kind / Just Between the Two of Us
Country - Released by Good Time Records on 23 Jul 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Yesterday's Kisses - Maxine Brown
Soul - Released by ISIS on 6 Sep 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo