Shirley Brown

Born January 6, 1947, she earned a reputation in gospel circles throughout the city for delivering powerful solos. In her late teens, she concentrated on secular music and sung with many of the city's soul singers. Her first recordings, produced by Oliver Sain, did nothing nationally but made some noise locally. "I Ain't Gonna Tell" and "Love Is Built On a Strong Foundation" found their way to Memphis R&B stations, giving Brown the impetus, with the help of manager Albert King, to tryout and secured a deal with Stax Records. Brown had the last hit for Stax before the label folded. On November 14, 1974, "Woman to Woman" topped the R&B chart for two weeks.After "Woman," she released two more singles on Stax's Truth label: "It Ain't No Fun" and "It's Worth a Whippin'," but Stax was on its last leg, and the doors closed in 1975. She signed with Arista Records in 1977, her first single "Blessed Is the Woman (With a Man Like Mine)" didn't light up the charts. Neither did two other Arista singles: "Givin' Up" and "I Can't Move No Mountains." A self titled Arista album suffered the same fate as the singles. Brown's next label, 20th Century, released "You Got to Like What I Do" in 1980 but it didn't sell and the label lost interest. A deal with Sound Town resulted in the LP "Intimate Storm", and one single, "Leave the Bridges Standing," in 1984. Two years later, "Shootin' a Blank" on Chelsea Avenue bombed, as did a single on Black Diamond Records, "If This Is Goodbye." Things inproved when she signed with Malaco in 1989.

Album Discography

"Woman To Woman" (Stax 1974)

1. It Ain't No Fun
2. Long as You Love Me
3. Stay With Me Baby
4. I've Got to Go on Without You
5. Woman to Woman
6. So Glad to Have You
7. Passion
8. I Can't Give You Up
9. I Need You Tonight
10. Between You and Me

"Shirley Brown" (Arista 1977)

1. Blessed Is The Woman (With A Man Like Mine)
2. When You Really Love Somebody
3. Said I Wasn't Gonna Give You No More Love
4. I Need Somebody To Love Me
5. Givin' Up
6. Long On Lovin'
7. Midnight Rendezvous
8. I'll Be Right Here Lovin' You
9. A Mighty Good Feeling
10. Lowdown, Dirty, Good Lover
11. Honey Babe
12. I Can't Move No Mountains

"For The Real Feeling" (Stax 1979)

1. When, Where, and What Time
2. Crowding in on My Mind
3. After a Night Like This
4. Dirty Feelin'
5. Hang on Louie
6. Eyes Can't See
7. Move Me -- Move Me
8. Love Starved

"Intimate Storm" (4th & Broadway 1985)

1. Boyfriend
2. I Don't Play That
3. Looking For The Real Thing
4. This Love
5. I'm Up To No Good
6. Love Fever
7. This Used To Be Your House
8. Leave The Bridges Standing

"Fire & Ice" (Malaco 1989)

1. What 'Cha Gonna' Do When the Money Runs Out
2. Ain't Nothin' Like the Lovin' We Got
3. Tell Me Something Good
4. Silent Treatment
5. King Size Love
6. If This Is Goodbye
7. Take Me to Your Heart
8. Sowed to the Wind
9. I Wonder Where the Love Has Gone
10. Anticipation

"Timeless" (Malaco 1990)

1. Still in Love
2. Let's Make Love Tonight
3. I Had a Talk With My Man
4. Three Way Love Affair
5. Lovin' Too Soon
6. Share Your Love
7. If I Didn't Love You
8. I Feel Your Love Changing
9. Time

"Joy & Pain" (Malaco 1993)

1. Joy and Pain
2. Hearts Are Make to Be Loved
3. Take It Like a Women
4. It's a Pleasure Easin' Your Pain
5. You're Gonna Make Me Cry
6. Two-Way Thang, A
7. 'Bout to Make Me Leave Home
8. You Know What You're Gettin' at Home
9. It Don't Hurt Like It Used To
10. Long on Lovin'

"Diva Of Soul" (Malaco 1995)

1. You Ain't Got to Hide Your Man
2. If You're Weak Enough
3. Good Loving Man
4. One More Time
5. You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)
6. Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
7. Talk to Me
8. Sprung on His Love
9. Better You Go Your Way
10. Left Over Love

"The Soul Of A Woman" (Malaco 1997)

1. Why You Want to Love Me Like That
2. You're Never Gonna Find Another Love Like Mine
3. Don't Go Lookin' for My Man
4. Power of a Women, The
5. Who Is Betty?
6. Female Player
7. Search Is Over, The
8. Last Time I Cry, The (Over a Man)
9. You Left a Good Woman for a Good Time
10. I Caught You With Your Pants Down
11. He Looked Beyond My Faults

"Three-Way Love Affair" (601 Music 1998)

1. Silent Treatment
2. Three Way Love Affair
3. Let's Make Love Tonight.
4. It Don't Hurt Like It Used To
5. Joy and Pain
6. Sprung on His Love
7. Tell Me Something Good
8. A Two-Way Thang
9. If I Didn't Love You
10. Lovin' Too Soon

"Holding My Own" (Malaco 2000)

1. Sweet Lips, Big Hips
2. If You Keep Using My Love
3. How Close We Came
4. Is There a Lover in the House
5. Sticking by My Man
6. Walking or Crawling
7. Cold Turkey
8. Best Woman, The
9. Wrapped up in Your Love
10. If I Were Your Woman
11. When a Woman Loves a Man
12. Through the Storm

"Woman Enough!" (Malaco 2004)

1. Poon Tang Man
2. Think Again
3. My Heart Can't Take Another Break
4. (I'd Have To Be) Stuck On Stupid
5. Too Much Candy
6. I'm So Fed Up
7. (I've Got To) Sleep With One Eye Open
8. Hook, Line & Sinker
9. Woman Enough! (Why Can't You Be Man Enough)
10. It's Best We Say Goodbye
11. Miss Lizzie's Daughter

"Unleashed" (Malaco 2009)

1. Upside Down
2. I Don't Wanna Leave
3. Clean House
4. You Should'a Known Better
5. I Wish You Didn't Love Me So Good
6. Let Me Relax You
7. If You Can't Hit It Right
8. Sample Of My Love, A
9. You Gave Me Hell
10. Why, When I Hear Your Name
11. You Ain't Gonna Get No More Of My Love
12. Watch What You Tell Your Friends

BUY CDS