Black Night (Charles Brown song)

"Black Night" is a blues song recorded by Charles Brown in 1951. Although the songwriter credit is usually given to Jessie Mae Robinson, "Brown is believed to have written 'Black Night'", according to author Steve Sullivan.[1]

For other uses, see Black Night (disambiguation).
"Black Night"
Single by Charles Brown Trio
B-side"Once There Live a Fool"
ReleasedJanuary 1951 (1951-01)
RecordedDecember 21, 1950 (1950-12-21)
StudioRadio Recorders, Los Angeles
GenreBlues
Length3:07
LabelAladdin
Songwriter(s)Jessie Mae Robinson
Charles Brown Trio singles chronology
"My Baby's Gone"
(1950)		 "Black Night"
(1951)		 "I'll Always Be in Love with You"
(1951)

Background

A slow minor-key blues, it is performed in the West Coast blues-style.[2] Brown, on vocal and piano, is backed by a small combo with the addition of Maxwell Davis on saxophone.[3]

"Black Night" was Brown's second single to reach number one on Billboard's R&B chart.[4] It remained at the top position for 14 weeks, longer than any other single.[2] In 2005, it was inducted into the Blues Foundation Blues Hall of Fame as a "Classic of Blues Recording – Single or Album Track".[2]

The song is included on numerous compilations of Brown's music as well as collections of West Coast blues and R&B music.[5] In 1971, Brown re-recorded it for his album Blues 'n' Brown (1972).[6]

Cover versions

Many musicians have adapted "Black Night" in a variety of styles and the Blues Foundation notes renditions by:

References
  1. Sullivan, Steve, ed. (2017). "Black Night (1951) – Charles Brown". Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 234. ISBN 978-1-4422-5448-0.
  2. Blues Foundation (November 10, 2016). "2005 Hall of Fame Inductees: Black Night, by Charles Brown (Aladdin, 1951)". The Blues Foundation. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
  3. Hannusch, Jeff (1992). Driftin' Blues: The Best of Charles Brown (Album notes). Charles Brown. Hollywood, California: Aladdin Records. p. 5. CDP-7-97989-2.
  4. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 82.
  5. "'Black Night' – Appears On". AllMusic. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  6. "Charles Brown: Blues & Brown – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  7. Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 88.
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