Arthur Prysock - Audiophile Selection (2018)

Arthur Prysock, the deep-voiced rhythm-and-blues singer whose seductive bass-baritone once coaxed listeners to ''let it be Lowenbrau'' in a popular beer commercial.

The singer, who was born in Spartanburg, S.C., belonged to a school of jazz-and-soul balladeers that included Billy Eckstine (his greatest influence), Johnny Hartman and Lou Rawls. His heavy, deep voice projected a calm, reassuring virility. A popular nightclub singer for five decades, Mr. Prysock enjoyed more success as a concert and club performer (in the early days often touring with his brother, the tenor saxophonist Red Prysock) than as a recording artist.

Nevertheless, he had a number of medium-size hits, recorded many albums and in 1987 received a Grammy nomination for best performance by a duo or a group for ''Teach Me Tonight,'' a duet with Betty Joplin. The next year his recording of ''This Guy's in Love With You'' received another Grammy nomination for best jazz vocal performance.

Mr. Prysock, who began performing in his hometown, joined the Buddy Johnson blues band when he was 15 and had several hits with the group, including ''They Say I'm the Biggest Fool,'' ''Jet, My Love,'' ''I Wonder Where Our Love Has Gone'' and ''Because.''

After going solo in 1952, he had a major rhythm-and-blues hit with ''I Didn't Sleep a Wink Last Night,'' recorded with Sy Oliver's band. Signing with Old Town Records in 1960, he had string of moderately successful singles over the next two decades, including a memorable rendition of ''The Very Thought of You,'' ''It's Too Late, Baby Too Late'' (1965) and even a surprise disco hit, ''When Love Was New'' (1976).

His albums for Old Town included ''Coast to Coast'' and ''A Portrait of Arthur Prysock'' (both 1963) and ''Everlasting Songs for Everlasting Lovers'' (1964). In 1966, he recorded an album with Count Basie for Verve. After a fallow period beginning in the late 1970's, his career revived when he signed with Milestone and released two albums, ''Rockin' Good Way'' and ''This Guy's in Love With You,'' that found his silky growl, with its careworn texture and tone of pillow-talk intimacy, as evocative as ever.


Tracks:

01 When I Fall In Love Lyricist/Composer: Edward Heyman / Victor Young 03:20
02 You Are So Beautiful Lyricist/Composer: Billy Preston / Bruce Fisher 03:28
03 I Left My Heart in San Francisco Lyricist/Composer: Douglass Cross / George Cory 03:03
04 It's All In The Game Lyricist/Composer: Carl Sigman / Charles G. Dawes 04:02
05 Only A Fool Breaks His Own Heart Lyricist/Composer: E. James / Trevor Lawrence 03:45
06 I Could Have Told You Lyricist/Composer: Jimmy Van Hersen / Carl Sigman 03:47
07 After The Loving Lyricist/Composer: Alan Bernstein / Richard Ziegler 03:44
08 Baby I'm A Want You Lyricist/Composer: David Gates 02:52
09 Rock Me Baby Lyricist/Composer: Melvin Jackson 02:57
10 A Cottage For Sale Lyricist/Composer: Larry Conley / Willard Robinson 03:23
11 How Did She Look Lyricist/Composer: Abner Silver / Gladys Shelley 02:59
12 Autumn Leave Lyricist/Composer: Giorgio Canali / Francesco Magnelli 02:31
13 All My Loving Was In Vain Lyricist/Composer: Lennon Barry 04:16
14 Got To Get You Off My Mind Lyricist/Composer: Dolores Burke / John Moore 06:05
15 Autumn In New York Lyricist/Composer: Vernon Duke 03:05
16 At This Moment Lyricist/Composer: Billy Vera 04:03
17 The Love I Need Lyricist/Composer: Adam Wiles 03:05
18 I've Got The Blues So Bad Lyricist/Composer: Victoria Spivey 03:17