T. Graham Brown was a mainstream Nashville star in the late 1980s, with a penchant for a '50s-rock nostalgia sound. His biggest hits came on his early albums, but like many Nashvillers of yesteryear, he's reemerged as an indie artist, and found a following a little further from the limelight. Here's a quick look at his work...
T. Graham Brown "All Time Greatest Hits" (Curb Records, 1993)
Although his gruff, grizzled voice hints at an earthier persona than many of his contemporaries, Brown's penchant for oldies-flavored, '50s-style rock'n'soul arrangements undoes him as a true country singer. These '80s hits were an R&B nostalgia trip for yuppie fans who couldn't quite bring themselves to buy tickets to the latest Sha-Na-Na tour. Doo-wah, doo-wah, doo-wahh.
T. Graham Brown "Super Hits" (Columbia Records, 1995)
Fudging things a bit, Brown released this set of ten old hits, re-recorded with a '50s rock gloss. Bubbly and good-natured, yet also a little over the top, and definitely not the '80s originals.
T. Graham Brown "I Tell It Like It Used To Be" (Capitol Records, 1986)
Brown's most successful album, with three big hits: chart-topping #1 singles "Hell And High Water" and "Don't Go To Strangers," along with "I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again," which went to #3... This album proved to be his peak, though, and while Brown did fine for the rest of the decade, he was never able to top himself after this one. An impressive debut, but a hard act to follow.
T. Graham Brown "Brilliant Conversationalist" (Capitol Records, 1987)
T. Graham Brown "Come As You Were" (Columbia Records, 1988)
(Produced by Ron Chancey)
T. Graham Brown "Bumper To Bumper" (Capitol Records, 1990)
T. Graham Brown "You Can't Take It With You" (Capitol Records, 1991)
T. Graham Brown "Wine Into Water" (Intersound Records, 1998)
(Produced by Gary Nicholson & T. Graham Brown)
This is a remarkably vigorous album from a fellow whose glory years were well, obviously, well behind him. But for fans, this well-produced later album was doubtless a real treat. The arrangements are soulful and strong, and his vocals are heartfelt. It's mostly too slick for me, but even so, there are some surprisingly rootsy moments, particularly on Delbert McClinton-ish houserockers like "Happy Ever After" and "Hide And Seek." The title track is nice to -- an intriguing (and apparently autobiographical) weeper about an alcoholic who wishes Jesus could reverse one of his more famous miracles... This disc's worth checking out, if you can manage to track it down.
T. Graham Brown "The Next Right Thing" (Intersound Records, 2003)
These days, Brown is one of the many once-big stars who've found a cold shoulder greeting them in today's lean, mean Nashville. Without a major label contract, Brown shows that he's still able to make an album pretty much as good as anything he did back in the '80s; this slick, oldies-tinged tunes aren't quite my kinda country, but this disc does have one standout track, a duet with George Jones, called "Bag Of Bones." These two old-timers sure sound good singing together!
T. Graham Brown "Live!" (Aspirion Records, 2004)
T. Graham Brown "Live At Billy Bob's Texas" (Smith Music, 2004)
T. Graham Brown "The Present" (Aspirion Records, 2006)
T. Graham Brown "From A Stronger Place" (Aspirion Records, 2008)
T. Graham Brown "Forever Changed" (RED Records, 2015)
(Produced by Mark Carman, Joe Carrell & T. Graham Brown)
A gospel album with a slew of guest musicians from the bluegrass and country pantheons...
T. Graham Brown "Christmas With T. Graham Brown" (RED Records, 2015)
T. Graham Brown "Bare Bones" (Time-Life Records, 2020)
