why did nobody tell me that BRENDA LEE was awesome?

she's got a big, tangy voice. and seriously thoughtful phrasing.

also this stuff is beautifully produced.

I've been listening to her 2-disc anthology a lot lately, as well as this covers compilation. it's funny how her record company obviously had no idea what to do with her during the first few years of her career -- having her sing Hank Williams covers, goofy Christmas songs, rockabilly, pop standards, etc. until she finally settled into the melodramatic teenpop that made her famous. she certainly had a lot of time to experiment, seeing as she was only 11 when she started recording.

her cover of Dusty's "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" is worth seeking out if your a fan of Owen Bradley's over-the-top (in a good way) production work.

her phrasing reminds me a lot of Dinah Washington's at times.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Z1cyykosnM

love the head-bobbing and bug-eyed facial expression here

Sometimes I only know one or two big hits (in Brenda's case "I'm Sorry" and "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree") and eventually I discover all the previously unheard awesomeness. I kind of backed into her, from Rachel Sweet to Wanda Jackson to Brenda.

I had that happen with Charlie Rich: really only knew "Behind Closed Doors" and then the more I heard, the more I loved, and none of my music geek friends were ever talking about him.

tribute to Sophie Tucker ("embedding disabled by request" -- bah)

my mum is a huge fan and i was brought up listening to Brenda Lee. "i'm sorry" was her song for as long as i can remember.

She's great. Thanks for posting that clip. Just about every clip I've seen of that UK music show "Oh Boy" is a total rave-up. The band playing with her is Lord Rockingham's XI of "Hoots Mon" fame.

http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/brenda_lee/memphis_portrait/445698.jpg
Memphis Portrait, cut at American Studios in 1969 with Chips Moman producing, is stellar.

can anyone share that album with me somehow? (i guess i could buy it used on eBay or something...)

she's got a big, tangy voice

totally thought this was surm

Check out a track called "You're In The Doghouse Now" if you like swingy smokey nightclub sort of stuff. It was originally recorded for the Dick Tracy soundtrack but was never used. I dunno why, It's a great track.

my friend is Brenda Lee's cousin fwiw

we sang Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree drunkenly this Xmas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHKNk2He7vc

listen to that phrasing. phenomenal. i want to have her babies.

Love her growls in "Sweet Nothings."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0TKBLNt_dM

it's funny how her record company obviously had no idea what to do with her during the first few years of her career

Same as Aretha Franklin in that.

so good

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Da6HuiQqBiM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui7--QU4rBc

her 1970 album Memphis Portrait is seriously underrated! it's an oddity in her catalogue, made up of pop-soul covers of the Bee Gees, Creedence, and Joe South along with a handful of originals. it was such a commercial flop that she ended up going back to Nashville to start a second career as a country chart-topper. it isn't too far off from what Bobbie Gentry was doing at the time, and it's much more dynamic than her '70s country stuff, imho.

youtube playlist with all but one of the album tracks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k29sHTiiVeQ

Now the oldest person ever to have a Number One song on the Billboard Hot 100. She’s 78 and it’s her Christmas song.

https://www.billboard.com/lists/brenda-lee-rockin-around-the-christmas-tree-number-one-hot-100/

Gift link to a new NYT interview

recorded when she was 13!

which probably makes her one of the "youngest" performers to top the charts as well, if you look at it from a certain way

Yes, certainly one of them. Stevie Wonder recorded the number one "Fingertips - Part 2" at age 11, almost 12, and it was released just after he turned 13. Frankie Lymon had an R&B #1 at age 13 with "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" but it wasn't a pop number one.

The French singer Jordy topped the French charts in 1992 at age four-and-a-half; his record also charted in the US but peaked at #58.

Correction, Stevie Wonder had just turned 12 when he recorded "Fingertips"

Michael Jackson was 11 when ’I Want You Back’ made number one and he recorded another three number ones with the Jackson 5 before he was 12.

Not a solo artist of course.

Just realized that Brenda Lee did a song called “Everybody Loves Me But You” (written by Ronnie Self)…

And Juliana Hatfield did a song called “Everybody Loves Me But You” in the ‘90s, and these are completely different songs.