This Is My Beloved-Arthur Prysock

[Edie Antoinette]

I was inspired by DJ Gary T's Show tonight. He played a track from the album--so what did I do? I thought about Ronn Nichols and went and bought the album! LOL! I'll be back with it when I upload it..in the meantime...here's the album cover and some bio on Mr. Prysock. I LOVE his voice ♥

Arthur Prysock was perfectly at home singing jazz, blues, or R&B, but his smooth-as-silk baritone made him a superbly effective (and underappreciated) pop crooner in the manner of his chief influence, Billy Eckstine. Prysock was born January 2, 1929, in Spartanburg, SC, and was the brother of saxophonist Red Prysock. As a teenager, he moved to Hartford, CT, where he worked in the aviation industry and sang with several small bands by night. He was discovered in 1944 by jump blues bandleader Buddy Johnson, who signed him as lead male vocalist and brought him to Harlem.

Prysock sang on a number of Johnson's
hits for the Decca label before going solo in 1952 to tour the chitlin circuit
(sometimes with his brother). He quickly landed an R&B hit with
"I Didn't Sleep a Wink Last Night," and subsequently made his name among
black audiences as an emotive balladeer. During the '50s, Prysock
recorded for several smaller labels, but his popularity in concert
gradually gained him more exposure. He began a long relationship with
the Old Town label, scoring R&B hits with "I Worry 'Bout You" in
1958, Ray Noble's old ballad "The Very Thought of You" in 1960, and
"It's Too Late Baby, It's Too Late" in 1965. That year, he fulfilled a
dream by recording an album with Count Basie on Verve, the label he
remained with for most of the '60s. Prysock performed at Carnegie Hall
in 1966, and hosted his own TV show for a short time. By the end of the
'60s, Prysock had returned to Old Town, where he recorded several
albums while touring the club circuit. He had an unexpected disco hit
in 1976 with "When Love Is New," but otherwise remained largely out of
sight. Prysock returned to active recording in 1985 with the
well-received A Rockin' Good Way album on Milestone, and also sang a
well-known jingle for Lowenbrau beer. Two more albums for Milestone
followed, 1986's This Guy's in Love With You and 1987's Today's Love
Songs, Tomorrow's Blues, before Prysock receded from the limelight
again. He died on June 21, 1997. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide

[Edie Antoinette]

I prefer ...this...version. Herbie/Harvey's version sounds more 'campy' to me. I can definitely relate to your affinity to the one you were first exposed to however. There is NOTHING like the first of everything---first kiss, first love, etc.

Arthur puts me right there...Laurence takes me to the movies. LOL! Both are nice though. And "how you doin'"? with ya little handsome butt?

[Ronn Nichols]

Yeah.................Baby Girl! I always did like Arthur's version of this great poem. But because I was first exposed to the Herbie Mann/Laurence Harvey version, I developed a fondness for the dramatic performance of that version. Prysock's is less dramatic ........more "STREET WISE" .....more "READ"and Harvey's is more Dramatic as only an accomplished actor can deliver!

Perhaps Gary woll listen to both and share thoughts about the similarities and differences between the two. In fact, I would like to hear your and everybody's take. No Offense but I still prefer the version I posted!!! How abouteverybody else?

[Edie Antoinette]

Sole, that shot of the sky is BEAUTIFUL! You could sell your work Suggah. Such talent! Stunning photo!

Gary, I had a ball listening to your entire show last night. It was streaming live from the Main Page and the Chat Room. I was also inspired to go hunt down Zoom-Love Seasons as well. It's now playing on the Main Page. I really enjoy you and your style. Very down-to-earth. A few years ago, one of our members, Ronn Nichols, put up several blogs featuring the Herbie Mann-Laurence Harvery version of this album. I immediately thought about him when I heard Arthur's version on your show and the rest is history. Spoken Word at it's BEST! I love Arthur Prysock too.

I would love to raid your collection Gary and let you raid mine. I think you would be VERY impressed.
In fact, alot of it is embraced and shared right here on our site. Maybe we can do something soon in the way of a live broadcast now that I know how to stream it here. In any event, OOTP is honored to have you with us.

Bravo on your show last night.

[Gary]

Wow! Thanks Edie for not only opening up the chat room last night,but that I was able to inspire you with the Authur Prysock selection I played last night.
This is a classic album,and you will be surprise who few people either forgot or never heard the album before.
I almost ran out of time and didn't get a chance to play it last night, (lol) but thanks to the next DJ,she was nice to let me go over a few minutes of her time.
As you and the people will discover listening to the spoken word recording of Authur Prysock,this was a record that recieved much airplay,when it was out. Various stations (mainly Jazz) would play it. I just found out that it's still in print on CD. What you heard last night on the show was my vinyl copy. (yes, I still own records albums and 45s LOL! :-) )
Thanks again Edie,and I hope you have discover a new audience for Authur Prysock. :-)

[Shelley "SoleMann" King]

WOW....This is nice. I can picture listening to this while looking at this pic i took last night from the front porch