Complete As & Bs And More 1954-62

The Browns were a family vocal trio comprising Jim Edward Brown and his sisters Maxine and Bonnie, who had a string of country hits in the USA through the late ’50s and early ’60s. They were, of course, best known for their worldwide smash hit The Three Bells, the poignant story if Little Jimmy Brown, which was a US pop No. 1 in 1959. They had a distinctive harmony sound, and made extremely high-quality recordings, recording in stereo from early in their career, and working with the best musicians in Nashville, with Chet Atkins as producer. This great-value 62-track collection comprises all their A & B sides, from their 1954 debut through to 1962, plus a selection of tracks from their first five albums. It includes their singles between 1954 and 1956 for the small Fabor label, recording as Jim Edward and Maxine Brown, before Bonnie joined them when they signed to RCA in 1956. It naturally includes all the twenty or so hits they had during the period, with Top 5 hits like Scarlet Ribbons, Take A Chance, I Heard The Bluebirds Sing and The Old Lamplighter alongside The Three Bells, and it’s a fine testament to their talent.

• Shrink-wrapped