Otis Brown and his Lujuna – Ole’ – Gossip Tree – ExSpectMore Records labels

by | Nov 30, 2023 | Uncategorized

Otis Brown was born March 14, 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee, before moving out to the hinterlands of Marianna, Arkansas, on the periphery of the Mississippi Delta. Discovering a bad childhood case of asthma, Brown’s mother moved the family to Chicago to visit the (then) state-of-the-art Cook County Hospital facility to treat his ailment. Growing up in the Englewood neighborhood, it was at the time a cultural oasis, with the Tivoli Theater nearby, and doo-wop groups everywhere. Soon he was carousing with local luminaries Tyrone Davis and Major Lance, and opening for the Isley Brothers at Club Delisa or Jr. Walker & the All-Stars at The Packing House. His career on the rise, he joined forces with his mother’s boyfriend, Browly Guy, and his uncle King Bevil to form the Ole label. Their first release was Brown’s ode to his adopted hometown, Chicago’s South Side, recorded at the top studio in town, Universal. The label was short-lived, only issuing another single on Brown and one other single on The Paramonts. After disputes with his partners disintegrated the enterprise, Brown would start up his own labels within a few years, Lujuna (named for his daughter), Gossip Tree, and ExSpectMore, continuing to release records on himself, his son, and groups that he managed for several more years before leaving the music business behind altogether.

OLE’

1965 Otis Brown and the Delights – Southside Chicago b/w I’ve Got Another (Ole’ O-100)

“Southside Chicago” https://youtu.be/s1RlR5bJLns

“I’ve Got Another” https://youtu.be/jLmRvd6Wy28

1966 The Para-Monts – I Don’t Wanna Lose You b/w Come Go With Me (Ole’ O-101)

1966 Otis Brown – Will You Wait b/w What Would You Do (Ole’ O-102)

“Will You Wait” https://youtu.be/cvqiUYaObZ4

1966 Otis Brown – Sound of the Wind b/w Somebody Help Me (Ole’ O-103)

“Sound of the Wind” https://youtu.be/5CEi9TG6-0M

“Somebody Help Me” https://youtu.be/_tf6JnlmneI

L

UJUNA / EXSPECTMORE

1966 Otis Brown – What Ever You Do Do It Good b/w Somebody Help Me (Lujuna 10655-1)

“Somebody Help Me” https://youtu.be/puT6miNUrCw

1966 Otis Brown – Find Somebody New b/w Sound of the Wind (Lujuna 10655-2)

“Find Somebody New” https://youtu.be/O4cTXwG7Tx8

1966 Otis Brown – I Don’t Wonna Cry b/w The Willie Bop (ExSpectMore 10655-3)

Backed by the Kitty Haywood Singers.

“I Don’t Wonna Cry” https://youtu.be/dbbrzPDDq_4

“The Willie Bop” https://youtu.be/QsZ0ltfK-4g

1966 Otis Brown – I’m Ready for Love b/w Will You Wait (Lujuna 10655-4)

“I’m Ready for Love” https://youtu.be/HqPaLZ8Cmt0

“Will You Wait” https://youtu.be/cvqiUYaObZ4

1966 Otis Brown – Who’s Gonna Take Me Home b/w Who’s Gonna Take Me Home (Inst.) (Lujuna 10655-6)

1966 The Brand New Faces – I Don’t Wanna Cry b/w Brand New Faces (Lajuna 10655-7)

1966 Joe (Youngblood) Cobb – It’s L.B. Time b/w Bill’s Bag (ExSpectMore 10655-9)

1966 Otis Brown – Mama Don’t Allow No Loving in Here b/w You Girl (ExSpectMore 10655-10)

“You Girl” https://youtu.be/LOvg8X10Ib0

1966 Otis Brown – Walk On By b/w Who’s Gonna Take Me Home (Lujuna 10655-11)

GOSSIP TREE

1966 Joe (Youngblood) Cobb – It’s L.B. Time b/w It’s L.B. Time (inst.) (Gossip Tree 10655-9)

1973 Otis the 3rd – Time b/w Walk On By (Gossip Tree 10655-14)

“Time” https://youtu.be/qR4bjXDuD74

“Walk on By” https://youtu.be/2QPWcBN_08A