Ruth Brown - "If I Can't Sell It, I'll Keep Sittin on It" [Donahue 1990]

[@hattiethomas9483]

I am a 74 year old female, I am greatly astounded to be able to hear this Ruth Brown sing “Lucky Lips!” I was around the age of 5when my Godmother’s sister sung it to me.

[@tonguedrumandgroove3495]

The visible blown minds, enchantment, the lust, the empowerment, the proud, the double meaning shock, the bars.... She created a multi faceted atmosphere and gave sunshine while playing with ⚡. Love Ruth Brown!

[@michellefinnegan-nixonprom6503]

She was very kind to me. I was on a movie set where she was a featured player. My dad asked her if his daughter (me) could ask a few questions because I sang. She immediately asked us to join us in her trailer. Hundreds of extras were outside and she was such a kind host. We spoke about her life. Then it was time for all of us to shoot the scene. I was blown away by her performance singing about a chair. I have been a big fan of hers ever since. Wow what a great woman

[@cozmowiz5593]

That was a wonderful testament. TY for sharing it. I met her while in highschool and Bonnie Raitt being a Quaker did Friends school tours and one day in Ohio she brought Ruth to visit. It was awesome.

[@SDSFG45]

one of the 'architects' of what we call "popular music''...she was AWESOME. As Stevie Wonder, said "if there aint no Ruth Brown...there aint no Aretha Franklin". Ms Brown was THAT important to music. I regret that I never saw her live, in the last several yrs that she was active and traveling, mostly on the East Coast.

[@regand7830]

I saw the show on Broadway. Got to know this dynamic performer...and she won the Tony for her performance this piece is from. A great lady!

[@BOOBABYJLG]

A Facebook post about Cardi and Meg's W.A.P. bought me here. I love this💜💜💜 Im a 91' baby and have never heard this 🤷🏾

[@thomaslombardo3401]

She deserved the Tony award she won for that wonderful show.

[@melodysanger103]

REMEMBERING THE QUEEN OF R&B, MY VA HOMIE MISS RUTH BROWN (JANUARY 12, 1928 - NOVEMBER 17, 2006) [01/12/2017]

[@pinay56]

As for African American music, I'd like to see a return to music like Ruth Browns from the 1950's brought back. All of the current music with Beyounce, and other female singers all now sound alike, the beat is the same, and nothing is original.....

[@sobriquet4079]

I was VERY lucky to see Black & Blue. Had never heard Ruth Brown before and was BLOWN AWAY!!!!!.

[@CarinSottedEagle]

Best Broadway show ever produced!

[@trohnb8104]

Just grand stage presence! The ladies don’t know how to respond or act, but the guys seem to get her. ❤❤❤❤just priceless.

[@susanholm6019]

My favorite female singer!!!

[@Marchelette]

I saw 👀 a play about her this summer. Everyone in the audience enjoyed this song 🎵.

[@BonesRodriguez]

Fantastic- the audience just couldn't handle it.

[@barbaraschafer8216]

Saw the show in New York. The costumes were just fabulous! Ruth did an amazing job!!!

[@hiyahandsome]

The greatest. Miss Ruth Brown, what a woman!

[@mauricethomas1783]

I love you, from🎉 Portsmouth VA, me to,I met her and danced with her in a Hampton VA concert, love her!!!!

[@alyciacooper2]

I love the double entendre.

[@markw.mullins2208]

Great Sounds From a Wonderful Era Of the Greatest Music Ever. Thanks for post

[@3neety597]

Man at 1:23 was already in the hall before everyone else knew about that day's show

[@khykhy]

Man at 1:41 looked unimpressed. Or embarrassed because he didn’t get it.

[@terrenceragin5555]

Absolutely Fantabulous

[@davidholiday4494]

magnificent performance

[@maureenwagg5305]

omg So happy I found this. She is amazing.

[@fredicagoillanoise1309]

The audience WISH they knew how to take Ms. Ruth.

[@pollystraub-cook6203]

+Fredicago Illanoise No doubt! Everyone looks like they're afraid to smile at such a scandalous thing on national television.

[@jettscream]

they are retentive because time has separated them from their emotions for the music

[@sronthejourney5225]

She;s great

[@Jadeserphant]

She always makes me smile……..especially this one and “Red Negligee.”

[@hippielady]

the glorious Miss Rhythm

[@kaneparker6594]

True true legend RUTH facts 😎

[@NycBeauty]

I remember I heard this song when I took a Burlesque class. I downloaded this song. Lol

[@scallopohare9431]

Thank you so much for posting!

[@howhoehuehuihooroasted831]

THE "GODMOTHER OF POP!" She's in line with Eartha Kitt, Cher, Madonna and Britney in the POP Pantheon

[@terrenceragin5555]

They had to edit this so much for daytime TV.

[@elgeneralxx]

what the hell is wrong with the song

[@JoshFreilich]

At first, I was asking, "What's up with the bass?" As the bass was clearly acoustic, although it sounded very electronic/synthesizerish. But then once Phil started talking in his lower range, I kinda figured it out.

[@NataschaFlamisch]

Godddddesssss!!!!

[@BxCortez2050]

That was and is still awesome

[@jaybennett5756]

The original MotorMouth Maybelle!

[@tippimail1]

Hadn't thought about her in years.Sanford and Sons.

[@mauricethomas1783]

Love it ❤❤❤

[@bluestar8768]

FAB-U-LOUS DARLING

[@mauricethomas1783]

I'm from Portsmouth VA to

[@frankdravenful]

TELL IT SISSTAA

[@VictoriousWilliams3107]

Omg!

[@Open-DI_239]

Rakim’s aunt 👏🏽😻

[@jeroldjonesii6869]

SALUTE TO OUR GREAT GREAT LEGENDARY SISTA 💎💎💎💎💎💎☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️MAMA ☀️☀️☀️💎💎💎💎☀️☀️☀️💎💎👑👑👑👑👑

[@elgeneralxx]

its the donahue show!!

[@marinakh3137]

Behold - the whitest audience in history. AWK-WARD

[@jettscream]

its always a wrong feeling to put legends into tv sterility in the modern idiom . the singer feels at a loss because of no atmos and audience cant connect...but...if you watch professionalism of the artiste and inner joy of the audience can be seen so somewhat like a birthday party in a nursing home. people will always be individuals

[@jettscream]

there is value and purpose and dignity on both sides even though its on a knife edge due to the hosting hollow fickle ness and thoughtlessness

[@jettscream]

sadly a valueless society, look at |Gene Vincent's trip to U.k a legend and treated underpar. there is fact in point watch it and you will see

[@4CPTees]

Amazing performance - That guy's look at 1:41, "my mom warned him about girls like this."

[@alexandramn6734]

if i cant sell it i sit on it

[@thomguy123]

the lady at 4:30 was not amused... hahahahahahahahaha

[@3neety597]

She was, but ran outta expression 😄

[@CharlesHerschel]

Old white men in the audience, Oy! Times do not change. Ruth Brown is magnificent!

[@emilioandyah]

1:41 😂💀

[@MyDogSteppedOnaBeee]

Fun fact this is Rakim's Aunt

[@raymellee7655]

they cracking up 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@JiveDadson]

Do you have anything with smaller cushions?

[@jettscream]

i suppose its like going face off with god , unreal and you have to bare your soul emotions, anything else and people who know will see straight through you. wonderful and precious

[@jettscream]

birthday party in a nursing home...you know what i mean...some there because they feel they have to be there and some who have no choice and live there ...but Ruth and her music connect and thats what the special thing is, bringing folks together through music soul, its our first language shown by expression and immediate reaction

[@alvinayers9335]

The lady at 3:53 gets it

[@raymellee4364]

Sound like record player when they speak

[@tatizollinger59]

Omfg😂😂😂😂the white ppl

[@carolcheny]

"any weight of size...."

[@deathb.e.a.t.1904]

Actually "any weight or size" ;-) love the double entendres in this song!

[@dreamboynyc2]

The white women in the audience are SO uncomfortable! LMAOOO

[@fredicagoillanoise1309]

FACTS!

[@pelqel9893]

SOME of them- oh, yeah! But there was that older lady (or was it two?). She knew exactly what she was singing about, and lived through the jazz age. I saw her smiling, not batting a single eye.

[@LazyIRanch]

If I'd been in the audience, I'd have been removed for squealing with glee! I adore Ruth Brown, and she killed it here! She was a gorgeous young woman, and an elegant queen as a senior. She never lost her sass or talent!

[@elfeo1js]

Some people or like "why is she singing about furniture?"

[@thegreatdominion949]

Bert Cooper at 1:24!

[@DrFingers]

It's like the audience are Amish or Quakers. Either they don't understand or they're shocked and offended. The occasional one daring to smile. What a great performance though.

[@KBdoubleE]

She is the aunt of Rakim from Eric B . & Rakim

[@misslizzie8480]

Q U E E N

[@lalagonegaga]

The audience seems constipated.

[@ShyeNYC]

😂 good one

[@a.p.murdock4081]

Stiff-lipped audience. Moderate fanfare. Ruth was great!

[@popoff7808]

The editing her is awful but that audience can't handle RUTH BROWN.

[@foxemartin]

These audience members are funny. lol

[@affectivity]

Lol. No one knows whether it's okay to laugh.

[@maymeclayton1402]

Some didn't realize that she was referring to a chair and not her butt.

[@matthewrasanen3537]

Ha, ha. She was not referring to her butt. lol That's what makes it such a great double-entendre song.

[@TheJacklikesvideos]

i guess she didn't get many buyers, because it looks like she's been sitting on it a lot.