A Sneak Peek at Brown's Latest Project
Ms. DistinctivelyBeach
On the Record
June 8, 2008

   Gary Brown’s been busy in the studio lately, and it sounds like his efforts are about to pay off.
   I got to sit down and listen to a rough mix of his soon-to-be-released “All Under One Roof” solo project last week; it’s impressive. The forthcoming CD features a good collection of hits that Brown has recorded over the years, including “Is the Magic Still There,” “Halfway to Paradise,” “She’s Got the Look,” and so forth right up to the artist’s more recent releases like “Let’s Dance,” “In My Dreams” and “Ocean Drive.”
   While it’s true that the majority of the project’s tracks can be found on a number of compilation CD's, Brown’s vocals as well as the instrumentation have been remixed to sound great “All Utnder One Roof.” It’s no big industry secret that Brown has partnered with friend and fellow musician Doug Manning – aka “Taylor’s dad” – to compose or tweak some of Carolina Beach Music’s most popular tunes.
   Brown and Manning have left their trademark sounds all over this CD, and the tracks have never sounded better than they do here. This project will be one of those “must-haves” for virtually every fan of Carolina Beach Music. If you’re into Brown’s style of music, the CD will be an easy sell; if you’re not into his style, you will be before the CD plays through the first time.
   Rumor also has it that, in conjunction with the solo project, Brown will also unveil his brand-new website. You won’t want to miss either one. 

 "All Under One Roof,
Something Old/Something New" by Gary Brown
(reviewed by DJ Butch Halpin)

Calling all Gary Brown fans! Calling all Gary Brown fans! Eighteen songs ranging from previously released hits to newer tunes is now available from KHP Music. OK, here’s the lowdown on this project. First up is “Let’s Dance”, which has already proven popular since it’s release on the “Coast To Coast” CD compilation earlier this year. Brownie’s charted version of Tony Orlando’s “Halfway To Paradise” is next. One of the cardinal rules when covering a well known tune is to do it “better” or “different” than the original. Now this is just my opinion friends, but that has been accomplished with “Something Old, Something New”, a beach classic originally recorded by The Fantastics. The tempo has been stepped up just a tat and the “slow down part” of the original has been omitted. Produced by Doug Manning, this is one of my favorites. Batting cleanup is the mega-hit “Is The Magic Still There”. Accompanied by some blues harp playing, “The Girl Can’t Help It” is next, followed by the soulful delivery of “I Walked Alone”. Another Doug Manning produced tune is “I Just Want To Dance With You”. Yes, this is the same song as recorded by country music superstar George Strait, but this version is all Beach Music! Number eight is “It’s All About You”, a ballad sure to get the floor busy. The happy go lucky “In My Dreams” is next, with “Man That’s Smooth” right behind it. Two songs that go hand in hand follow: “Ocean Drive” and “Hard To Say Goodbye”. The latter being a tribute to The “Late” Pavilion in Myrtle Beach, with some top shelf sax work from Mark Black. Brownie’s a lucky “such and such” because “She’s Got The Look (She’s Got The Touch)”, then he goes “Round & Round” on a great version of this Jack Mack classic. From the pen of Doug Manning comes the proven “So Hung Up On You” and a remake of one of my all-time favorite Catalinas’ songs, “Dancin’ Romancin’”. He sang lead with The Cats on this Lynn Barker (former Catalina) written song on their “Summertime’s Calling Me” LP in 1980 and it’s just as good in its new form as the original. Another one that has country roots is “Just Call Me Lonesome”, but this version is far from country with its driving intro, horns, and guitar work. As a bonus track, finishing up this project is “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”. Your Beach Music collection needs to include “All Under One Roof”.