Deb Browning: Breathing New Life into Carolina Beach Music (SNS week of 3/13/2022)

 

It's a music genre that, for all practical purposes is over 70 years old, featuring a dance that has lasted that long as well, although we, up here in New Jersey may not be all too familiar with it.  But just head down the Atlantic coast a few hundred miles, and it has been a phenomenon for this long.   And, although it's "glory days" may have been from the 1950's and 1960's, it still is, be it nostalgic or producing new music, listened to and experienced on the North and South Carolina coasts.

Carolina Beach Music is, if you need to describe it, was borne from soul and R&B music dating back to the late 1940's, took on a new spin of life in the 1960's and 70's, and since then has been thought of as a nostalgic throwback to those times.   But, just like rock these days, you need to dig a bit deeper people to find current beach music.   

You might call it simply R&B, or if you are across the pond in the U.K., call it Northern Soul, but in essence, it's the music that many living along the "Grand Strand" listen to, and even dance The Shag (a slowed down version of the Jitterbug).

Back in July 2017, I did a blog on beach music, its origins and how I came to discover it.  You can read that blog below:

Scenes 'n' Soundwaves: I Love Beach Music! (SNS weeks of 7/9 and 7/16/2017) (sheldonsoundwaves.blogspot.com)

Thanks to the Internet and satellite radio, as well as terrestrial radio along the Carolinas, beach music is still in vogue.   Many radio and Internet stations still play it, and you can find many charts and playlists that list, and rank this music.    "Carolina Shag" is a channel that's on SiriusXM satellite radio, and that has been on the car lineup, as well as on the related app (where it is currently).   I still have an affinity for this music and have added some music that still fits the style.   Two of these songs hit number one on my blog:  Mayer Hawthorne's "The Walk" in 2011 and Leon Bridges' "Coming Home" in 2015.  Californian Nick Waterhouse's songs also owe much to that style.   In 2017, when SiriusXM, over the summer introduced the Carolina Shag channel, I started delving into the beach music lists and adding songs to my playlist.    Artists like The James Hunter Six, and Too Much Sylvia, have made an imprint on my lists in recent years. I usually turn to the beach music charts in late spring in anticipation of summer, and last year was no exception.   

North Carolina beach music singer Deb Browning has the top debut this week with "Take Me By the Band", a duet with The Six Piece Suits.

Many of the songs on the list fall into a couple categories.    Some veteran area musicians covering a vintage R&B song, or established musicians, popular in the past, recording new music.    There are artists who can cross over as well.  Archie Bell (of Drells fame, remember "Tighten Up"?)  hit #1 last year on these charts, as well as Boz Scaggs and Dion Di Mucci in a duet.  Zac Brown has a song on there now.  In fact, the current #1 song on the Smokin' Beach Music list is an unlikely hit:  "Cold Heart" by Elton John & Dua Lipa which hit my top 10 a while back.   Also, on my list this week, aside from Brown's "Old Love Song" is Dr Victor's "Got to Me You" (a recent #1 on the Smokin' list), and Cat5 Band's "Ain't Nothing Better".   And then there's Deb Browning and is where this story begins.

Ms. Browning has four songs on this week's blog chart, including the Top Debut, "Take Me By the Hand", which also features Florida's The Six Piece Suits.   According to the bio in her website, Deb started in music by taking piano lessons at the age of 14 and a year later being the organist in a local church in Fayetteville, NC.   She stayed the religious route, leading praise bands and performing  musicals for adults at a church, as well as leading children's choruses.   She graduated from NC State, got married and had two children.   She then was recruited for a Raleigh area band, providing lead vocals and keyboards.   

Then, in 2011, her career was suddenly put on hold, thanks to a breast cancer diagnosis.  After numerous surgeries and chemotherapy, and radiation treatments, she beat it, and continued her musical career, this time in a different direction.

In 2019, she turned to the Carolina beach music style, and recorded her first single, "Dancin'".  The song hit #1 on several beach music charts, and a #2 song for 2020 on John Hook's beach music list.    Next came a duet cover of the Dee Dee Warwick/Linda Ronstadt classic, "You're No Good", with Gary Lowder.    In 2020 came "In My Dreams", which topped several more beach charts.  In December of that year, she released a Christmas parody, "Here Comes Amazon".   

But it was in 2021, when she released "Stop Messin' With My Man" that she came to my attention.   Released in February of that year, the song reached the upper regions of many beach music charts during the year, accompanied by an awesome video.    In late May, I added "Stop Messin' With My Man", along with Too Much Sylvia's "I Wanna Go Back", and R Mark Black's cover of Jackie Wilson's "Whispers (Gettin' Louder)".   Deb's song was the big winner of the three, eventually hitting #7 on my list by August.    Meanwhile, the song topped TEN beach music charts, as well as top ten on my year-end charts.  On my blog, the song came in at #24 on my year-end list; one of only two beach music songs to make my top 100 of the year, the other being The James Hunter Six's "I Can Change Your Mind" (#77).

Thirsty for more of Deb's material, I went back and added her 2020 song, "In My Dreams".  The song climbed to #43 on my list.    But, by year's end, she won more accolades as she was named "Rising Star" in the 2021 Carolina Beach Music Awards (CBMA).    She also recorded a Christmas album, Here Comes Christmas.   

Earlier this year, I decided to check out her website and Facebook page.   After reading about all the recognition she received for her songs, I sent her my year-end blog, and she not only gracefully posted it on her timeline (that "Stop Messin' With My Man" landed at #24 on my blog), but we became Facebook friends as well.   She is very sincere and down to earth and without a doubt is grateful to her fans.

What makes her stand out from others in the beach genre is that she writes most of her own material, with a fresh take on a genre that goes back all those decades.  While nodding to the past, her music has a contemporary vibe without selling out to what passes as pop music these days.   Her songs are soulful, and you can feel her vibe when you listen to them.

Last month, she went down to Florida to record a project with The Six Piece Suits, "Take Me By the Hand", which was released just a few weeks ago.   The song is already on many beach music playlists and she has done interviews with many radio and Internet outlets.  

A few weeks ago, I re-added "Stop Messing With My Man" as it is still on many beach music charts, including Smokin'.   Last week, I went back on "In My Dreams" and also added her debut, "Dancin'" in anticipation of the new song.   While "Take Me By the Hand" is not yet available commercially, Deb was very generous and provided me with a copy of the song so I can add it to my playlist this week, where it comes in at #45 on my list.   A big "thank you" to Deb for doing so!

Deb Browning plays regularly in the Carolinas.   While I am up here in New Jersey, several friends of mine live in the Myrtle Beach/Ocean Isle Beach area (many of them moved from New Jersey and New York, and next time I go down there, I will look to see where she is playing.  Common spots where you can catch her perform include Patio's Tiki Bar and Grill in Little River, SC; and World of Beer and Buoys on the Boulevard, both in North Myrtle Beach.   If you're in the area, please check her out.   

COMPETITIVENESS:   It's a very active top of my playlist this week as no fewer than 11 songs are bulleted, but only able to move up a notch or two, and many have stayed in place.  In fact all of these songs, with the exception of the former #1, now descending "This Time" by Anna Lavigne, still are making gains.  That includes Tim Izzard's "Empty My Head" which snags a second week at the top, with a comfortable lead over the #2 song, Einstein's Dad's "Here to Home".   There is an outside chance that next week, there could be a battle.  While I think Izzard may hold on for a third week, "Here to Home" has a shot as being this global contingent's first #1, and would become the fourth instrumental to top my list.

While all the action is jammed in the top 11, two songs, The Black Keys' "Wild Child" (37-15, Impact), and Mitski's "The Only Heartbreaker" (38-20) make big moves.    "Wild Child" has a high debut on alternative, a format that pretty much ignored their Delta Kream project last year; Mitski holds at #1 on Triple-A.  David F. Porfirio's "Dreamscape" makes an impressive move from 42 to 21, as does Joy Again's six-year-old "Looking Out for You" (46-27, Mover).

NEWBIES: As mentioned above, Deb Browning and The Six Piece Suits' "Take Me By the Hand" lands Top Debut at #46.   The song has the essential beats that are a nod to beach music's past,  with the soulfulness taking hold.   The harmonies between Ms. Browning and the Suits' Kyle Hooks are remarkable.    Definitely a nod to artists like Sam Cooke, but with a fresh take  A definite winner.

But there are other strong debuts here.  Florence + the Machine have been one of the biggest blog bands over the past ten years but their last album was a bit of a disappointment.   However, Ms. Welch and gang have a strong new entry in "My Love", coming in at #52 this week.   The song recalls their blog #1 "Queen of Peace".  A rhythmic beat with loads of emotion makes this a bone-chilling outing for this group.   Unlike "Queen" which didn't chart, this one, like the Keys, also debuts high on Alternative.    Florence has had three #1's on my blog, and this could make it four if the song doesn't burn out.   This is the FATM that I know and love.

Then we have Train's "AM Gold", debuting at #53.  While I have been holding onto Pat Monahan and the gang's holiday entry "Mittens" as it has that early Fitz & the Tantrums' vibe, the band comes out with this new gem.   It seems that the band has (thankfully) given up trying to sound like Maroon 5 and other current pop acts.   The song is pop, alright, but, as hinted by the title, it's throwback to pop, 70's style.  Full of strings and emotion, this is a fresh new direction by a band that has had many of them over the past 25 years.    Monahan has sort of a Sting vibe in this one, but not too much.   

Further down are more debuts:  Heartless Bastards "How Low" hit blog top 10, thus I follow it with "You Never Know".  This band is hard to characterize; this one is many things; but a rather easy-going trek that you can relax to but at the same time, keeps you on your toes.   Definitely alt-pop sensitivities to this and should repeat the feat of the prior song in my top ten.  Great harmonies.

While Hegazy's "Oil and Water" is still bulleting in the top five, the twin duo quickly follows that up with "Maybe If We Try".  If the title sounds familiar, that's because it's the same song that member Leila hit #3 blog with back in 2015.    The new version, with both of the sisters adds a new dimension to the original.   Both Leila and Omnia sing with great harmony and emotion.  The song is very intimate, and the keyboards add so much to it.   Could be a blog hit all over again.

Also new this week are the latest from The Beths, "A Real Thing".  The New Zealand indie-poppers have had three blog mid-charters and this one plays up their power pop sensibilities.  A bit new waveish, a bit alternative, but a very palatable song.    Western Massachusetts' Eavesdrop follows its top five "Alive" with "Here", and Coldplay, fresh off its collaboration with BTS, follow with "Let Somebody Go", with Selena Gomez, which recalls Passenger's similarly-named-but-different  song "Let Her Go". 

Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist

March 13, 2022

This Week	Last Week	ARTIST-Title	Weeks on List
1	1	NUMBER ONE: TIM IZZARD "Empty My Head" Album: 21st Century Exposé (EP) (2 weeks at #1)	7
2	4	Einstein's Dad - Here to Home	8
3	3	Anna Lavigne - Mindblown	7
4	2	Anna Lavigne - This Time	15
5	5	Hegazy - Oil and Water	6
6	9	Portugal. The Man - What, Me Worry	4
7	7	Babeheaven - Don't Wake Me	7
8	8	Sadgirl - Little Queenie	8
9	11	LP - Angels	8
10	10	Red Hot Chili Peppers - Black Summer	5
11	12	Papercuts - A Dull Boy	5
12	14	Donna Missal - (To Me) Your Face Is Love	14
13	6	Eavesdrop - Alive	15
14	13	Martin Stephenson and the Daintees - Harajuku Punks	14
15	37	TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK THE BLACK KEYS "Wild Child" Album: Dropout Boogie	2
16	15	Anna Lavigne - Dance the Last Goodbye●	18
17	20	Cuffed Up - Bonnie	10
18	21	Collective Soul - Right as Rain	8
19	16	Lord Huron - Mine Forever	12
20	38	Mitski - The Only Heartbreaker	3
21	42	David F. Porfirio - Dreamscape	3
22	19	Fleet Foxes - Featherweight●	20
23	28	Bob Moses - Love Brand New	6
24	24	Winnetka Bowling League and Demi Lovato - Fiimy	6
25	43	Band of Horses - Lights	3
26	22	Nick Waterhouse - Very Blue	15
27	46	MOVER OF THE WEEK: JOY AGAIN "Looking Out for You" (Single Only)	3
28	31	Middle Kids - Today We're the Greatest	8
29	17	Beach Bunny - Oxygen	14
30	23	Elton John and Dua Lipa - Cold Heart	23
31	36	Nané - Seventeen	4
32	18	Foals - Wake Me Up	14
33	34	Sam Fender - Seventeen Going Under	6
34	30	ScreenAge - Like Fine Wine	16
35	33	Lucius - Next to Normal	7
36	26	Babeheaven - The Hours	14
37	41	Brandi Carlile - Right On Time	22
38	39	The Weeknd - Sacrifice	6
39	25	Beach House - Once Twice Melody	13
40	27	Heartless Bastards- How Low	16
41	29	Courtney Barnett - Write A Listing of Things to Look Forward To	12
42	35	Glass Animals - I Don't Wanna Talk (I Just Wanna Dance)	20
43	45	Swingadelic - The Late Late Show	7
44	48	Dr. Victor - Got to Be You	4
45	---	TOP DEBUT: DEB BROWNING and.SIX PIECE SUITS "Take Me By The Hand" (Single Only)	1
46	32	Kacey Musgraves - Justified	15
47	40	Halsey - You Asked For This●	23
48	56	Avi Wisnia - Catching Leaves	3
49	49	Zac Brown Band - Old Love Song	5
50	51	Johnny Woods - Life on Mars	6
51	52	Ed Sheeran - Overpass Graffiki	5
52	---	Florence + The Machine- My Love	1
53	---	Train - AM Gold	1
54	44	Christina Taylor- Damn Boy	22
55	55	Cat 5 Band -Ain't Nothing Better	4
56	58	Deb Browning - Stop Messin' With My Man●	28
57	60	GAYLE - abcdefu	5
58	61	Wetleg - Chaise Lounge	4
59	72	Avril Lavigne ft. Blackbear - Love It When You Hate Me	2
60	57	Zac Brown Band - Out in the Middle	5
61	53	Twenty One Pilots - Outside	5
62	66	Glass Animals - Heat Waves	33
63	65	Bleachers - How Dare You Want More	4
64	70	Pete Yorn - Elizabeth Taylor	3
65	73	Rex Orange County - Keep It Up	2
66	47	Avril Lavigne - Bite Me	12
67	59	Train - Mittens	10
68	74	Parquet Courts - Watching Strangers Smile	2
69	67	Foo Fighters - Love Dies Young	6
70	---	Heartless Bastards - You Never Know	1
71	75	Michael Buble - I'll Never Not Love You	2
72	---	Hegazy - Maybe If We Try	1
73	84	Babeheaven ft. Navy Blue- Make Me Wanna	2
74	54	Iration - Be Alright	21
75	79	Deb Browning - Dancin'	2
76	62	ScreenAge - Think Again▲	40
77	64	A Place to Bury Strangers - I Might Have●	30
78	50	Bloc Party - Traps	10
79	69	King Tappa - Flirting	12
80	86	Ed Sheeran ft. Taylor Swift - The Joker and the Queen	2
81	---	The Beths - A Real Thing	1
82	63	Tim Izzard - Life In a Day	15
83	88	Deb Browning - In My dreams	11
84	76	Spoon - The Hardest Cut	5
85	87	Hippo Campus - Ride or Die	3
86	---	Eavesdrop - Here	1
87	68	Adele - Oh My God	12
88	92	Foo Fighters - Making A Fire	15
89	93	Charlie Puth - Light Switch	2
90	---	Coldplay X Selena Gomez - Let Someboy Go	1
91	71	Band of Horses - Crutch	16
92	77	Ed Sheeran - Bad Habits●	31
93	78	Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats - Face Down in the Moment	11
94	82	Milky Chance - Colorado●	29
95	81	Zac Brown Band - Same Boat	31
96	80	Lauren Davidson - Hindsight	13
97	85	Adele - Easy On Me	18
98	90	David F. Porfirio - Egyptian Fantasia	18
99	83	Zitro and Matt Weiss - Without Me	6
100	91	Jack White - Taking Me Back (Gently)	16

Songs with the greatest increase in favorite points over the prior week.   ● Songs with 25 or more plays on iTunes/iPods ▲   Songs with 50 or more plays.