NB: Tell me, please.
Smitty: It’s from your Just Chillin’ CD, “Night Drive.”
NB: “Night Drive,” there it is. Yeah, that’s a great one for riding there.
Smitty: Yeah, it’s one of my all-time favorite Norman Brown tracks.
NB: Thank you, my friend. I really like that one as well.
Smitty: Yeah, and that features Rick Braun on the horn, you know?
NB: That’s right. Phil Davis, I wrote that with him and Paul Brown.
Smitty: Yeah, well, speaking of Paul Brown, I know you’ve hooked up with Paul Brown again for this record and Paul Brown was certainly an important part of you winning a Grammy. Talk about what that means for you to have Paul Brown in the mix of what you’re doing with this new record.
NB: Oh, it’s an interesting relationship how it developed. I had left Motown Records to sign with Warner Brothers. Warner Brothers was like, “Man, you know, we need you to work with a producer and we have a great one in here in-house, Paul Brown,” right?
Smitty: Right.
NB: And at that point I had been producing my records myself after the first one, which Norman Connors produced, and I was having great success, so I didn’t see any reason to change that. We thought about it and because I felt like there was a sound that Paul Brown had and that was a Paul Brown sound.
Smitty: Yeah.
NB: Well, so then maybe the artists that he produced. But we thought about it and went back and forth, I agreed to go in and work on some things with him. He and I fought in the studio. (Both laugh.) It was interesting just developing the relationship and, man, what came out of it was a beautiful relationship that brings the best ideas to the top, and that’s the point so, man, it’s great now. (Both laugh.) We love each other and we work together great.
Smitty: How cool is that? And look at what you’ve both accomplished together.
NB: Absolutely. You know what? I felt like it was something good there because I loved his work before, absolutely, just was a little apprehensive about it and the way they were forcing it on me, you know what I mean?
Smitty: Yeah, that’s not always the best approach.
NB: That had a lot to do with it, I think. If they had said “Man, maybe you should consider working with Paul,” I would’ve said “Of course, let me meet with him,” you know what I mean?
Smitty: Yeah.
NB: Sure, we would’ve worked together, and it was just kind of a rocky start, but it’s a beautiful ride now.
Smitty: Yeah, man. So after you picked up the Grammy with Just Chillin’, what did you say to Paul Brown when you saw him again?
NB: Oh, man, I called him right away. “Man, we got it! It was the bomb! Thank you so much for everything you’ve done, man.” I mean, that’s part of the growth I talk about on this record, you know? In the beginning I was writing and producing my records myself and then I went out and collaborated, worked with other writers, other producers, and learned some other avenues.
Smitty: Absolutely.
NB: Brought that back to the table on this record and that’s really why I feel it’s an elevation for me.
Smitty: Yeah, and that shows great maturity too because you are truly doing your thing now. Well, speaking of elevation, I just think that you have always continued an upward movement with your music and your fans appreciate that as well as myself. I’m a fan too. I can be a fan. (Both laugh.)
NB: Thank you so much and that’s why I work so hard at it. It means that much to all of us.
Smitty: True that. You have one interesting track on here, among others, “It Ain’t Over BWB.” Are you telling your fans something?
NB: I’m telling my fans something and my boys in the group, yes [Kirk Whalum and Rick Braun]. We got bit by the bug of being together on that record we made over at Warner Brothers and the tour we did and, man, I miss that vibe.
Smitty: I know.
NB: Yeah, so that song came to me and it was a BWB joint. (Both laugh.)
