Product Description

Single disc retrospective of the career of Georgia-born "godfather of funk", James Brown. Of the twenty tracks featured, eight were UK top 40 hits, between 1965 and 1988. The track 'Funky Drummer' has been sampled countless times by hip-hop DJ's, and its rhythm has been borrowed by numerous indie acts.

Track Listing

1. Papa's Got A Brand New Bag (Part 1)
2. I Got You (I Feel Good)
3. It's A Man's Man's Man's World
4. Please, Please, Please - James Brown & The Famous Flames
5. Think - James Brown & The Famous Flames
6. Night Train
7. Cold Sweat
8. Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose
9. Funky Drummer - James Brown, The James Brown Orchestra
10. Get Up I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine - James Brown, The Original J.B.s
11. Soul Power (Parts 1 & 2) - James Brown, The J.B.'s
12. Get On The Good Foot, Pt. 1
13. Doing It To Death - Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s
14. Get Up Offa That Thing
15. I'm Real
16. It's Too Funky In Here
17. Living In America
18. Super Bad, Part 1
19. The Boss - James Brown, The J.B.'s
20. The Payback Mix

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2200 in Music
• Released on: 2002-04-29
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 81 minutes

Customer Reviews

How to build your new James Brown collection...
It's not easy being a James Brown fan. Currently, many of his original studio albums are so rare on CD that they are almost impossible to find, and instead of making them widely available, record companies force fans to buy armfuls of compilations by including small helpings of rare material on each one. However, the glut of compilations on the market at least make it easy for new fans to make their first purchase, and despite the disorganised back catalogue, further purchases are essential. Why? Because James Brown is the most influential artist of the 20th century, BAR NONE. Here's a quick history lesson: He invented funk, which evolved into disco, hip-hop, modern R&B, techno, house, trance, and every other form of contemporary dance music. They all trace back to The Godfather. Without him, Prince and Michael Jackson would sound unrecognisable. Oh, and he is also the most sampled artist of all time, providing countless new artists with pop, hip-hop and R&B hits over the last 30 years.

So, you need a place to start. Of the many compilations on the market, this is one of the best. Most of the songs you would expect to be here are present, plus the 80's hits 'Living In America', 'I'm Real' and even the rare medley single 'The Payback Mix', all of which many other collections leave out. The funk gets the most attention (as it should), but you get a taste of his early soul material as well. There will always be great songs missing (like 'The Payback' or 'Try Me'), but there's no point dwelling on that. After this, the best place to go is the 4 CD box set 'Star Time', which takes you on a trip from 1956-1984. It skimps on the late 70's cuts, but the 2 CD set 'Dead On The Heavy Funk: 1975-1983' does a great job of filling in the gaps. Post-'84, 'Gravity' and 'I'm Real' are his two best albums. For live recordings, the 'Live At The Apollo' volumes are his most famous, but 'Love Power Peace' from 1971 is arguably his definitive performance.

Hopefully, by the time you've added those to your collection, Brown's back catalogue will be re-sorted and re-released for us all to enjoy. Until then, Soul Brother!

The Godfather Of Soul
Like Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Stevie Wonder, James Brown possessed the uncanny ability of having a distinguished, instantly recognisable and unique vocal style of his own. In his case, his primal vocal delivery was capable of such immense and impressive volume and power that was purely adrenalin-driven.

Visually, James Brown was a larger-than-life figure from his wildly over-the-top slicked hairdo to his acrobatic, athletic-like dancing in his seemingly improvised stage performances. James Brown just effortlessly conveyed such raw and passionate energy both on stage and on record. He quickly became one of the giants and most important names in black music history.

He has apparently disputed his birth on a number of occasions for some unknown reason though it is most commonly believed to be somewhere in Georgia, USA. James was certainly no stranger to poverty and had a struggling upbringing and whilst still at school, he worked constantly as a shoe shiner and a newspaper boy. It was during his childhood that he became super-proficent on the piano, organ, bass and drums.

James Brown became widely known for his catchphrase "I'm black and i'm proud". He stood for a lot in black culture and equally became an innovator and inspiration for whites too. His work explored relevant social issues and often made some sort of profound political statement though he fully maintained that raw, burning sexual energy taht made so much of his music dynamic.

It was from around 1965 to the mid 1970's that James Brown enjoyed his most commercially favourable period and indeed during this time he made some of the most remarkable recordings in popular music that set standards for many of todays artists.

The roaring Papas Got A Brand New Bag was a cross-Atlantic smash hit in 1965. Undertones of pure, pulsating funk wrapped up dynamically by James Browns explosive and rocketing vocal delivery made this instantly infectious track such a phenomenal classic.

James Brown style always carried an earthy, urban R&B style that encapsulated traditional black soul with gospel undertones and a hint of Pop, hence why he enjoyed so much cross-ver success on the charts. Upbeat in its content was the astounding I Got You (I Feel Good) which was most certainly an ultimately feel-good song. It contained such an undeniably catchy hook to its melody.

It's A Mans, Mans, Mans World is one of my all-time favourite James Brown classics. His angst-ridden delivery which impressivley surfboards along the somewhat complex, tidal wave of musical arrangements, is so gutwrenchingly soulful. Only an artist with as much credibility, skill and artistic integrity as James Brown could deliver such a rock-solid performance. This is his song and nobody could possibly do it better! EXCELLENT!

The repetitive rhythm of (Get Up I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine, was almost hypnotic and became something of his trademark. This became another notably sizeable hit to his credit and also was one of his most famous and popular classics.

At the emerging of the Black Pride Movement following the horrendous riots of the civil rights wars in the 60's, James Brown made a significant contribution with his music. The explicity political and undeniably effective, Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud, became a monster hit and indeed was another masterpiece recording to his credit.

Continuing his dance-floor appeal through the late 60's were the dynamic classics Say It Loud and the compelling masterpiece, Give It Up Or Turn It Loose, which stormed its way up the British and Amercian charts in 1969.

The trance-like electronic funk styles of solid soul classics such as Super Bad, Get Up, Get Into It And Get Involved, Talkin' Loud And Sayin Nothing, Soul Power and a fantastic live intepretation of Give It Up Or Turn It Loose all became other landmarks in his lengthy career.
The critics had by now fully recognised his genius and artistic efforts with his work meeting with such wide critical acclaim.

Into the seventies and James Brown continued churning out exciting classics such as Escapism, Get On The Good Foot, Stoned To The Bone, The Payback. They all contained hard-grinding and startling guirtar riffages that proved highly effective.

But the regularity of his hits and the fire in his work began to dwindle though he remains an A-list novelty act.

This compilation gathers his most remarkable period between the mid 60's to mid 70's therefore is essential!

Ian Phillips

The king of funk and soul
Wow! This man is the best. Any music fan would love this man and his music. James Brown has the feeling, funk and soul in his music that any artist would die for. This gets you moving and the blood pumping. He's still got it and you should get this amazing Album!!!