James Brown
James Joseph Brown (1933–2006), often hailed as the "Godfather of Soul" and "The Hardest Working Man in Show Business," was a monumental figure in 20th-century music. A pioneer of soul and the primary progenitor of funk, he influenced diverse genres including hip-hop, disco, and rock.
Born on May 3, 1933, in Barnwell, South Carolina, Brown grew up in extreme poverty in Augusta, Georgia. After his mother left when he was four, he was raised largely by an aunt who ran a brothel. He worked odd jobs like picking cotton and shining shoes to survive. At 16, he was convicted of robbery and sentenced to 8 to 16 years. He served three years in a juvenile reformatory, where he formed a gospel quartet and met his future musical partner, Bobby Byrd.
Upon his release in 1952, he joined Byrd's group, which became the Famous Flames. Their first hit, "Please, Please, Please" (1956), sold over a million copies. In the mid-1960s, Brown shifted his sound toward complex rhythmic patterns and a heavy emphasis on "the one" (the first beat), effectively inventing funk music with hits like "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" and "Cold Sweat".
During the Civil Rights movement, he became a voice for Black pride with the 1968 anthem "Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud". In the 1970s, he formed a new band, the J.B.'s, featuring legendary musicians like Bootsy Collins, which further solidified the funk genre.
Brown was famous for his high-energy stage presence, which included acrobatic splits, spins, and his signature "cape routine" where he would feign collapse only to be "revived" by a cape and continue singing. Known for his perfectionism, he frequently fined his band members for missing notes or having unpolished shoes during performances.
He scored numerous #1 R&B hits and influenced the development of several music genres over his 50-year career. After a career dip in the late 1970s, he saw a resurgence in the 1980s with a role in The Blues Brothers and the hit single "Living in America" from Rocky IV.
He made significant contributions to education and community development. He experienced marital issues, domestic violence, and substance abuse, issues acknowledged alongside his musical genius. He was one of the first ten inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1992.
James Brown died of congestive heart failure resulting from pneumonia on December 25, 2006, in Atlanta, Georgia. He remains the most sampled artist in history, with his drum breaks and grooves forming the foundational DNA of hip-hop and modern dance music.
A Soulful Christmas
Written-By – C. Bobbitt, H. Ballard, A. Ellis
A2 Santa Claus, Santa Claus
Written-By – C. Bobbitt, N. Jones
A3 Believers Shall Enjoy (Non Believers Shall Suffer)
Written-By – B. Hobgood, N. Jones
A4 Soulful Christmas
Written-By – C. Bobbitt, H. Ballard, A. Ellis
A5 Tit For Tat (Ain't No Taking Back)
Written-By – C. Bobbitt, N. Jones
A6 Christmas Is Coming
Written-By – B. Hobgood, N. Jones
B1 Say It Loud (I'm Black And I'm Proud) Part 1
Written-By – J. Brown
B2 Say It Loud (I'm Black And I'm Proud) Part 2
Written-By – J. Brown
B3 In The Middle
Written-By – B. Hobgood, N. Jones
B4 Let's Unite The Whole World At Christmas
Written-By – B. Hobgood, N. Jones
B5 You Know It
Written-By – B. Hobgood, A. Ellis
B6 Santa Claus Gave Me A Brand New Start
Written-By – B. Hobgood, N. Jones
Label: King Records – KS 1040
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1968
Genre: R&B Soul, Funk
Style: Soul, Funk
Released in 1968, James Brown’s A Soulful Christmas is a critically acclaimed, high-energy fusion of festive cheer and raw, socially conscious funk recorded during a tumultuous era in American history. It stands out as an essential holiday album, offering a unique blend of original songs, instrumental jams, and deep-groove soul that serves as a perfect, energetic alternative to traditional Christmas music.
Far from a commercial gimmick, the album deals with themes of peace, love, and social consciousness, particularly in standout tracks like "Let's Make Christmas Mean Something This Year".
It features a mix of intense vocal performances (e.g., "Santa Claus, Santa Claus") and driving funk instrumentals where the instruments act as percussion.
The album notoriously features this socially charged hit, which, while not a Christmas song, defines the cultural context of the 1968 release.
The album is noted for its excellent, punchy production, with strong guitar and bass, particularly when heard on vinyl.
While some listeners might prefer more traditional, vocal-heavy holiday music over the album's significant instrumental portions, A Soulful Christmas is widely regarded as a 5-star, essential addition to any funk or holiday collection.
Good, Good, Twistin’
A2 Shout And Shimmy 3:00
A3 Tell Me What You're Gonna Do 2:09
A4 Good, Good, Lovin' 2:15
A5 Have Mercy Baby 2:14
A6 Begging, Begging 2:50
B1 Love Don't Love Nobody 2:02
B2 Dancin' Little Thing 2:15
B3 Come Over Here 2:41
B4 You Don't Have To Go 2:42
B5 Just Won't Do Right (I Stay In The Chapel Every Night) 2:40
B6 It Was You 2:40
Label: King Records – 780
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1962
Genre: R&B Soul, Pop
Style: Rhythm & Blues, Twist, Soul
Good, Good, Twistin' by James Brown & His Famous Flames is generally seen as a filler album for completists, featuring mostly repurposed tracks and a few decent new ones like "Shout and Shimmy," but lacks the essential hits of his earlier work, making it less essential than his groundbreaking live or studio albums, though modern reissues offer decent sound quality for early soul fans.
Many consider it a strange, "bewildering" release, relying heavily on tracks from previous albums and missing key hits like "Try Me" or "Please Please Please". It's often recommended for completists or serious fans, not for newcomers to James Brown's catalog.
The album does offer a few newer songs, with "Shout and Shimmy" often highlighted as a standout, though it's noted as derivative of The Isley Brothers' "Shout". Despite its filler status, it captures that pure, early 1960s soul sound, and reissues can offer great, silent vinyl for the price.
If you're looking for foundational James Brown, skip Good, Good, Twistin' for Live at the Apollo or other major releases. If you're a completist or just want some affordable, groovy early soul, a decent pressing can be a fun, albeit unessential, addition.
Hell
A2 Hell (James Brown 5:03)
A3 My Thang (James Brown 4:20)
A4 Sayin' It And Doin' It (James Brown 3:05)
A5 Please, Please, Please (James Brown 4:07)
B1 When The Saints Go Marching In (Traditional 2:43)
B2 These Foolish Things Remind Me Of You (H. Link, H. Marvell, J. Strachey 3:14)
B3 Stormy Monday (Aaron Walker 3:15)
B4 A Man Has To Go Back To The Cross Road Before He Finds Himself (James Brown 2:52)
B5 Sometime (James Brown 4:15)
C1 I Can't Stand It "76" (James Brown 8:10)
C2 Lost Someone (Lloyd Stallworth, Bobby Byrd, James Brown 3:35)
C3 Don't Tell A Lie About Me And I Won't Tell The Truth On You James Brown 5:05)
D1 Papa Don't Take No Mess (Fred Wesley, James Brown, John Starks 13:51)
Label: Polydor – PD 2-9001
Format: 2 x Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1974
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul, Funk
Hell is a double album by James Brown that stands as one of his most diverse and audacious artistic statements, blending hard-edged funk with social commentary, soul ballads, and spirituals. It is known for its raw energy, innovative grooves, and experimental elements that marked a pivotal moment in his transition to a more expansive sound in the 1970s.
The album is a sprawling exploration of funk and soul, incorporating elements of jazz, gospel, and even salsa. It features the signature "Minister of New New Super Heavy Funk" sound, characterized by stripped-down, rhythmically driven tracks where instruments and vocals act as a percussive counterpoint.
The album's title and music reflect the social and political unrest of the mid-1970s United States. The title track, "Hell," offers empathy towards those born into poverty, "paying bills from the day you're born, little brother, 'til your body starts getting old". The album also includes defiant political commentary and protest anthems.
Brown is backed by his exceptional band, The J.B.'s, including Maceo Parker on saxophone, Fred Wesley on trombone/arrangements, and guitarist Jimmy Nolen. The album showcases their ferocious precision and ability to navigate the eclectic material with extended jam sessions and improvisation.
The cover artwork for the album was designed by Joe Belt and features Bosch-inspired visuals, matching the album's dark, aggressive energy and cinematic scope.
Hell is considered a masterpiece in James Brown's extensive catalog, building on the success of the previous year's The Payback while pushing the boundaries of his music into new, more experimental territory. It solidified his role as Soul Brother Number One and the Godfather of Soul, whose influence on funk and subsequent genres like hip-hop is immeasurable.
I Can’t Stand Myself When You Touch Me
Written-By – J. Brown
3:25
A2 There Was A Time
Written-By – B. Hobgood, J. Brown
3:35
A3 Get It Together (Part 1)
Written-By – B. Hobgood, J. Brown, A. Ellis
A4 Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby
3:50
Written-By – B. Hobgood, J. Brown, J. Crawford
A5 Time After Time
Written-By – J. Styne, S. Cahn
2:59
A6 The Soul Of J.B. (Inst.)
Written-By – B. Hobgood, G. Knochelman, J. Brown
2:42
B1 I Can't Stand Myself (When You Touch Me) (Part 2)
Written-By – J. Brown
3:50
B2 Get It Together (Part 2)
Written-By – B. Hobgood, J. Brown, A. Ellis
3:50
B3 Why Did You Take Your Love Away From Me
Written-By – B. Hobgood, J. Brown
2:30
B4 Need Your Love So Bad
Written-By – Little Willie John
3:25
B5 You've Got To Change Your Mind
Written-By – B. Byrd, G. C. Redd, J. Brown, R. Lenhoff
3:50
B6 Funky Soul #1
Written-By – B. Hobgood, J. Brown, J. Crawford
2:03
Label: King Records – 1030
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1968
Genre:R&B Soul
Style: Sixties Soul, Funk
I Can't Stand Myself When You Touch Me (1968) is a pivotal James Brown album that solidified his transition into pure funk, featuring the iconic, raw title track and other grooves like "There Was a Time," showcasing his signature repeating rhythms, horn blasts, and powerful vocals over danceable grooves, moving away from ballads towards a consistent, energetic funk festival with great instrumentals and tight production.
It's considered one of his first full funk albums, establishing the template for his sound in the coming decade with relentless, danceable rhythms.
The title track features The Dapps, a band of white musicians led by Beau Dollar, while other tracks feature his longtime group, The Famous Flames, and iconic saxophonist Maceo Parker.".
Characterized by short, repetitive guitar/drum loops, intense horn arrangements, improvised lyrics, and Brown's signature raw, supercharged vocals.
While primarily funk-driven, the album includes Southern soul vamps like "You've Got to Change My Mind," a jazz standard cover of "Time After Time," and several instrumentals featuring Brown on the organ.
Included excellent instrumentals like "The Soul of J.B." and "Funky Soul #1," alongside a notable cover of the jazz standard "Time After Time". It Showcased heavier, livelier production, making tracks sound more powerful and groove-oriented.
The album marked a significant step in James Brown's career, cementing his role as the Godfather of Soul and a primary architect of funk music with its stripped-down, rhythmically focused sound.
It’s A Man’s Man’s Man's World
Written-By – James Alston
A2 It's A Man's Man's Man's World
Written-By – Burt Jones, James Brown
A3 Bewildered
Written-By – Whitcup, Powell
A4 Is It Yes Or Is It No?
Written-By – Burt Jones, James Brown
A5 Ain't That A Groove Part 1
Written-By – James Brown, Nat Jones
A6 The Bells
Written-By – Billy Ward
B1 Ain't That A Groove Part 2
Written-By – James Brown, Nat Jones
B2 Come Over Here
Written-By – James Brown
B3 In The Wee Wee Hours (Of The Nite)
Written-By – James Brown
B4 I Don't Mind
Written-By – James Brown
B5 Just You And Me
Written-By – James Brown
B6 I Love You, Yes I Do
Written-By – H. Glover, S. Nix
Label: King Records – 985
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1966
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Sixties Soul, Funk
James Brown's 1966 It's a Man's Man's Man's World album, driven by its iconic title track, is a pivotal, yet uneven, release showcasing Brown's evolving sound, blending classic soul ballads with early funk, but critics note its reliance on hit singles, filler tracks, and repetition, marking a point where his album formula needed evolution, despite containing one of his greatest, emotionally-charged vocal performances.
The title track, "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" is the undisputed classic, a powerful, melancholic ballad featuring memorable strings and Brown's masterful vocal delivery, often considered one of his finest.
The album includes early funk numbers like "Ain't It a Groove" (Parts 1 & 2), showing Brown's signature infectious grooves and potent energy.
Typical for the era, it was assembled from singles rather than conceived as a cohesive album, leading to filler ballads and recycled material, a strategy to capitalize on hit singles.
While the title track and some funk cuts shine, many of the ballads are considered dull or anodyne, with the album's formula showing signs of fatigue.
In summary, it's a commercially successful album built around a masterpiece of a song, but as a complete listening experience, it's often seen as inconsistent, with the strong material overshadowed by less essential tracks, a common trait of mid-60s soul LPs.
Reality
Written-By – F.Wesley, G. Wesley, J. Brown
4:14
A2 Funky President (People It's Bad)
Written-By – J. Brown
4:01
A3 Further On Up The Road
Written-By – Bill Mack
3:47
A4 Check Your Body
Written-By – F. Wesley, J. Brown
4:04
A5 Don't Fence Me In
Written-By – C. Porter
3:26
B1 All For One
Written-By – F. Wesley, J. Brown
6:09
B2 I'm Broken Hearted
Written-By – J. Brown
4:09
B3 The Twist
Written-By – H. Ballard
3:53
B4 Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)
Written-By – A. Newley, L. Bricusse
4:02
Label: Polydor – PD 6039
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1974
Genre: R&B Soul, Funk
Style: Seventies Soul, Funk
James Brown’s 1974 album Reality is a polished, socially conscious funk record that, while featuring strong tracks like the title song and "Funky President (People It's Bad)," represents a slight artistic plateau or dip in quality compared to his peak early-70s work. Critics noted a darker, more cynical tone reflecting the era's issues, with some uneven, over-produced, or slower-paced ballads.
"Reality" and "Funky President" are considered highlights, with the latter being a major funk success. The album features a more "super slick" and heavily orchestrated production compared to the raw, hard funk of the late 60s.
The lyrics are surprisingly introspective and socially aware, covering topics like unemployment and politics.
The production is described as slicker and more orchestrated than his raw late-60s work, featuring flute arrangements and polished funk grooves. While high-energy, it lacks the consistent brilliance of predecessors like The Payback.
While Rolling Stone listed it as the 46th best album of 1974, AllMusic noted it as a sign of Brown hitting an artistic impasse due to an intense schedule.
Reality is generally regarded as a solid, enjoyable record for fans, though not essential for new listeners compared to his earlier, more kinetic material.
Soul On Top
Written-By – C. Loveday, H. Kresa 4:08
A2 Your Cheatin Heart
Written-By – Hank Williams 2:59
A3 What Kind Of Fool Am I?
Written-By – A. Newley, L. Bricusse 3:02
A4 It's A Man's, Man's, Man's World
Written-By – James Brown, Betty Jean Newsome 6:22
A5 The Man In The Glass
Written-By – Bud Hobgood 5:52
B1 It's Magic
Written-By – Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn 3:09
B2 September Song
Written-By – Kurt Weil, Maxwell Anderson 4:29
B3 For Once In My Life
Written-By – O. Murden, R. Miller 4:33
B4 Every Day I Have The Blues
Written-By – Peter Chatman 3:30
B5 I Need Your Key (To Turn Me On)
Written-By – Louie Bellson 3:44
B6 Papa's Got A Brand New Bag
Written-By – James Brown 2:57
Label: King Records – KS 1100
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1970
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Soul-Jazz, Funk
James Brown's Soul on Top (1969) is a critically acclaimed jazz-soul fusion album where the Godfather of Soul tackles standards and his own hits with the Louie Bellson Orchestra, featuring brilliant arrangements by Oliver Nelson; reviewers praise Brown's energetic vocal performances, dynamic big band sound, and ability to blend funk conviction with jazz sophistication, highlighting tracks like "The Man in the Glass" and "Your Cheatin' Heart," making it a successful, versatile showcase of his artistry beyond strict funk.
The album blends James Brown's signature R&B/funk vamps with rich, orchestrated arrangements, creating a unique "soul jazz" sound. Brown delivers impressive performances, showcasing his full vocal range with ecstatic screams, yelps, and gut-wrenching emotion, particularly on his own hits like "It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World".
Oliver Nelson's tight charts and Louie Bellson's expert band provide a powerful, yet flexible, backdrop, allowing for both tight execution and improvisation.
Brown transforms country classic "Your Cheatin' Heart" into a brassy soul-screamer and gives "September Song" funky oomph, proving his versatility. Re-recordings of his hits, like "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," sound fresh and invigorating with the big band treatment.
A Must-Have: Soul cognoscenti and fans seeking to explore Brown's range consider it a superb, long-overdue release. It's seen as a successful tribute to the big bands that inspired him and a testament to his musical breadth, not just a risky jazz venture.
Reviewers find it an exhilarating listen, filled with energy, primal vocal power, and a perfect blend of jazz sophistication and raw funk.
Soul on Top is celebrated as an impressive display of James Brown's artistry, bridging his funk innovations with big band jazz, making it a rewarding listen for both jazz and soul enthusiasts.