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James Brown moved shop from Cincinnati to New York in 1971, switching from King Records to Polydor, trading the appellation Soul Brother Number One for the Godfather of Soul and shifting his music in the process. Vol. 8 of Hip-O Select’s ongoing chronicle of JB’s complete singles documents those first two years of his Polydor stint, the time when Polydor pushed for the crossover hit Brown craved while James leaned on arranger David Matthews, who steered JB toward an urban music that was swinging, sophisticated, occasionally melodramatic, and always accommodating toward Fred Wesley’s increasing jazz bent. In other words, James Brown ceded gritty funk to young upstarts like Funkadelic, following the path of ‘60s peers like Curtis Mayfield and Isaac Hayes into blaxploitation, staking ground on Black Caesar and even then leaving most of the work to Wesley, a pretty good indication of Brown’s level of concentration in 1972 and 1973. Despite this fresh start, JB’s attention wandered and many of the sessions in these years came out under the Fred Wesley & the JB’s billing -- and several sides that did show up under Brown’s name were instrumentals, or were revived older tracks, as in the case of “I Got Ants in My Pants and Want to Dance.” Given the caliber of musicians in the JB’s, much of this is enjoyable, but there is a notable dip in quality and consistency, especially when compared to the hotbed of creativity of 1970-1972, when Brown was pushed by Bootsy and Catfish Collins, creating some of his hottest music ever. The JB’s of 1972-1973 did cut a few seminal singles -- Wesley rightly calls “Get on the Good Foot” “one of the more perfect recordings we ever did” and there’s a cinematic appeal to “King Heroin” -- but it’s telling that the real blockbuster of this time is “Doing It to Death,” credited to Fred Wesley & the JB’s, something that says quite a bit about James’ work in this era.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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JAMES BROWN, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2009 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
JAMES BROWN, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Charles Bobbit, ComposerLyricist - St. Clair Pickney, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2009 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
JAMES BROWN, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - DAVE MATTHEWS, Conductor, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Charles Fred A. Bobbit, ComposerLyricist - Mark Bruce Rosen, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1972 UMG Recordings, Inc.
JAMES BROWN, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - DAVE MATTHEWS, ComposerLyricist - Charles Bobbit, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1972 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Charles Bobbitt, ComposerLyricist - John Starks, ComposerLyricist - JAMES BROWN, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - The J.B.'s, MainArtist
℗ 1972 Republic Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
JAMES BROWN, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - St. Clair Pickney, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1972 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
JAMES BROWN, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - St. Clair Pickney, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1972 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
JAMES BROWN, Producer - Billy Butler, ComposerLyricist - Bill Doggett, ComposerLyricist - Clifford Scott, ComposerLyricist - Shep Shephard, ComposerLyricist - The James Brown Soul Train, MainArtist
℗ 1972 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
JAMES BROWN, Producer - Billy Butler, ComposerLyricist - Bill Doggett, ComposerLyricist - Clifford Scott, ComposerLyricist - Shep Shephard, ComposerLyricist - The James Brown Soul Train, MainArtist
℗ 1972 Polydor Inc.
JAMES BROWN, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Fred Wesley, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Charles Fred A. Bobbit, ComposerLyricist - The J.B.'s, MainArtist
℗ 1972 Republic Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
JAMES BROWN, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Fred Wesley, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Charles Fred A. Bobbit, ComposerLyricist - The J.B.'s, MainArtist
℗ 1972 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
JAMES BROWN, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Fred Wesley, ComposerLyricist - Joseph Louis Mims, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1972 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Joe Mims, ComposerLyricist - JAMES BROWN, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Fred Wesley, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1972 Universal Records
JAMES BROWN, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - DAVE MATTHEWS, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1972 UMG Recordings, Inc.
JAMES BROWN, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - DAVE MATTHEWS, Conductor - Charles Fred A. Bobbit, ComposerLyricist - Henry Stallings, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1972 UMG Recordings, Inc.
JAMES BROWN, Producer, ComposerLyricist - James Brown & The Famous Flames, MainArtist - Sammy Lowe, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1972 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
JAMES BROWN, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - The J.B.'s, MainArtist
℗ 1972 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
JAMES BROWN, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - The J.B.'s, MainArtist
℗ 1972 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
JAMES BROWN, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - The J.B.'s, MainArtist
℗ 1972 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
JAMES BROWN, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - The J.B.'s, MainArtist
℗ 1972 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
DISC 2
JAMES BROWN, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Fred Wesley, Arranger, Work Arranger - DAVE MATTHEWS, Arranger, Work Arranger, ComposerLyricist - Lyn Collins, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1972 UMG Recordings, Inc.
JAMES BROWN, Producer, MainArtist - Burt Bacharach, ComposerLyricist - Hal David, ComposerLyricist - Fred Wesley, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - DAVE MATTHEWS, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Lyn Collins, MainArtist
℗ 1972 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
JAMES BROWN, Producer - HERBIE HANCOCK, ComposerLyricist - Jon Hendricks, ComposerLyricist - Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s, MainArtist
℗ 1972 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
JAMES BROWN, Producer, MainArtist - Fred Wesley, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Bodie Chandler, ComposerLyricist - Barry De Vorzon, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1973 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
JAMES BROWN, Conductor, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Fred Wesley, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - The J.B.'s, FeaturedArtist - Bob Both, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1973 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
JAMES BROWN, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Fred Wesley, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Charles Fred A. Bobbit, ComposerLyricist - The J.B.'s, FeaturedArtist - Bob Both, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1973 Republic Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
JAMES BROWN, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s, MainArtist
℗ 1972 Republic Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
JAMES BROWN, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Fred Wesley, ComposerLyricist - Charles Bobbit, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1973 UMG Recordings, Inc.
JAMES BROWN, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2009 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
JAMES BROWN, Producer, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s, MainArtist
℗ 1973 Universal Records a division of UMG Recordings Inc.
JAMES BROWN, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s, MainArtist
℗ 1973 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Bobby Bennett, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - JAMES BROWN, Producer, Arranger, Vocals, Work Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Johnny Terry, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - DAVE MATTHEWS, ComposerLyricist - Bobby Byrd, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Lowman Pauling, ComposerLyricist - J.C. Davis, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Nat Kendrick, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Bernard Odum, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Bobby Roach, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - "Baby" Lloyd Stallworth, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Hollings, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Alfred Corley, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1973 UMG Recordings, Inc.
JAMES BROWN, Producer, MainArtist - GEORGE HARRISON, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1973 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
JAMES BROWN, Producer, Arranger, Work Arranger, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - DAVE MATTHEWS, ComposerLyricist - Lowman Pauling, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1973 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
JAMES BROWN, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Sammy Lowe, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1973 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
JAMES BROWN, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1973 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
JAMES BROWN, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s, MainArtist
℗ 1973 Republic Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
JAMES BROWN, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s, MainArtist
℗ 1973 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
JAMES BROWN, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - DAVE MATTHEWS, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - The J.B.'s, FeaturedArtist
℗ 1973 Universal Music Group Inc.
JAMES BROWN, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Fred Wesley, Co-Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Charles Fred A. Bobbit, ComposerLyricist - The J.B.'s, FeaturedArtist
℗ 1973 Universal Music Group Inc.
Album review
James Brown moved shop from Cincinnati to New York in 1971, switching from King Records to Polydor, trading the appellation Soul Brother Number One for the Godfather of Soul and shifting his music in the process. Vol. 8 of Hip-O Select’s ongoing chronicle of JB’s complete singles documents those first two years of his Polydor stint, the time when Polydor pushed for the crossover hit Brown craved while James leaned on arranger David Matthews, who steered JB toward an urban music that was swinging, sophisticated, occasionally melodramatic, and always accommodating toward Fred Wesley’s increasing jazz bent. In other words, James Brown ceded gritty funk to young upstarts like Funkadelic, following the path of ‘60s peers like Curtis Mayfield and Isaac Hayes into blaxploitation, staking ground on Black Caesar and even then leaving most of the work to Wesley, a pretty good indication of Brown’s level of concentration in 1972 and 1973. Despite this fresh start, JB’s attention wandered and many of the sessions in these years came out under the Fred Wesley & the JB’s billing -- and several sides that did show up under Brown’s name were instrumentals, or were revived older tracks, as in the case of “I Got Ants in My Pants and Want to Dance.” Given the caliber of musicians in the JB’s, much of this is enjoyable, but there is a notable dip in quality and consistency, especially when compared to the hotbed of creativity of 1970-1972, when Brown was pushed by Bootsy and Catfish Collins, creating some of his hottest music ever. The JB’s of 1972-1973 did cut a few seminal singles -- Wesley rightly calls “Get on the Good Foot” “one of the more perfect recordings we ever did” and there’s a cinematic appeal to “King Heroin” -- but it’s telling that the real blockbuster of this time is “Doing It to Death,” credited to Fred Wesley & the JB’s, something that says quite a bit about James’ work in this era.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 40 track(s)
- Total length: 02:22:32
- Main artists: James Brown
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Polydor
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B R&B
© 2009 UMG Recordings, Inc. This Compilation ℗ 2009 UMG Recordings, Inc.
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