James Brown - James Brown - 20 All-Time Greatest Hits!
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Free Music Notes for James Brown - 20 All-Time Greatest Hits!
Free Music Review: The World's Introduction to FUNK!
Hit: 5 Stars
Yes...Mr. Brown and the boys virtually invented the genre. Although other acts were 'dabbling' with similar ideas during the late 60s/ early 70s such as The Funky Meters, Parliment/Funkadelic and to a degree Motown's Funk Brothers, none can lay claim to 'catapulting' the genre onto the listening public like James did. For the readers information, I am a white male who "cut my musical teeth" on R-n-R, Metal and Hard Rock, so it wasn't till my mid-to-late 20s that I started to appreciate and explore Funk, Soul, R+B and black music in general. So when I began laying down my money on this "new found" music, I knew, from hearing James' more popular songs on the radio, that I had to pick-up at least one of his albums....And I'm thrilled it was this greatest hits package---- if you want a perfect 'dose' of this man's brand of Funk, then look no further. This release covers James' and the JBs most "fruitful" era. A little bit of all the music that made James an American musical Icon are represented here---- early Soul hits such as "Try Me", "Please,Please,Please" and "Its a Man's,Man's World" are here...along with the Funk hits he has become most indentifiable with, "Get Up...", Papa's Got A Brand New Bag", "...I Feel Good" and "Make it Funky". However for me, its the tracks I hadn't heard that really caught my attention. Tunes like "Super Bad", "Papa Don't Take No Mess", "I Got The Feelin", "Give it Up or Turn it a Loose" and many others, are truly the tracks that turned me into a "Funkster". And though I have explored many other Funk artists and bands, when I want a "piece" of the REAL DEAL, this is the one I always come back to. This man (and band) played such a 'pivotal' role in the Heritage of American Music Culture that I can't imagine his music not being part of my collection or any music aficionado's collection....if you don't own any of JB's music, this is THE perfect place to start....Enjoy!
P.S. as a sidenote, I feel fortunate to live in the panhandle of Florida....not just because of the water, beaches and general 'way of life'....but also because John "Jabo" Starks has taken up residence close by and plays weekly at a local 'hot-spot' here. For anybody not familiar with "Jabo", he was one of three drummers who worked with James during his most groundbreaking years---- and this man's groove is simply immpecable! Sure he's starting to show his age, but one thing I can attest to, is that when the serious jams are needed, this man can still kick out the meanest grooves ever.
Free Music Review: excellent tunes from the great James Brown
Hit: 5 Stars
James Brown will always remain one of the few giants from the entertainment world of the twentieth century. James Brown earned his great reputation by giving blood, heart and soul whenever he performed; and it shows very well on this retrospective album.
The track set begins with "I Got You (I Feel Good)." This very famous James Brown tune features James at his very best. The tempo changes pose no obstacle for James who delivers this number with electricity! Good arrangement that uses the horns, too. "I Got The Feelin'" shows us James singing a funky type of song that can't be beat. The strong percussion works well even if once or twice it almost drowns out James! Moreover, "Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose" showcases James wailing and singing his very best; and the rhythm of those horns adds to this number.
"Papa's Got A Brand New Bag, Pt. 1" gives us a very famous tune that truly belongs to James Brown. James sings this flawlessly; and "Night Train" is another masterpiece by this great singer. "Night Train" sports that late 1950s/early 1960s rock and roll beat that I love so much; the horns and percussion work well on "Night Train" which lacks nothing--it's THAT good! James doesn't sing a lot on "Night Train;" but his wailing cries and the lines he does sing enhance the number quite a bit. In addition, "Papa Don't Take No Mess, Pt. 1" starts off with some really fine jamming by the musicians with their horns, drums and percussion; and when James Brown comes in this number takes off like a jet!
"Say It Loud (I'm Black And I'm Proud), Pt. 1" lets James sing out his black pride the way that he should! James comments about the need of African Americans to fight to overcome the prejudices against them; and the way he half sings/half speaks the lyrics works wonders for this number. "Say It Loud (I'm Black And I'm Proud), Pt. 1" has an awesome children's choir, too! The album ends with the sublime "Please, Please, Please;" James never misses a note on this number and he sounds wonderful as he wails out that line from the lyrics "please, please, please." Awesome!
The liner notes give you the song credits and a very brief essay about this great artist. I wish there were a longer essay but that's a minor disappointment.
James Brown fans should run to add this to their collections; and if you like that wailing sound of a soulful crooner from back in the day you should get this album, too.
Thank you, James!
Free Music Review: Essential Soul and Funk
Hit: 5 Stars
This album is a great collection of all of James Brown's absolute mega-hits. Of course he has written so many great songs that this is simply a skimming of the absolute best songs. I had no real James Brown albums before I bought this one, but I had heard enough of his stuff to know I wanted at least one CD and this is it, this is the best CD there is with respect to his work, and may well be one of the best Soul CDs of all time.I love it because the songs just want to make you jump out of your seat and start boogieing. It really makes you want to dance. It also has very emotional songs that are filled with energy.
There are of course the songs everyone has heard from "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" which is an absolute great song that makes my foot tap involuntarily every time it comes on, to "Get Up" which has that weird over the top sexual innuendo that James Brown is so good at, to "Super Bad" which might very well be the best song on here, "I Got You (I Feel Good)" which might be the most well known song. But there are also a lot of songs that are awesome and not heard nearly as much like "Get On The Good Foot" with those sexual plays again, "It's A Man's Man's Man's World" which at times seems almost to be ironic, and "Think" which is an emotional appeal.
I highly recommend this CD to everyone! This is the one James Brown CD you have to own. And if you really like this though they have a lot more funk going on I recommend Parliament's "Best of Parliament" as well for some more of this funk-soul sound.
Free Music Review: Essential Listening for All Human Lifeforms ! ! !
Hit: 5 Stars
Unless you happen to have every single tune on this album because you have a monster record collection, there is no excuse in the world not to own this CD. James Brown is a towering figure in modern American music - - period. He IS to American music even now what Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington were to American music then. Though the "Godfather of Soul" and creator of funk, even if you're not a self proclaimed hard core funkateer or soul addict such as myself, it would be impossible to say that you know anything about American popular music, even rock music, until you've studied Brown, and this is a great place to start.I like this album in particular because it offers a great yet economical window on his career, from his earliest hit "Please Please Please" until his peak in the '70s... and doesn't waste time getting to the point. - - And it offers a great glimpse into the evolution of his music from R & B to soul to funk. Strangely enough though, even if you go back 40 years, you could still throw on virtually any track on this album and people would get up and dance.
My advice would be, after getting this album, if you find yourself digging a certain era or vibe, check out some of the other great compilations to help you dig deeper. Also... If you like the '60s stuff, Live At The Apollo might be a pick you'll dig. If you dig the '70s stuff, check out The J.B.s Funky Good Time Anthology (or Greatest Hits Album).
And for a deeper study in Brown check out his Biography !
Free Music Review: Still underappreciated genius
Hit: 5 Stars
If you're looking for a single-disc collection of the Godfather's greatest, this is it. For most people, James Brown is known for I Feel Good, Livin' in America, and his prison sentence a while ago. Most people have no clue what James Brown really did for American music. He's the acknowledged Godfather of Soul, one of the original and probably the greatest funk master, an R&B legend, and if you've ever bothered to find out where so many rap song samples come from, you'll recognize him at the roots of hip-hop.
This disc is a fine introduction to a career that everybody needs to hear more of. The album starts off with the obligatory and overplayed "I Got You (I Feel Good)," but then we get to hear JB rip it up on the classic "Sex Machine." Then, we get classic after classic including my favorites "Mother Popcorn, Pt. 1," "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," "It's A Man's Man's Man's World," " Cold Sweat, Pt.1," "Super Bad, Pts.1&2'" and my absolute favorite on this disc "The Payback," a long, slow, heavy, politically-charged piece that really grew on me.
Just remember that this disc just scratches the surface of the JB catalog. You may not be able to afford it, but if you're looking for a great retrospective of James Brown's work, you need to get the Star Time box set. It includes career highlights from the 50's all the way to the 90's.
I hope you take my advice and get this album because it's a great testament to an artist who remains underappreciated by most people.