I was talking to my friend Chris this morning. She pointed out that James Brown’s body lay in state at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, in a gold coffin, while President Gerald Ford’s body will lie in the Capitol.
She said, “Ford wishes he had it so good.”
What is there to say about James Brown? Bad question. What is there to say about James Brown that hasn’t already been said? What is left to say about such a towering figure?
How about this…
There are many musical artists that stand at the top of the heap of the 20th Century. You’re supposed to cite Duke Ellington, although he never excited me. Maybe you say John Coltrane, which is true, but it’s also the kind of thing I would say because I’m supposed to. Same for Miles Davis — I love all the stuff I’m not supposed to and not the songs that are musically superior.
Ray Charles was unquestionably talented and influential. I have loved Ray Charles since I was a child. But as I look around today’s musical landscape, it’s hard to see signs of Brother Ray anywhere, unless you count Taylor Hicks. But I hear JB everywhere. Slashing guitars and driving bass in post-punk bands. Driving grooves in hip-hop. Showmanship in R&B. Even if you’ve never heard James Brown, if you listen to contemporary pop, you can’t avoid the sounds of the Godfather.
Soul Brother Number One, Mr. Dynamite, the Hardest-Working Man in Show Business, Minister of The New New Super Heavy Funk, and Mr. Please Please Please…
From The New Book of Rock Lists:
The 10 Funkiest James Brown Song Titles
- “I Don’t Want Nobody to Give Me Nothing (Open Up the Door, I’ll Get It Myself)”
- “Hot Pants (She Got to Use What She Got to get What She Wants)”
- “Say It Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud”
- “Get Up, I Feel Like Being a Sex Machine”
- “It’s Too Funky in Here”
- “Rapp Payback (Where Iz Moses)”
- “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag”
- “I Got Ants in My Pants and I Want to Dance”
- “For Goodness Sakes, Look at Those Cakes”
- “Let a Man Come In and Do the Popcorn”
I’m sure you can find lots of JB all over the place this week. Since I’ve been traveling this week and just got back, I can’t compete, so instead I’ll offer you one-stop shopping. Here are two mixes released by Polydor in 1988. “The Payback Mix” is by Coldcut, otherwise known as Jonathan More and Matt Black. The second is from Norman Cook, best known by the pseudonym Fatboy Slim. This mix comes right after The Housemartins broke up, but before Beats International.
You listen to these best-of tracks, and you’ll get a taste of all the JB you need for today.
James Brown – The Payback Mix [Mixed by Matt Black & Jonathan More for Ahead of Our Time]
James Brown – Payback (The Final Mixdown) [Mixed by Norman Cook & Streetsahead]
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Doing it to death ۞ PUNK Blogs & News @ PROPUNK.COM! ۞ Says:
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The Pop View Says:
Here’s some more useful enumeration on the topic of James Brown: ?uestlove breaks down a huge number of musical effects eminating from the Godfather.
- Top 10 Best Uses Of James Brown in Hip-Hop
- Top 10 James Brown Drum Breaks
- The Top 5 Students of James Brown
- Top 4 James Brown Collections
- Top 5 Live James Brown Recordings