A remarkable compilation from James Brown of unstoppable heavy funk classics and unreleased gems. Originally released in 1986 to capture the ears of the sampling generation, this compliation has now been nicely expanded making it even more essential than ever. Covering a period from late ’69 to the early 70′s, it is JB at the height of his considerable funk powers – suddenly the godfather grew from a diminutive 5’6″ to seemingly become a kind of colossus funk godzilla, stamping his grooves over cities and leaving an indelible influence in his wake.
He was able to capitalise on the formation of a new band, the J.B.’s, consisting of both young and experienced musicians. For perhaps the first time in his career, JB took influence from the young members led by a 19 year old Bootsy Collins on bass and his brother, the recently departed Phelps Collins (R.I.P.), on guitar. Their enthusiasm and excitement at having been picked to play in the band was clear and infectious. On the other side, the mature band members who had stuck with JB through thick and thin were now showing the benefit of experience – notably seasoned drummer Clyde Stubblefield who cut the Funky Drummer for JB in late ’69, a track that is considered to be the most sampled piece of music in history. Indeed the mix of this old and new proved at times explosive as the re-edit of Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose proves with its break heavy interplay between Bootsy and Clyde – surely one of the best examples of funk out there. The “re-edit” simply takes out the crowd overdubs and tightens up the break, rather than mess with anything it shouldn’t. Whilst Talkin Loud And Saying Nothing can be seen as a militant strike against Vietnam War era politicians, elsewhere the celebrations of I Got To Move, Hot Pants and Soul Power are enough to charge anyone’s batteries. Add to this the previously unreleased and rhythmically stunning full version of Blind Man Can See It which leads me to wonder what else may be lying unreleased in the vaults. It is true that no one else had more releases than JB with a new single pretty much every week and an average of five or six album releases a year, some of the good stuff was going to get left behind.
These songs are an explosive and dynamic expression of the human condition in the inimitable style James Brown and only James Brown could have achieved. At times militant and revolutionary; whilst also celebratory, innovative and down right funky, funky, funky. This serves either as a fantastic introduction to James Brown or essential collection for any funk fan.
“Clap your hands and stomp your feet…”













