Musical Episode #025 : James Brown on King!

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Hey All, happy to have you back here for another Musical Episode. For today’s mix I pulled out some of the early-ish James Brown 45s on King. Most of these are with The Famous Flames though there are few as the 60’s come that are credited to James alone.
These sides are chronological, I thought it’d be a more interesting listen to keep the more straight ahead R&B tracks mixing in with the proto-funk tracks of the late 60s. James Brown and The Famous Flames were huge players in moving R&B into Soul and then Soul into Funk and I think you can hear it pretty clearly in this hour.

Their relentless work refining R&B rhythms and spending so much time in a live setting, working crowds is one of the things that makes their music so special. For me, you can hear the refinement and power of the music, James’ unmistakable lead vocals calling to the audience and the Flames providing all the backup he needs to keep the train moving. Just read this news clipping from 1966 to get a sense of what a live show must have been like.

As the sixties came to a close so did the long-standing relationship James Brown had with the Famous Flames with the band walking out on the notoriously demanding band leader only to return a year or so later and reconfigure themselves in lineup and sound- now harder and funkier- as The J.B’s. I’ll get to some more mixes of Brown’s sides not in this earlier King period in the future so keep an eye out.

Hope you enjoy these sides from Georgia’s finest in R&B, Soul and Funk! See you next time.

-George / Snack Attack

Tracklist:
James Brown and The Famous Flames: Just Plain Funk (King, 1968)
James Brown and The Famous Flames: Get It Together (King, 1967)
James Brown and The Famous Flames: Cross Firing (King, 1961)
James Brown and The Famous Flames: I’ve Got Money (King, 1962)
James Brown and The Famous Flames: Bring It Up (King, 1966)
James Brown and The Famous Flames: Money Won’t Change You (King, 1966)
James Brown and The Famous Flames: Choo-Choo (King, 1963)
James Brown and The Famous Flames: Fine Old Foxy Self (King, 1964)
James Brown and The Famous Flames: The Soul of J.B. (King, 1967)
James Brown and The Famous Flames: Licking Stick – Licking Stick (Part 1) (King, 1968)
James Brown and The Famous Flames: Night Train (King, 1962)
James Brown and The Famous Flames: Believers Shall Enjoy (Non Believers Shall Suffer) (King, 1968)
James Brown: Give It Up Or Turnit Loose (King, 1969)
James Brown Plays & Directs: Popcorn (King, 1969)
James Brown and The Famous Flames: I Can’t Stand Myself (When You Touch Me) (King, 1968)
James Brown and The Famous Flames: Shhhhhhhh (For A Little While) (King, 1968)
James Brown: Let Yourself Go (King, 1967)
James Brown: I Don’t Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing (Open Up The Door, I’ll Get It Myself) (Part 1) (King, 1969)
James Brown and The Famous Flames: I Got The Feeling (King, 1968)
James Brown and The Famous Flames: Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag (Part 1) (King, 1965)
James Brown: Say It Loud- I’m Black And I’m Proud (Part 1) (King, 1968)
James Brown: Shades of Brown (King, 1968)

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