James Brown: The Singles Vol. 7 (1970-1972) auf 2 CDs

In The Singles Volume 7: 1970-1972, the newest 2-CD set in the acclaimed series documenting every James Brown 45 RPM single release, the classic James Brown Orchestra is no more; JB has hired—in the middle of a show, and flown in—a band of hungry teens from Cincinnati, featuring the incredible tandem of brothers Bootsy and Phelps “Catfish’” Collins, on bass and lead guitar, respectively. They are augmented by a smaller horn section, and anchored by veterans Bobby Byrd and John “Jabo” Starks. Brown calls them “The J. B.’s.

James Brown immediately gets a fresh brand of funk and revitalizes his career at the moment he had, perhaps, lost a bit of momentum. “Sex Machine,” featuring JB and Byrd in an exciting call-and-response, hits right out the box. Then, in quick succession, instant smashes: “Super Bad,” “Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved” and “Soul Power.” (In between are a few tangent single releases, including the rare “Hey America” and its instrumental B-side, and a great Public Service Announcement.) Then, just like that, 11 months after lighting up the JBE, the J. B.’s are also gone. Returning band director Fred Wesley helms the new recruits. The groove is simpler but super-funky and out comes more hits: “Escape-Ism,” “Hot Pants,” “Make It Funky” and “I’m A Greedy Man.” In the midst of all of this, Brown leaves his longtime label, King Records, to sign with the international conglomerate Polydor Inc.

James Brown: The Singles Volume 7, 1970-1972 charts the entire course of this volatile but explosive and creative period. JB experimented with mixes, changing his mind after a record was out; we’ve documented those. He paid tribute to disc jockey Georgie Woods on the instrumental “My Brother.” He’d hedge his funk bets and issue covers like “Spinning Wheel,” or a new version of such old songs as “Just Won’t Do Right,” in a duet with newcomer Lyn Collins, and “I Cried,” originally performed by Tammy Montgomery (a. k.a. Tammi Terrell) on a single produced by Brown. And after he had said goodbye to the Collins-dominated J. B.’s, he returned to their funk version of “Talking Loud And Saying Nothing” and released it on Polydor, a full 18 months after it was recorded. James Brown was again hitting on all cylinders.

Our CD booklet for Vol. 7 again complements the incredible music, with detailed notes, track annotations, recording data, memorabilia and rare photos from the archives of Alan Leeds, the Grammy®-winning writer and former Brown publicist and tour manager.