Jun 27 2009
James Brown Singles CD Series
In case you haven’t noticed, reissue label Hip-O Select have been releasing all of James Brown’s singles on CD, in chronological order. The first volume came out in September 2006 with subsequent volumes appearing every six months or so.
Each volume in the series (now up to number seven) is a double CD, featuring extensive liner notes by longtime JB discographer Alan Leeds. Every track has been mastered from the original tapes (with only a handful of exceptions), so the songs sound better on these CDs than on any previous release. Like most Hip-O releases, the packages look as good as they sound.
James Brown’s discography is a mess, and Leeds has done an incredible job, along with Harry Weinger, in putting this series together. All the singles are here, with their B-sides, and having the tracklists in chronological release order rather than chronological recording order shows how JB would hold back tracks, sometimes for a couple of years, before he decided to put them out. Or how he would sometimes cancel a single that was slated for release and put out something else he’d only just recorded, if he was really excited about it. What’s also interesting is the inclusion of mixes that were released and then recalled, or promotional mixes that have extra reverb etc. Even if you’ve got most of these tracks already, there are enough differences here to warrant getting them all over again 
The first volume starts with the Federal years, 1956-1960, and the second volume takes in 1960-1963. These discs are perfect replacements for the ‘Roots Of A Revolution’ and ‘Messing With The Blues’ double CDs (now deleted), which were previously the best releases of the early material. A previously unreleased demo version of ‘Try Me’ is included on the first volume, the second volume includes a demo version of ‘Bewildered’.
Volume 3 (1964-1965) and volume 4 (1966-1967 feature the transition from the early rhythm and blues material to the harder funk sound JB was to develop for the rest of the 60’s. The turning point is ‘Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag’ halfway through volume 3; by the time we get to the end of volume 4, we’re into ‘Cold Sweat’ and ‘Get It Together’.
In volume 5 (1967-1969) and volume 6 (1969-1970), the funk has arrived in full! Tracks on these volumes include ‘Licking Stick’, ‘Say It Loud - I’m Black And I’m Proud’, ‘You Got To Have A Mother For Me’, ‘Mother Popcorn’ and ‘Funky Drummer’. Volume 6 ends with the departure of the original band.
Volume 7 (1970-1972) keeps the funk train rollin’, with the arrival of Bootsy Collins & co, and songs like ‘Sex Machine’, ‘Super Bad’ and ’Soul Power’. The Bootsy band didn’t last long, but the new Fred Wesley led band offers up ‘Make It Funky’ and ‘Hot Pants’ as consolation.
Oddly enough, even as late as volumes 6 and 7, James Brown is still releasing made up of instrumentals (often featuring his ‘unique’ organ playing) and ’supper club’ type ballads. It’s a little strange to hear a lush, string laden ballad and then something like ‘Funky Drummer’ right afterwards. But then, who’s going to argue with Mr Dynamite? Certainly not me!
Many joys, curiousites and old favourites to be found within the James Brown Singles series! I always look forward to hearing the next volume.
Nick
