"Make It Funky: The Big Payback: 1971-1975" by JAMES BROWN – Featuring Fred Wesley, Bobby Byrd, Maceo Parker, Vikki Anderson and more (July 1996 UK Polydor/Chronicles 2CD Compilation – Gary N. Mayo Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Papa Don't Take No Mess..."

For many JB fans, this astonishing 1996 compilation on Polydor's 'Chronicles' Series of 2CD Remasters is something of a motherlode. Twenty-Six primo tracks – eight of which are previously unreleased versions – proper annotation and top quality tape transfers from original masters. Indeed, after 20-plus years of reviewing and listening and shaking my ancient booty in anyone's unfortunate direction type-thang – I would go as far as saying that "Make It Funky..." is one of the most satisfying Soul/Funk Reissues out there – evah! 

This is James Brown at his peak - absolutely smashing it with every release. At times - and in the misty hindsight of 2021 (some 45 to 50 years after the event) – it is hard to imagine anyone ever coming near to James Brown's genius in the first half of the Seventies. And of course there is also the staggering shadow JB's music and influence has cast ever since (styles, sampling etc). 

But enough of that, time to get into some hot pants, shake hands with our Funky President and get on the good foot. UH! To the details y'all...

UK released 23 July 1996 - "Make It Funky: The Big Payback: 1971-1975" by JAMES BROWN on Polydor/Chronicles 533 052-2 (Barcode 731453305229) is a 2CD 26-Track Compilation of Remasters that plays out as follows (US variant is Polydor/Chronicles 31453 3052-2 - Barcode 731453305229):

CD1 (77:26 minutes):

1. Escape-Ism (4:02 minutes)

Part 2 of the song from the August 1971 US album "Hot Pants" on Polydor PD-4054

2. Hot Pants, Parts 1 & 2 (6:55 minutes)

June 1971 US 45-single on People 45-2501, A&B-sides combined 

3. I'm A Greedy Man (7:08 minutes)

From the June 1972 US LP "There It Is" on Polydor PD 5028 - Parts 1 and 2 combined 

4. Make It Funky, Parts 1, 2, 3 & 4 (12:45 minutes)

Combination of four sides from two US 45-singles - the first was August 1971 on Polydor PD 2-14088 (Parts 1 & 2) - the second was October 1971 on Polydor PD 14098 (Parts 3 & 4). Parts 3 & 4 were also issued on the November 1972 double-album "Get On The Good Foot" on Polydor PD-2-3004. This is the first time all four parts have been issued as one long jam. 

5. King Heroin (3:55 minutes)

From the June 1972 US LP "There It Is" on Polydor PD 5028

6. I Got Ants In My Pants (And I Want To Dance) (7:26 minutes)

January 1973 US 45-single on Polydor PD 14162 – the A-side was (Part 1) with the B-side being Parts 15 and 16. This variant combines both sides and adds a small amount more 

7. There It Is (5:47 minutes)

From the June 1972 US LP "There It Is" on Polydor PD 5028. The album split the track into Parts 1 & 2 - this is the full version combined. It was also issued April 1972 as a Parts 1 & 2 US 45-single on Polydor PD 14125

8. Get On The Good Foot (5:44 minutes)

From the November 1972 double-album "Get On The Good Foot" on Polydor PD-2-3004 - also issued as a Parts 1 & 2 July 1972 US 45-single on Polydor PD 14139

9. Don't Tell It (8:25 minutes)

PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Complete Version (recorded January 1973) - a 3:57-minute edit was issued on the December 1976 US LP "Bodyheat" on Polydor PD-1-6093

10. I Got A Bag Of My Own (3:46 minutes)

From the November 1972 double-album "Get On The Good Foot" on Polydor PD-2-3004 - also issued as the A-side to an October 1972 US 45-single on Polydor PD 14153

11. Down And Out in New York City (5:21 minutes) 

PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Version with Spoken Intro - the February 1973 US Soundtrack LP to "Black Caesar" on Polydor PD 6014 has a version at 4:43 minutes (by James Brown & The J.B.'s) - whilst the February 1973 US 45-single A-side of "Down And Out In New York City" had an edit at 3:15 minutes – this is the first time the full version has been issued

12. Think (3:12 minutes)

April 1973 US 45-single on Polydor PD 14177, A-side only

13. Make It Good To Yourself (Interlude) (2:19 minutes)

PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Version - a 22-second portion of this was issued on the Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s June 1974 US LP "Damn Right I Am Somebody" on People PE 6602

Tracks 9, 11 and 13 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED on CD1

CD2 (76:43 minutes):

1. The Payback (7:39 minutes)

Full album version from the December 1973 US 2LP set "The Payback" on Polydor PD 2-3007 - also issued as a Parts 1 & 2 US 45-single in February 1974 on Polydor PD-14223

2. Stoned To The Bone (4:00 minutes)

October 1973 US 45-single on Polydor PD 14210, A-side only - edit of a 10:05 minute version on "The Payback" 2LP set

3. Mind Power (4:08 minutes)

PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Alternate Version (recorded February 1973)

4. World Of Soul (5:44 minutes)

PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Session (recorded February 1973)

5. Papa Don't Take No Mess (13:50 minutes)

Full Album Version from the June 1974 2LP-set "Hell" on Polydor PD 2-9001 - track took up all of Side 4 - also issued as an August 1974 US 45-single that edited down the full LP version into Parts 1 & 2 for Polydor PD 14255 

6. Coldblooded (5:04 minutes)

PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Undubbed Version - issued on the "Hell" 2LP-set with overdubs 

7. I Can't Stand It "76" (8:11 minutes)

Full Version from the June 1974 US 2LP-set "Hell" on Polydor PD 2-9001

8. My Thang (4:15 minutes)

Full Version from the June 1974 US 2LP-set "Hell" on Polydor PD 2-9001 - also issued in full as Side A of a June 1974 US 45-single on Polydor PD 14244

9. Funky President (People It's Bad) (4:08 minutes)

PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Original Speed Master - speed-up version issued as an October 1974 US 45-single on Polydor PD 14258 and featured on the December 1974 US LP "Reality" on Polydor PD 6039 

10. I Feel Good (3:02 minutes)

Full album version from the May 1975 US LP "Sex Machine Today" on Polydor PD 6042

11. Problems (2:50 minutes)

Full album version from the May 1975 US LP "Sex Machine Today" on Polydor PD 6042

12. Turn On The Heat And Build Some Fire (6:07 minutes)

Full Album Version from the September 1975 US LP "Everybody's Doin' The Hustle & The Double Bump" on Polydor PD 6054

13. Hot Pants Finale (Live) (7:20 minutes)

PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Version (recorded 26 July 1971 at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, NYC)

Tracks 3, 4, 6, 9 and 13 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED on CD2

Both HENRY WEINGER and former JB Tour Manager ALAN LEEDS have been at helm of so many Brown reissues - and received special-praise for the stunning Hip-O Select 'Singles' Series that ran to eleven 2CD volumes covering 1956 to 1981 (finished in October 2011, I have reviewed Volumes 4 to 11). Leeds was there from 1969 to 1973 (working with and for the Soul Brother) and proffers superb liner notes and track-by-track recording details in the 24-page booklet. 

Pages 10 and 11 features a black-and-white snap of 'the boys' - the heroes in JB's backing band - Jimmy Nolen and Hearlon 'Cheese' Martin on Guitars, Charles Sherrell and Fred Thomas on Bass, Drummers John Morgan and John 'Jabo' Starks with Horn Players Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, St. Clair Pinckney, Isiah 'Ike' Oakley and "Cheese" Martin. Not pictured but name-checked are other huge contributors including long-time collaborator with JB and founder of The Famous Flames – Bobby Byrd – accompanied by his Vocalist wife Vikki Anderson – both on "Make It Funky". Fusion Drummer Billy Cobham plays on "King Heroin" while Trumpeter and Trombonists Randy and Michael Brecker worked on "I Got A Bag Of My Own". David Sanborn with Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis did their Horn bits for "My Thang" and so on (there are numerous other contributions – too many to document). 

But the real deal for me is the balls-to-the-wall muscle in the GARY N. MAYO Remasters done at Polygram's Studios. The tightness of the band - the groove - the wonderful butt swinging Funk of it all - fabulous. All tracks are in STEREO except "Make It Funky" and "Stoned To The Bone" which are MONO.

Fans will be quietly thrilled by several of the Previously Unreleased tracks – all parts of the singles "Hot Pants" and that monster four-piece "Make It Funky" (none have ever been on LP before). "Funky President" is as originally recorded and mixed and the version of the stand-alone 45 for "Think" is the rare STEREO Mix that got put out in tandem with the Mono variant (they are on Volume 8 of the Singles series). The "Interlude" piece that ends CD1 is a blast – an intense Funk-a-thon snippet that wasn't put on the "Black Caesar" soundtrack. And don't get me started on the holy trilogy of tracks from his run of double-album nirvana - "Get On The Good Foot", "The Payback" and "Hell". 

A fantastic kick-ass twofer that is now surprisingly hard to find in near-mint used condition (for a CD anyway). Papa Don't Take No Mess – James Brown sang on that near fourteen-minute workout. Neither should you, invest, and right soon...