"…I'm Gonna Have To Get In Deep…"
I've been diligently collecting this series of 2CD sets
since they started in 2006, but this 8th instalment has me literally chomping
at the review-bit, because if you ever required categorical proof of the
Godlike genius of James Brown and his fantastically funky backing band The JB's
- then this beautifully presented compilation is it. Genuinely - I've not been
in awe of a reissue like this for a very long time indeed.
But to the details first... All tracks are credited to JAMES
BROWN except where noted and the pairing of numbers below are the A &
B-sides of US 7" singles.
Released 21 December 2009 in the USA (November 2009 from
Hip-O's own site), but delayed to 1 March 2010 in the UK - "The Singles
Volume 8: 1972-1973" by JAMES BROWN on Hip-O Select/Polydor B0013349-02
(Barcode 602527163338) is a 2CD set of Remasters that breaks down as follows...
Disc 1 (69:07 minutes):
1 and 2 are Nothing Beats A Try But A Fail and Hot Pants
Road (Vocal)
- Polydor PD-14110 scheduled for release January 1972 but
withdrawn
3 and 4 are King Heroin and Theme From King Heroin - Polydor
PD-14116, released February 1972
5 is Pass The Peas by THE J.B.’s - People PE-607, A-side
only, released April 1972 [B-side is a non JB track, therefore not included]
6 and 7 are There Is It Part 1 and There Is It Part 2 -
Polydor PD-14125, released April 1972
8 and 9 are Honky Tonk - Part 1 and Honky Tonk - Part 2 by
JAMES BROWN and THE SOUL TRAIN - Polydor PD-14129, released May 1972
10 and 11 are Giving Up Food For Funk Pt. 1 and Pt. 2 by THE
J.B.'s - People PE-610, released July 1972 [credited to "The JB's"]
12 and 13 are Get On The Good Foot Pt. 1 and Pt. 2 - Polydor
PD-14139, released July 1972
14 and 15 are I Got A Bag Of My Own and Public Enemy #1 -
Polydor PD-14153, released October 1972
16 is I Know It's True - Polydor 2066-285, the British
B-side to 14, released October 1972
17 and 18 are I Got Ants In My Pants - Pt. 1 Mono Version and Pt. 15 & 16 Mono Version - Polydor
PD-14162-DJ, Promo-Only MONO Versions, released December 1972
19 and 20 are I Got Ants In My Pants - Pt. 1 Reverb Version
and Pt. 15 & 16 Reverb Version - Polydor PD-14162, Stock Copy REVERB
Versions, released December 1972
Disc 2 (75:03 minutes):
1 and 2 are What My Baby Needs Now Is A Little More Lovin’
and This Guy - This Girl's In Love With You by JAMES BROWN and LYN COLLINS - Polydor
PD 14157, released December 1972
3 is Watermelon Man by FRED WESLEY & THE JB’S - People
PE-612, released December 1972
4 and 5 are Down And Out In New York City and Mama's Dead -
Polydor PD-14168, released February 1973
6 and 7 are The Sportin' Life and Dirty Harri by FRED WESLEY & THE JB’S - People PE-619,
released February 1973
8 and 9 are The Boss and Like It Is, Like It Was - it was to
be Polydor PD-14169, but the release was cancelled
10 and 11 are Doing It To Death and Everybody Got Soul by
FRED WESLEY & THE JB’S - People PE-621, released March 1973
12 and 13 are Think Version 1 and Something - Polydor
PD-14177, released April 1973
14 is Think
Version 2 - a reissue of 12 (Version 1) on Polydor PD-14185, released June 1973
15 and 16 are Woman Pt. 1 and Pt. 2 - it was to be Polydor
PD-14193, but the US release was cancelled. However, they were issued in the UK
on Polydor 2066-370 in August 1973
17 and 18 are If You Don't Get It The Fist Time (Back Up And
Try Again) and You Can Have Watergate, But Gimme Money And I'll Be Straight by
FRED WESLEY & THE JB’S - People PE-627, released August 1973
19 and 20 are Sexy Sexy Sexy and Slaughter Theme - Polydor
PD-14194, released August 1973
The 28-page booklet by noted JB expert and former tour
manager ALAN LEEDS is a joy to look at, a hugely informative read and is packed
to the gills with track histories and recording session details. The first
generation master tapes for the single mixes have been transferred by SETH
FOSTER and a typically superlative job done - warm, clear and fabulously
detailed. And "Limited Edition" is embossed in gold lettering on the
rear inlay (it's 6,500 copies worldwide).
Disc 1 opens (uncharacteristically) with a ballad
"Nothing Beats A Try But A Fail" (the withdrawn single) and it's
shockingly lovely - followed of course by more familiar territory - the kicking
vocal version of "Hot Pants Road". The 3 socially conscious songs
dotted across the 2 discs are musically and lyrically sensational - and
(unfortunately) still relevant to this day - they are "King Heroin",
"Public Enemy No.1" and "Down & Out In New York
City". The
utterly irresistible beat of "Doing It To Death" (lyrics above)
compliments Disc 2 while the almost Crusaders smooth funk instrumental
"Sportin' Life" from " Black Caesar" is just sooo cool!
Downsides - when the songs get into a great groove, you do
wish they went on longer, but of course it's the nature of the edited single to
cut them short. There is also the B-sides that are 'missing' because there's no
JB involvement in them - their presence would have been better for those who
want the complete picture, but these are minor niggles.
When you think of the mind-blowing excellence of the albums "There
It Is", "Get On The Good Foot" (a 1972 double) and "Black
Caesar" (a 1973 single soundtrack) with both the doubles of
"Hell" and "The Payback" coming in late 1973 and mid 1974 -
it was an absolutely extraordinary time for James Brown and everyone around
him.
If you want to know why he got the title "The Godfather
of Soul" in the first place - and especially why funk fans dig him so much
- then buy this superbly featured reissue. The only problem is that you'll want
all the previous numbers too.
Genius baby - it really is. And what a loss to music...
