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"...I Found Out..."
Pals since they'd first met in 1953 at a local baseball game (a full three years prior to the start of Mr. Dynamite's career on Federal in 1956) - James Brown aficionados will know the name Bobby Byrd and smile.
Singer and Band Leader - Byrd was with JB until 1973 and was the first to get solo releases off of JB Productions. And like all things James Brown associated (Vicki Anderson, Lyn Collins, Fred Wesley and so on) – those Funk outings were and are hugely sought-after to this day (2021). Byrd has been famously sampled too by acts as diverse at The Stone Roses, Eric B. & Rakim and Jay Z.
But it appears outside of those renowned 70ts Funk 45s, the starter part of career in the 60ts (and some would say, he himself) appear to have been largely ignored. Unfortunately on hearing this compilation of earlier sides – it’s easy to hear why. They try hard and at times they even succeed (mostly the shuffling ballads mind) and the at-times stunning audio/original production values lift things way up too. But most never get near greatness – they are good and at times even pretty – but never great. And those enticed by the word ‘Funk’ in this compilation’s title should consider it a misnomer and look away now – because almost all of this excepting Funky Soul No. 1 towards the end of the disc are R&B based songs – like middling James Brown R&B but stubbornly without the tunes.
So what do you get? CDBGPD 309 gathers up all the US A&B-sides Byrd did on Federal, Smash and King Records between 1963 and 1968 including a rare duet with Anna King and one two-sided unreleased 45 - with four of these cuts even presented here in hip-swinging Stereo. To the concertos...
UK released 29 September 2017 - "Help For My Brother: The Pre-Funk Singles 1963-1968" by BOBBY BYRD on Ace Records/Beat Goes Public (BGP) CDBGPD 309 (Barcode 029667085427) is a 24-Track CD Compilation that plays out as follows (65:33 minutes):
1. I Found Out
2. They Are Sayin'
Tracks 1 and 2 are the A&B-sides of Federal 45-12486, released May 1963; A-side by Bobby Byrd, Johnny Terry and James Brown; B-side by James Brown
3. I'm Just A Nobody Parts I & II
Track 3 is the combined A&B-sides of Smash S-1868, released January 1964; both sides by BB and JB credited as Jim Jam
4. Baby Baby Baby
Track 4 is the A-side of Smash S-1884 by ANNA KING and BOBBY BYRD, released March 1964
B-side was an Instrumental of the A (not included here); both sides by BB and JB credited as Jim Jam
5. I Love You So
6. Write Me A Letter
Tracks 5 and 6 are the A&B-sides of Smash S-1903, released May 1964; A-side by Bobby Byrd and Ted Wright; B-side is by Howard Diggs and Joseph Ricks
7. I've Got A Girl
8. I'm Lonely
Tracks 7 and 8 are the A&B-sides of Smash S-1928, released September 1964, both sides written by Bobby Byrd and Ted Wright
9. We Are In Love
10. No One Like My Baby
Tracks 9 and 10 are the A&B-sides of Smash S-1964, released January 1965, both sides written by Bobby Byrd and Ted Wright
11. Time Will Make A Change
12. The Way I Feel
Tracks 11 and 12 are the A&B-sides of Smash S-1984, released May 1965, both sides written by Bobby Byrd and Ted Wright
13. Let Me Know
14. You're Gonna Need My Lovin'
Tracks 13 and 14 are the A&B-sides of Smash S-2003, released September 1965, both sides written by Bobby Byrd and Ted Wright
15. Oh, What A Night
16. Lost In The Mood Of Changes
Tracks 15 and 16 are the A&B-sides of Smash S-2018, released January 1966, A-side is a cover version of The Dells hit originally on Vee-Jay Records in 1956, B-side is a Nat Jones song
17. Ain't No Use
Track 17 is the A-side of Smash S-2052, released September 1966, A-side is a Nat Jones song, B-side used "Let Me Know" (see Track 13)
18. I Found Out
19. I'll Keep Pressing On
Tracks 18 and 19 are the A&B-sides of King 45-6069, released 1967, A-side is a 'New Version' of "I Found Out" (Track 1 originally released May 1963 on Federal). Both sides are in STEREO; B-side by James Brown and Nat Jones
20. Funky Soul No. 1 Part 1
21. Funky Soul No. 1 Part 2
Tracks 20 and 21 are the A&B-sides of King 45-6126, released September 1967, both sides by James Brown, Bud Hobgood and James Crawford
22. I'll Lose My Mind
Track 22 is the B-side of King 45-6151, released February 1968, by Bobby Byrd. A-side was "You've Got To Change Your Mind" by Bobby Byrd and James Brown - the track isn't included here but can be found on the February 2008 2CD set "The Singles Volume 5: 1967-1969" by James Brown on Hip-O Select.
23. My Concerto
24. You Gave My Heart A Song To Sing
Tracks 23 and 24 were to be the A&B-sides of King 45-6165 sometime in 1968, but were never released.
All songs in MONO except Tracks 18, 19, 22 and 23 which are in STEREO
The 16-page booklet features superbly detailed and rightly affectionate DEAN RUDLAND liner notes - all the text sat beside US 45-label repros, publicity photos of Bobby solo and with The Famous Flames, trade paper reviews, while a gorgeous black and white publicity snap adorns Page 12 of the beautiful Anna King and a suited 'n' booted Bobby Byrd standing beside the white Miami DJ Rick Shaw - the trio beaming proudly - and why wouldn't they.
A classy affair bolstered up by NICK ROBBINS Remasters - Ace's long-standing Audio Engineer - a man with thousands of transfer credits to his name. And given the sheer quality of the original production values back in the day, it's clear that the tapes have stood the test of time because these Remasters are lovely - fresh and kicking in all the right ways – even shocking at times in their clarity.
Highlights include two versions of "I Found Out" – the original groover in Mono where his voice is shockingly good and a Stereo remake that is beautiful to listen too but perhaps trowels on the strings too much. A pleader very much in the vein of "It's A Man's Man's Man's World" – the smoocher "I'm Just A Nobody" impresses too with an Organ presence that is weird but works in a lo-fi way. "I've Got A Girl" is lovely Soul - a forgotten shuffler similar to Dan Penn's "I'm A Puppet" while his duet with Anna King is a bopper very much in the style of Otis & Carla having a shout-off about who loves the other the most. Top Audio accolade has to go to "We Are in Love" - where our hero is making wedding plans no matter what the people might say. And on it goes to the winner that is "Funky Soul No.1" – the only real tune on here that does what it says on the tine...
Bobby Byrd married Vicki Anderson and parted ways with JB in 1973. Byrd passed in September 2007 (JB had gone the year earlier) with his and Vicki’s daughter Carleen carrying on the singing-soulful torch in The Young Disciples. But of course his influence stretches so much further and will continue to do so (the man behind James Brown, and what a legacy that is).
You could and should argue that this is a period of Bobby Byrd that Funk fans in general will not really want (especially those wanting Rare Groove 70ts cuts).
But 60ts Soul boys and gals, Mods and R&B New Breed lovers should investigate and I suspect they will find more than enough to enjoy...
