"…Feel Like Being A Sex Machine..."
I've
been diligently collecting this series of 11 x 2CD sets of JAMES BROWN
'Singles' since they first started being released Stateside in September 2006.
This
7th instalment is one of six volumes to cover his extraordinary Seventies
output – a particular favourite period for me. Volumes 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11 are
the others - featuring every US 7" single released between 1970 and 1979
including all cancelled 45s and promo variants/remixes in both Mono and Stereo.
Volumes 1 to 5 cover everything else prior - starting at 1958 on Federal
Records through to his King and Bethlehem output in early 1970.
Volume
7 of "The Singles" picks up where Volume 6 left off (Volume 6 covers
March 1969 through to early June 1970). Covering three labels - King, People
and Polydor Records – we get pairings of every A&B-side released betwixt
late June 1970 through to January 1972. It has the same spectacular Audio and
beautifully presented 28-page fact-filled booklet that all volumes have - with
a feast of fan-pleasing details and memorabilia provided by a team of experts
on all things JB Productions. "The Singles" is a superlative CD
series and along with the 'Motown' and 'Chess' Book Set Reissues has gone a
long way to emblazoning 'Hip-O Select' as a reissue label dear to collector's
hearts. Here are the Superbad details...
USA
released 26 May 2009 - "The Singles Volume 7: 1970-1972" by JAMES
BROWN on Hip-O Select/Polydor B0012728-02 (Barcode 602527001616) offers
39-tracks Remastered on 2CDs. All catalogue numbers are US 7" singles
unless otherwise noted and beneath the discography info are the US R&B and
Pop Chart placing (no entry means it didn’t chart). It breaks down as
follows...
Disc
1, 18 Tracks, 67:39 minutes:
1.
Get Up I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine (Part I & 2)
Track
1 is the Promotional Version of King 6318, released June 1970
2.
Get Up I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine (Part I)
3.
Get Up I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine (Part 2)
Tracks
2 and 3 are the A&B-sides of King 6318, released June 1970
R&B
No. 2 – Pop No. 15
[Note:
the version on the 1970 "Sex Machine" vinyl LP is different – re-cut
to feature simulated audience applause. The Promotional single is in Mono – the
released version in Stereo]
4.
Super Bad (Part 1 & Part 2)
Track
4 is the Promotional version of King 6329, released October 1970
5.
Super Bad (Part 1 & Part 2)
6.
Super Bad (Part 3)
Tracks
6 and 7 are the A&B-sides of King 6329, released October 1970
R&B
No. 1 – Pop No. 13
7.
Fight Against Drug Abuse
Track
7 is a Public Service Announcement on King PSA-1, released November 1970
8.
Hey America (Vocal)
9.
Hey America (Sing Along)
Tracks
8 and 9 are the A&B-sides of King 6339, released November 1970
10.
Santa Clause Is Definitely Here To Stay (Vocal)
11.
Santa Clause Is Definitely Here To Stay (Sing Along)
Tracks
10 and 11 are the A&B-sides of King 6340, released November 1970
12.
Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved Pt. 1
13.
Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved Pt. 2
14.
Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved Pt. 1 (Reverb Version)
15.
Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved Pt. 2 (Reverb Version)
Tracks
12 and 13 are the A&B-sides of King 6437, released December 1970. Brown
remixed the track shortly after release and added reverb to both sides – these
variants are Tracks 14 and 15.
R&B
No. 4 – Pop No. 34
16.
I Cried
Track
16 is the A-side of King 6363, released January 1971. The B-side was
"World Part 2" which is Track 17 on Disc 1 of Volume 5 (originally
the B-side for "World Part 1" on King 6258 in August 1969). James
Brown and Bobby Byrd originally wrote the A-side "I Cried" in 1963
for Tammy Montgormery who would later become Motown's Tammi Terrell.
R&B
No. 15 – Pop No. 50
17.
Soul Power Pt. 1
18.
Soul Power Pt. 2 & pt. 3
Tracks
17 and 18 are the A&B-sides of the Promotional Version of King 6368,
released February 1971. The Promotional Release only features added-on Reverb –
the single proper on Disc 2 does not.
Disc
2, 21 Tracks, 69:56 minutes:
1.
Soul Power Pt. 1
2.
Soul Power Pt. 2 & pt. 3
Tracks
1 and 2 are stock copy release A&B-sides of King 6368, released February
1971
R&B
No. 3 – Pop No. 29
3.
Spinning Wheel Pt. 1
4.
Spinning Wheel Pt. 2
Tracks
3 and 4 are the A&B-sides of King 6366, released March 1971. "Spinning
Wheel" is a cover version of the June 1969 Blood, Sweat & Tears hit
single on Columbia Records 44871 – a No. 2 Pop hit written by their lead
vocalist David Clayton-Thomas.
5.
Escape-Ism (Part 1)
6.
Escape-ism (Part 2 & 3)
7.
Escape-ism (Part 1) (Second Mix)
8.
Escape-ism (Part 1) (Second Mix)
Tracks
3 and 4 are the original issue A&B-sides of People 2500, released May 1971.
Tracks 5 and 6 are a 'second mix' on People 2500, released June 1971. The
letter of explanation he sent to Radio Stations is reproduced on the inner rear
inlay.
R&B
No. 6 – Pop No. 35
9.
Hot Pants Pt. 1 (She Got To Use What She Got To Get What She Wants)
10.
Hot Pants Pt. 2 & 3 (She Got To Use What She Got To Get What She Wants)
Tracks
9 and 10 are the A&B-sides of People 2501, released June 1971
R&B
No. 1 – Pop No. 15
11.
My Brother Pt. 1
12.
My Brother Pt. 2
Tracks
11 and 12 are the A&B-sides of People 2502 (as THE J.B.'s), released June
1971
13.
Make It Funky (Part 1)
14.
Make It Funky (Part 2)
Tracks
13 and 14 are the A&B-sides of Polydor 14088, released August 1971. It was
his first single with Polydor Records.
R&B
No. 1 – Pop No. 22
15.
My Part/Make It Funky (Part 3)
16.
My Part/Make It Funky (Part 4)
Tracks
15 and 16 are the A&B-sides of Polydor 14098, October 1971
17.
I'm A Greedy Man-Part I
18.
I'm A Greedy Man-Part II
Tracks
17 and 18 are the A&B-sides of Polydor 14100, released November 1971
R&B
No. 7 – Pop No. 35
19.
Just Won't Do Right
Track
19 is by LYN COLLINS and was scheduled three times but canceled - as King 6373,
People 2503 and People 503 (there are promo copies of King 6373 on the white
variant of the label with an A&B-side). It was officially released as
Polydor 14107 in December 1971. The "Wheel Of Life" B-side is
inexplicably absent from this CD set even though it was produced and arranged
by JB. It's available on the LYN COLLINS "Mama Feelgood: The Best Of"
CD from 2005 on Polydor.
20.
Talking Loud And Saying Nothing – Part I
21.
Talking Loud And Saying Nothing – Part II
Tracks
20 and 21 are the A&B-sides of Polydor 14109, released January 1972.
R&B
No. 1 – Pop No. 27
Like
all 11 Volumes in this Hip-O Select 2CD series - the 28-page booklet by noted
JB expert and former tour manager ALAN LEEDS and is a joy to look at — a hugely
informative read that's packed to the gills with track histories, concert
posters, trade adverts, magazine covers and a thoroughly detailed recording
Sessionography. Produced with affection and firsthand knowledge by HARRY
WEINGER and ALAN LEEDS - the inlay beneath the see-through CD tray has a
typed-letter from JB on James Brown Productions headed paper about the 'too
loud guitar' on "Escape-ism" and that DJs and Soul Brothers should
dig the new remix and make it an even bigger hit than "Pop Corn"!
It's this cool and yet smart attention to detail that shows that both compilers
know what fans want (Alan Leeds is pictured on Page 19 with JB on the road to
yet another gig).
And
again, as in previous issues, SETH FOSTER has transferred the first-generation
master tapes for the single mixes and he's done a truly superlative job — warm,
clear and fabulously alive. The Mono and Stereo music jumps out of the speakers
at you — gorgeous sound. The word "Limited Edition" is embossed in
gold lettering on the rear inlay – numbers are not stated but presumably it's a
worldwide limited edition of 5000 copies like its predecessor. Now to the
amazing music - all killer and no filler as they say...
Even
now – 46 years after the event – "Get Up I Feel Like Being A Sex
Machine" is a monster groove – an utterly amazing groundbreaking piece of
wild Funk. A truly clever inclusion is the 'Promotional' version of the song
that gives you the full 5:18 minutes instead of the separated 2:57 and 2:31 of
Parts 1 & 2. This allows you to hear the full power of the band and the
song uninterrupted. Bobby Byrd is the 'Get On Up!' counter vocal – future
Parliament wildman Bootsy Collins is the flying Bass player while Phelps
"Catfish" Collins plays that deadly flicked guitar. JB anchors and
elevates the whole thing with his fabulous piano interludes. Can I take it to
the bridge – hit it and quit – legendary stuff baby...
His
seasoned band (now known as The J.B.'s) continued their chart-winning steak
with the uber-Funk of "Super Bad" - another black consciousness
killer with brains and a beat (it went all the way to No. 1 on the US R&B
charts - also managing an impressive No. 13 on the Pop charts). Once again the
5:44 minute full version only available on Promo Copies is featured here - and
this time it's not just the guitar and bass that feature but the snare drum and
slick whacks of 'Jabo' Sharks on Drums and the three horn players - Clayton
'Chicken' Gunnels and Daryl 'Hasaan' Jamison on Trumpets with Robert McCullough
on Tenor Saxophone. The 36-second 'Fight Against Drug Abuse' is him advising
the youth of America against the dangers of all narcotics rapped over an
instrumental version of "Super Bad" (the hard-to-find 'Public Announcement'
45 and its King label bag are pictured in the booklet). You rarely ever hear
the excellent "Hey America" where JB gives voice to Nat Jones'
anti-war words asking the listeners and those in power to take note of 'a
million peace-signs'. Nat Jones also provided "Santa Clause Is Definitely
Here To Stay" - a seasonal gospel groove that's not nearly as musically
bad or cheesy as its title suggests.
An
obvious answer to 'Get On Up' - his "Get Up, Get Into It, Get
Involved" single is described by Alan Leeds in the liner notes as a
'stream of consciousness jam' and that's accurate - a raucous driving rhythm
featuring JB and Bobby Byrd sparring on vocal shouts. One of the joys of a
compilation like this is a discovery and the ballad "I Cried" is one
– a heartache lurch both JB and Bobby Byrd wrote for a young Tammi Terrell in
1963. It’s a belter of a tune with strings and crooning ladies swaying as JB
gives it some 'I made another mistake baby' tearsome.
Ending
Disc 1 and beginning Disc 2 is another fabulous and undeniable winner in
"Soul Power" where our Funk Overload assures us that his 'rap is
strong' (who are we to argue). A surprising disappointment is his instrumental
cover version of Blood, Sweat & Tears’ big 1969 hit "Spinning
Wheel" which feels weedy to me compared to the undoubted brilliance of the
David Clayton-Thomas original. His instincts were right when he remixed
"Escape-ism" - the second version (Tracks 7 and 8 on Disc 2) having
that 'groove' that moves (JB was rewarded with a No. 6 R&B slot). But for
me this compilation's moment of true mastery is the wonderful "Hot
Pants" - a groove so down right enjoyable it may very well be issued on
the NHS later this year as an antidote to post-operation recuperation blues
(and the Audio is sensational). And on it goes with miniskirts and gettin'
down...
By
the end of the Seventies, James Brown wasn’t troubling the national charts too
much - but at its outset (as evidenced here) he was blazing a trail like no
other – a sound that would inspire and influence generations to come.
"...Play
as hard as you want..." he shouted to his super tight band during the
recording of "Super Bad". And on the evidence presented on Volume 7 –
they did – nailing that downbeat sucker to the studio wall. Soul and Funk
Genius - and then some...
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