Funky President is a collection of the godfather of soul's slightly lesser known compositions. Don't be led into thinking however that there is any compromise on quality. This is an official best of released by Polydor records, none of the cheap rubbish you find in the bargain bin at your local record shop, which sounds like it's been recorded live on a dictaphone.
James Brown is not a singer so much as a conductor, backed by an extraordinarily talened group of musicians, the JBs, Brown leads from the front. He not so much sings as directs, for example on funky drummer when he prophesises "Take me into the change" leading up to the break.
The breaks themselves are truly awesome, interrupting some funky groove or other like a lightning bolt and introducing a new, usually more laid back riff. The musicianship is quite simply breathtaking, the guitar (used as an instrument of rhythm) cuts like a knife, chopping on extremely irregular beat pattern while the bass thumps hypnotically and occasional swirls of hammond organ cover everything in glorious sunshine.
The irrepressible Brown is at his best on songs like the blaxploitation inspired, The Payback where he comes across as every bit the tough gangster "I can do wheeling,I can do dealing, but I don't do no damn squealing".
The best song on the album however is the truly majestic Funky Drummer. A hypnotic trumpet riff is clothed in august hammond organ and supported by staccato rhythmguitar.
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How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Outstanding
How does it rate alongside the competition
Outstanding
Cover / Inlay Design and Content
Good
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