Godfather, The - James Brown

Advantages: Pure James Brown
Disadvantages: only 1 disc

This is a CD containing 20 of James Brown's best hits. It has songs ranging from Get Up Offa That Thing to Papa's Got A Brand New Bag, from It's a Man's Man's Man's World to Living In America. The complete track listing is below. Before i bought this CD i'd only heard of Papa's Got A Brand New Bag (bad for a DJ i know) by James Brown's but ever since i bought it i can't get enough of him. It has to be the Funk mix with the soul that does it for ...
...up from some supermarket for a pittence of what it should have been. Only £3.50 ish i think. Is well worth the £10 a high street shop would charge. I believe it is now possible to get pretty cheap copies of the net. If you love anything James has done you'll love this CD. Highly Recommended. The track list is as follows: Papa's Got a Brand New Bag I Got You (I Feel Good) It's A Man's Man's Man's World Please Please Please Think Night Train ... Read review

Advantages: James Brown
Disadvantages: Underneath all the funk and grunts where are the tunes?

...INTRO ---------- With a career in entertainment spanning his debut single release, "Please Please Please" in 1956 to his appearance with Will Young at this year's Olympic Torch Concert, only Cliff Richard could boast a career equal in longevity. Cliff, though, can't boast James Brown's critical kudos and influence. Of the 116 albums he's released, this effort - originally from 2003 - is one of 17 "best ofs" on the market! WHO IS HE? ------------------- Even if you don't know any of his music directly, the chances are that you'll have been affected indirectly by his vast 45 year output. For a start, he invented what used to be called "soul", that genre that put feeling and vocal passion before lyrics and image. He was 8 years ahead of Motown and Stax and was experimenting with soulful innovations whilst Chess records were still... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Contains his most well-known classics
Disadvantages: None!

...Like Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Stevie Wonder, James Brown possessed the uncanny ability of having a distinguished, instantly recognisable and unique vocal style of his own. In his case, his primal vocal delivery was capable of such immense and impressive volume and power that was purely adrenalin-driven. Visually, James Brown was a larger-than-life figure from his wildly over-the-top slicked hairdo to his acrobatic, athletic-like dancing in his seemingly improvised stage performances. James Brown just effortlessly conveyed such raw and passionate energy both on stage and on record. He quickly became one of the giants and most important names in black music history. He has apparently disputed his birth on a number of occasions for some unknown reason though it is most commonly believed to be somewhere... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Every recording is good to totally superb!
Disadvantages: NONE!

...,very deservedly, into International stardom. The label knew how to enhance her raw talent and captured her rocketing vocal style on some of the most remarkable recordings in the history of popular music. If anything, Aretha Franklin went on to become the female equivalent of that genius godfather of soul, James Brown (who is another favourite of mine). The music was tough, driving, earthy, even a little stark at times yet was able to encapsulate a sensual, evocative air that was able to enjoy credibility in the more profitable white-buying market as well as firmly retaining her wide, loyal black base much in the way other black female singers had like Diana Ross and Dionne Warwick. Her most important and significant era in music undoubtedly was between 1967-1969. During this relativley small period she clocked up an amazing series of soul... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful