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My all-time favorite movie is The Blues Brothers from 1980—the one that I could and would watch any time & anywhere I found it, and especially my go-to one when I am feeling down—so I don’t know how many times I might have watched it 😎😎

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My first time ever listening to the Godfather of Soul must have been through the Blues Brothers –  thru “Reverend Cleophus James”; Jake (John Belushi) and Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) are on a mission from God to save the Catholic orphanage in which they were raised from foreclosure. And before they decide they should reunite the band and organize a performance to earn the $5,000 needed to pay the orphanage's back taxes, they visit the Triple Rock Church.

The scene at the Church with James Brown's stunning performance of "The Old Landmark" is considered one of the greatest movie musical acts ever. His energy, stage presence, and powerful vocals leave a lasting impression on us, the audience (and on Jake as well, as he experiences a spiritual awakening and “sees the light”).

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James Brown, the American singer, dancer, and musician, is the founder of funk music. Over the course of his 50+ years of career, he is known to release innumerable singles, and from 1959 onwards, he averages 3+ albums per year, while also creating genres. He is the most sampled recording artist and “the Hardest Working Man in Show Business”. 

With such a tireless and productive career span, it is very challenging to write summaries for a specific year or even a period… still, (I hope) it wouldn’t be too wrong to say he had the "pre-70s," “the 70s,” and “late 80s and onwards” in his career.

Pre-70s James Brown is a high-octane soul singer with a fantastic band. His music is characterized by his unique blend of R&B, soul, and gospel, which he then calls "the big beat," and it is marked by his passionate and strong vocals, driving rhythms, and elaborate orchestration. Then, and really always, he is recognized for his upbeat live performances, which frequently involve call-and-response exchanges with the audience. His band features outstanding horn sections, but the emphasis is on a strong backbeat from the rhythm section.

Come the 70s,  his music evolves into a more funk-oriented sound (with a heavier emphasis on the groove and tighter drumming patterns and prominent basslines), as he evolves into the Godfather of Soul, leading a tight, funky band that pushes the boundaries of the genre.

Of course, this is not an abrupt transition; his work prior to the 1970s still has funk elements, and there are still great, funky songs from that era, while some of his work from the 1970s still heavily references R&B and soul.

 

Overall, the 1970s marks a period of significant evolution in James Brown's sound. And the year 1970 marks a pivotal moment in the history of funk music. It isn't only about James Brown's continuous output of iconic albums; it is also the year the legendary backing band—the “original” J.B.'s forms. 💥 💥

 

Prior to 1970, James Brown relies on various backing bands, collectively known as The James Brown Band or The James Brown Orchestra, and they are mostly from the jazz tradition. However, in March 1970, a pay dispute leads to a walkout by most of the members, and Brown starts again by putting together a new group of gifted musicians who would go on to become known as the J.B.'s.

Brown's transformation can be attributed in great part to the "original" J.B.'s; the band brings a fresh and inventive sound to James Brown's music, with their funky grooves and upbeat performances becoming a defining feature of his sound in the 1970s.

Two key figures in the early J.B.'s are the Collins brothers: bassist Bootsy Collins and guitarist Catfish Collins. They bring a deep understanding of funk to the band. Bootsy's inventive basslines and Catfish's explosive guitar work come to define the J.B.'s sound. 🎸 Clyde Stubblefield is one of the other gifted musicians from the original J.B.'s group. 🥁 

(The Collins brothers and some other members of the “original” J.B.’s depart the band a year later, despite the band’s undeniable success in 1970; the Collins Brothers go on to play important roles in the development of Parliament-Funkadelic.) 

 

There are 5 albums from 1970 (so-called live album, the iconic “Sex Machine," the socially conscious "Hey America," the big band, funk & jazz vocal "Soul on Top," again the well-received "It’s a New Day— Let a Man Come in," and the mostly instrumental "Ain’t It Funky," the funk essential); and of course the singles "Super Bad," "Funky Drummer," "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine" and "Brother Rapp," to name a few. The J.B.s also come up with their own singles, “These are the J.B.s” and “the Grunt." 🎶

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Out of this huge collection from only one year, my preference would be the instrumental, less JB-like, more JB Band-like “Ain’t It Funky”; yes, there are no vocals, but (almost) all songs are written by JB. The album is a funk masterpiece, pushing the boundaries of funk further, with tracks like "Ain't it Funky Now" (originally released in 69) and "Cold Sweat" (originally released in 67) creating catchy, dance-inducing rhythms. The album's taut horn arrangements and endless grooves say it all: James Brown is the ultimate funk legend. ⭐

 

Gülben - 04/2024

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📌 Official Site

📖 John Doran writes “10 of the best - James Brown” for The Guardian

📖 Tristan Ettleman ranks The James Brown Albums at Medium​​