It's My Thing [Import]

Marva Whitney | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 27, 2000)
• Original Release Date: 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Soulbrother
• ASIN: B00004YTZH
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #128,745 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. It's My Thing, Pt. 1

2. It's My Thing, Pt. 2

3. Things Got to Get Better (Get Together)

4. What Kind of Man

5. If You Love Me

6. In the Middle [Instrumental]

7. Unwind Yourself

8. You Got to Have a Job (If You Don't Work, You Can't Eat)

9. I'll Work It Out

10. Get Out of My Life

11. I'm Tired I'm Tired I'm Tired (Things Better Change Before It's ...)

12. Shades of Brown [Instrumental]

13. I Made a Mistake Because It's Only You, Pt. 1

14. I Made a Mistake Because It's Only You, Pt. 2

15. What Do I Have to Do to Prove My Love to You

16. He's the One

17. This Girl's in Love With You

18. Sunny

Editorial Reviews

This is probably the most in demand, heavily sampled and bootleged funk album of all time. Originally Produced by James Brown and released in August 1969, this album has been heavily in demand since the mid 80s. It is issued here along with 4 tracks which were only issued on 7"singles and are also highly sought after in their own right., plus a duet with James Brown 'Sunny' which appeared in the sleeve notes of the original album but was not included in it. The album was actually a collection of 10 singles recorded over a period of 20 months in different studios across the USA. The tracks feature the famous James Brown band, Probably the tightest band of all time including Maceo Parker, Alfred 'Pee Wee'Ellis and St Clair Pinckney (Saxes), Fred Wesley (Trombone), Richard 'Kush' Griffith (Trumpet), Jimmy Nolen (guitar), (Sweet) Charles Sherrell (Bass), Clyde Stubblefield (Drums) amongst others. Marva Whitney was the leading Female singer in the James Brown Revue for 3 years from 1967 to 1969 and toured the USA, Africa and Vietnam (during the War).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh my Lord! You'll need a cold shower after this!, August 19, 2003

By 

TheBandit (SEA-TAC) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: It's My Thing (Audio CD)

FUNKY. INTENSE. SEARING. You want me to go on? I can. This album contains nary a weak track, and we are lucky it's available on CD.

Marva Whitney was one of the greatest vocalists Mr. James Brown worked with. Her voice is a force of nature; raw, gutsy, passionate. Mr. Brown wrote or co-wrote most of this album, in addition to producing and arranging it. He's also evident throughout on backing vocals and organ. If you love James Brown and you don't know about this, it's time to order it. In fact, if you love the music of James Brown it is literally impossible to not love this. Guaranteed.

The band works these grooves like a well-oiled machine; every instrument has a distinct purpose, nothing is out of place. It's almost supernatural how funky this music is. Even the slower tunes are funky. Leave it to James Brown to take a classic song like the Isley Brothers "It's Your Thing", re-write it, and basically obliterate it. Don't get me wrong, "It's Your Thing" is a great track, but when you hear Marva Whitney declare "It's MY Thing" you will believe her!

Two of the tracks are intrumentals, and they kick. "Shades Of Brown", in particular, is a stanky slab of nastiness.

One of my favorite moments on the whole record: In "If you Don't Work, You can't Eat", when James Brown instructs Ms. Whitney to call for Maceo to blow a solo. She calls for him, but even after Maceo is into his solo, James can't stop screaming out "Call him!!!!" It's just one of the many mindblowingly funky moments that defines this album.

There's a bunch of Bonus Tracks at the end of the album tracks. In all but one case, they equal the quality of the previous material. That one track that doesn't quite cut it (second to last track) is a Burt Bacharach tune. By no means an embarrassment, it just kinda comes across awkwardly, feels out of place.

The sound quality is less than perfect, though considering it's age, it's more than listenable. A few tracks have some audible distortion that can be a bit distracting. But thankfully, the bottom end is full and deep, the bass and drums really kick.

This album is one of those reminders of how good life can be. Fans of funk, r&b, and soul shouldn't even think twice about snagging this one.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Better Than Nothing, April 2, 2004

By 

rollo (usa) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: It's My Thing (Audio CD)

Marva Whitney recorded some of the funkiest and soulful tracks ever recorded by the James Brown machine. It is too bad that Polygram has made them unavailable on CD.
Soul Brothers Records of England put this record out. While I commend them for their effort to make this music available, the remastering job reveals the use of phonograph records. They got careless in the process leaving some tracks with noisy phonograph clicks and pops.(an audiophiles nightmare) The selection of tracks is excellent and some tracks such as "It's My Thing" and "I Made A Mistake" are remastered very well where rare recordings like the duet "Sunny" are scratchy and unnerving.
If You are a Marva Whitney Fan like me, you will probably buy this record. Audiophiles, Stay clear of this record.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the stuff of funkiness..., December 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: It's My Thing (Audio CD)

This is really very good. I mean that with a pained funky look on my face that says so much more than words ever could. There is more on here than on any compilation of breaks, beats, or whatever. Get this.