James Brown: 50th Anniversary Collection

James Brown | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 16, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Utv Records
• ASIN: B0000C3IDQ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #83,903 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Import only Deluxe Sound and Vision edition features his outstanding 50-track 2003 release, '50th Anniversary Collection' (same track listing as the US edition) which is coupled with his Soul Survior DVD (PAL/Region 0). 92 tracks in all. Universal. *Please note you will need an All Code DVD player to view. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

82 of 84 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Looks good at first glance, but too many truncated songs..., November 26, 2003

By 

J. Bergstrom (Honolulu, HI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: James Brown: 50th Anniversary Collection (Audio CD)

The problem with this 2-disc set is that many of the best songs are cut short in order to pack the album with as many different tracks as possible. Short edits of some of James Brown's best material does not do the man or his musical legacy proper justice. Maybe some people don't mind having 2-3 minutes cut out of these classic songs, but to me, and anyone else that has any serious appreciation for this music, it simply won't do. A much better buy is the 1996 2-disc compilation "JB40: 40th Anniversary Collection" which has all the really essential hits in their full uncut glory. Or if 2 discs is a bit more than you had in mind, try 1991's "20 All-Time Greatest Hits!" as a more basic alternative.

46 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not "truncated" versions of the hits--these ARE the hits!, December 18, 2006

By 

curtis martin (Redmond, WA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: James Brown: 50th Anniversary Collection (Audio CD)

I'm tired of reading about how this compilation sucks because the songs have been "edited" or cut off in the middle. That is simply NOT TRUE. When you see a JB tune with "part one" after the title, that just means you've got the hit single version. Back in the day JB recorded the long versions solely so he could cull 2-3 minute singles from them. Sometimes the track was split into part one and part two--or the A side of the 45 and the B side (or in the case of "Make it Funky" spread over two singles in a part one, part two, part three, and part four). Most often, however, the entire track was NEVER MEANT TO BE RELEASED.

This cd comp is a collection of "hit singles," not a dip into the vaults as most JB cds of the past couple of decades have been. Now I'd never give up my cds with the long versions--I love 'em--but it is also cool to have a cd of the Hit 45 versions.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great tracks, cut short, June 16, 2004

By 

Jack Jones (Woodland Hills, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: James Brown: 50th Anniversary Collection (Audio CD)

I've been looking for a collection of James Brown songs and was excited to see this release. Tons of tracks, tons of funk. Unfortunately, as noted in another review, many of the tracks are cut short with fades. Essentially all the tracks titled "... Pt. 1" are ended with fades. Since I'm familiar with many of these songs that should have occured to me with over twenty songs on each cd.

If you want a good collection of James Brown, look no further. All the funk (!) is here and you get the gist of the songs. But if you want full versions (and some FUNKY stuff happens in there) you'll want to look elsewhere.