James Brown's Original Funky Divas [Import]

James Brown | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 21, 1998)
• Original Release Date: April 21, 1998
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: 101 DISTRIBUTION
• ASIN: B0000067L7
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #99,248 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This long-overdue collection shines a light on the lesser-known side of James Brown's musical empire: the ladies. And what ladies--seriously soulful songbirds like Lyn Collins ("The Female Preacher"), Vicki Anderson and Yvonne Fair, bawdy blues shouter Elsie Mae ("T.V. Mama"), and the unheralded Marva Whitney, who unleashes the hip-hop sample staple "Unwind Yourself." There are also two tracks from a young singer named Tammy Montgomery, who after leaving Brown's tutelage would sign with Motown and emerge as Tammi Terrell. From big hits like Collins's "Think (About It)" to obscure singles such as Elsie Mae's "Do You Really Want to Rescue Me, Part 1" (an answer to Fontella Bass's "Rescue Me"), this two-CD anthology is sheer R&B heaven and essential for fans of gritty, hip-shaking, finger-wagging, "You better think, boy" anthems. --Amy Linden

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars James Brown's LEGENDARY bands fronted by female singers, November 2, 1999

By 

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

This review is from: James Brown's Original Funky Divas (Audio CD)

This is an extraordinary set of music, more than worth the price of the 2 cds. Just because JB isn't singing lead on these tracks, don't ignore them. Backing the various POWERFUL female soul singers are the Godfather's legendary bands. My favorite section is the group of Marva Whitney songs at the end of disc one (The '60s)-- if you LOVE James Brown's brand of funk music you'll be in heaven. On disc two (The '70s) you find slammin' tracks from Vicki Anderson and Lynn Collins. This music is just as vital and essential as any of James Brown's classic material. If you like JB, there is no way possible to go wrong with this set.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Roll Over Rover, July 15, 2005

By 

B. Day (NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: James Brown's Original Funky Divas (Audio CD)

This is the missing 4th volume to James Brown's legendary "JB's Funky People" series - although there are actually more tracks on this CD set than on all 3 Funky People albums combined, and many of the same female vocalists. The two CDs are roughly chronological, with disc one representing more of the 1950s and '60s bepob era, and disc two moving into the heavier '70s funk. Disc two is some of the funkiest music you will ever hear, and the tracks are taken from some incredibly hard to find albums: you'll really have to pay through the nose to track down playable copies of Vicki Anderson's "Message From A Soul Sister," or Lyn Collins's "Think (About It)." It's unfortunate that only early work from Yvonne Fair makes the collection, since tracks from her later LP "The Bitch Is Black" would fit right in with the other disc two material.

Of course, you have to pay through the nose for THIS album on Amazon, too. If you are not a collection fetishist, and just want the music, you can actually download the album for a lot cheaper through MSN Music or even the new commercial Napster (roughly $18-$20 at either of these). Sorry Amazon!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SIMPLY AMAZING AT FIRST LISTEN, December 28, 2006

By 

Martin L. King "zonule" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: James Brown's Original Funky Divas (Audio CD)

this one dives deep, now. everytime i hear this double cd, i think of two hip hop joints: IT'S MY THING by epmd and NO TIME by lil kim. the two songs they came.....................WAIT A MINUTE, IT TAKES TWO by rob base and dj easy rock of course!!!!! the THREE songs that these three classics came from plus kay robinson's funky version of THE LORD WILL MAKE A WAY SOMEHOW just does it for me. i love blowing dust off rare stuff, now. you like doing that too, check this one out.