James Brown - 20 All-Time Greatest Hits!

James Brown

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 22, 1991)
• Original Release Date: October 22, 1991
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polydor / Umgd
• ASIN: B000001DUP
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (88 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,045 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #15 in	Music > R&B > Classic R&B
  #55 in	Music > R&B > Funk

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
A towering figure in postwar American music, for over 40 years James Brown has written, produced, and performed some of the most compelling R&B ever recorded. 20 All Time Greatest Hits! distills Startime!, itself a four-CD set that barely scratched the surface of Brown's prodigious output. As such, this collection concentrates on Brown's best-known records: "I Feel Good," "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," and "Cold Sweat." The propulsive one- or two-chord vamps with Brown's hoarse, declamatory vocals laid the groundwork for modern funk. It's a perfect starter set for anyone unfamiliar with Brown's work. But be warned--Brown is addictive. Like peanuts and potato chips, it's impossible to stop with just one. Buy this and don't be surprised if one day you find yourself scouring used record bins for a rare copy of Grits and Cornbread. --Steven Mirkin

From Grove Press Guide to Blues on CD
Twenty of the funk and rhythm dynamo's points of light hark back to his upbringing in the poor, deep rural South for their poignant emotional framework. "Night Train," in particular, belongs in sound and feeling to postwar jump grooves, its explosive sexuality every bit equal to that of Jimmy Forrest's 1952 classic. More sizzle: Polydor's aptly titled two-CD Messin' with the Blues and the ultimate bacchanal, Live at the -- © Frank John Hadley 1993

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Listening for All Human Lifeforms ! ! !, January 22, 2001

By	Eddie Landsberg "(just about) 10 years review... (Tokyo, Japan) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Unless you happen to have every single tune on this album because you have a monster record collection, there is no excuse in the world not to own this CD. James Brown is a towering figure in modern American music - - period. He IS to American music even now what Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington were to American music then. Though the "Godfather of Soul" and creator of funk, even if you're not a self proclaimed hard core funkateer or soul addict such as myself, it would be impossible to say that you know anything about American popular music, even rock music, until you've studied Brown, and this is a great place to start.

I like this album in particular because it offers a great yet economical window on his career, from his earliest hit "Please Please Please" until his peak in the '70s... and doesn't waste time getting to the point. - - And it offers a great glimpse into the evolution of his music from R & B to soul to funk. Strangely enough though, even if you go back 40 years, you could still throw on virtually any track on this album and people would get up and dance.

My advice would be, after getting this album, if you find yourself digging a certain era or vibe, check out some of the other great compilations to help you dig deeper. Also... If you like the '60s stuff, Live At The Apollo might be a pick you'll dig. If you dig the '70s stuff, check out The J.B.s Funky Good Time Anthology (or Greatest Hits Album).

And for a deeper study in Brown check out his Biography !

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Soul and Funk, August 1, 2000

By	William M. Rand (Ann Arbor, MI) - See all my reviews

This album is a great collection of all of James Brown's absolute mega-hits. Of course he has written so many great songs that this is simply a skimming of the absolute best songs. I had no real James Brown albums before I bought this one, but I had heard enough of his stuff to know I wanted at least one CD and this is it, this is the best CD there is with respect to his work, and may well be one of the best Soul CDs of all time.

I love it because the songs just want to make you jump out of your seat and start boogieing. It really makes you want to dance. It also has very emotional songs that are filled with energy.

There are of course the songs everyone has heard from "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" which is an absolute great song that makes my foot tap involuntarily every time it comes on, to "Get Up" which has that weird over the top sexual innuendo that James Brown is so good at, to "Super Bad" which might very well be the best song on here, "I Got You (I Feel Good)" which might be the most well known song. But there are also a lot of songs that are awesome and not heard nearly as much like "Get On The Good Foot" with those sexual plays again, "It's A Man's Man's Man's World" which at times seems almost to be ironic, and "Think" which is an emotional appeal.

I highly recommend this CD to everyone! This is the one James Brown CD you have to own. And if you really like this though they have a lot more funk going on I recommend Parliament's "Best of Parliament" as well for some more of this funk-soul sound.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unbelievable singer, entertainer; he will be missed :-(, December 25, 2006

By	Little Miss Cutey (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

Isn't it funny how singers become even more popular once they've died. James Brown was already a legend in life and he's as much of a legend in death. I've always loved his music and he set a presidence for acts to follow all the way down the track.
I really love this cd, because it truly has some of his best best work. I especially love Make It Funky Pt 1, Try Me and my all time favourite Get Up Offa That Thing. This is a cd that you can really enjoy because the music is contagious and you can't help dancing.
What an amazing talent James was and I'm sure he'll be missed by all his fans. If you aren't a fan already, take a listen to the long list of hits on this cd and you might become a fan yourself. I love this.