Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"Extra Tracks" ? Try...Extra Track. Still essential stuff., June 20, 2003
Once the anxious collector accepts the fact that the extras are singular and not plural and that this set is basically a reissue (albeit remastered) with an extended version of an instrumental from a movie soundtrack tacked on, it's an enjoyable and enlightening offer - thanks to a *superb* job of remastering. The '70 "Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose", sans added audience sounds, and with the *band* now featured - the first vinyl issue does not have half the instrumental presence - is surely one of the most intense cuts in JB's catalogue. The original '70 release has more excitement, as the star's vocal is more prominent, but by '03 the contributions of Clyde and Bootsy, et. al, deserve full attention.
It's always good to hear "It's A New Day", an uptempo tune reflecting his gospel roots a bit more than usual. "Talkin' Loud & Sayin' Nothing" is a highly successful rapp, one of the best Brown-Byrd collaborations, with an interesting stop-time section. It sure sounds like an instantaneous direction by Brown, and once again we get the gospel *feel*.
The same idea is used on the decidedly worldly "Hot Pants..." - suddenly the music stops while the singer chants a cappella. (This is not the hit single version).
"I Got To Move" is a '70 groove withheld until '86 and it was 16 years too long. It's assumed that there just wasn't room back in the "Popcorn"-"Sex Machine" era. It's a soaked-in-soul stream of consciousness effort from JB. Although sounding highly improvised, and appears to be based on a dance number "There Was A Time", it emerges as a deep reflection.
All distortion is removed on the landmark "Funky Drummer", yes that static heard on the tail end is gone. Alot of "adult" content here but what a cut!
The aforementioned instrumental, "Blind Man Can See It", is about five minutes longer than on the "Black Caesar" soundtrack, and now James' voice appears, in a short rapp. This is one of his happiest riffs, a fine selection for this reissue.
Yes, at first the fan/collector who wants unreleased songs from the theatre on 125th Street as "Bonus Tracks" will be disappointed, but a listen to all 7:19 of this track will bring a smile.
|
|
|
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's James Brown's world, we just live in it..., September 26, 2006
I bought this on vinyl when it came out in '86 and wore the groove right off it. Good thing CDs last forever. "Funky Drummer" must be the single most sampled song on the planet. Everybody in the world has used it, even Sinead O'Connor! The version of "Give it up or turn it loose" that appears on this is so good, it will make you want to slap your momma down! (In Southern parlance, that's damn good) If you listen to this CD, the "Star Time" box set and one or two of the "Live at The Apollo" CDs, you'll know that God exists, because James Brown was no accident.
|
|
|
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Que Pasa people Que Pasa HIT ME!, April 17, 2004
Yeah, I know that title is from the intro of "Get On the Goot Foot"
which isn't on this CD, but it certainly fits this excellent collection.This is simply the BEST of JB from about 1969 to 1971. All killer no filler! I DEFY anyone to sit still while songs like "It's A New Day," "Hot Pants" (this tune introduced me to JB when I was 7 in 1971), "Talking Loud and Saying Nothing" (among the most danceable and profound of his sermon songs) and the bonus beat of "The Funky Drummer" which rappers beat to the ground in the 80s and 90s. Oh yeah, brace yourself for "Give It Up and Turn it Loose" (Clap your hands-stomp your feet-in the jungle brothers!). It's easy to be overwhelmed by the funk power of what JB puts down on this. Listen and see why!
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
by James Brown 
