James Brown’s “Funky Drummer” was originally recorded at a jam session in 1969. The song was released as a two-part single via King Records in 1970 and eventually released on the compilation album In The Jungle Groove in 1986. The song however, is one of the most sampled songs in hip hop and popular music. The break in the song around the five minute twenty second mark features a drum break played by Clyde Stubblefield that has been sampled over one thousand times and is weaved among so many songs its often hard to keep track. This is just one of the songs that has been sampled by music created by James Brown. It is also an example of the vast influence he has had on music. James Brown, often known as “The Godfather of Soul” helped to secularize gospel music and in turn had a role in the creation of soul music. He would combine these elements of soul and R&B music to lay the foundations and to help create funk music. With his emphasis on the first note of every measure (known as “the one”), Brown and his band developed the downbeat, which created a groove that would become his signature.
In 1962, James Brown recorded his first live album. James Brown's record company was initially opposed to releasing a live album because it already contained versions of songs that had been previously released. However, when the album was finally released in 1963, it became a fast seller. Funded by James Brown himself, the album spent 66 weeks on the Billboard Top Pop Albums charts peaking at the #2 position. The recording showed James Brown with The Famous Flames channelling their energies into eight songs that lasted about 30 sweaty, soulful minutes. The record became so popular that many record stores in the US had trouble keeping it in stock for the public demand. R&B DJ’s would often also play the entire record on air, pausing only to air commercials and flip the record over to its second side. Live At The Apollo launched James Brown onto a new path towards success. It was followed by several other volumes, including Live At The Apollo Volume II in 1968, Revolution of the Mind: Live At The Apollo Volume III in 1970 and Live At The Apollo 1995.
In addition to this this, Brown addressed many social and political issues through his music with songs such as “Don’t Be A Dropout”, “Say It Loud (I’m Black and I’m Proud)”, “Funky President (People It’s Bad)”, and “Talkin’ Loud and Sayin’ Nothing” to name a few. By the early 70’s James Brown and his band, The J.B.’s established a funk sound that can be heard on songs such as “Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine”, “Soul Power”, “Hot Pants”, “Make It Funky”, and “The Payback”. James Brown became a major figure in music in the 20th century that earned him many nicknames such as "Soul Brother Number One”, “The Hardest Working Man In Show Business” and “Mr. Dynamite” and also provided captivating live shows that often involved his unique dance moves. With dance moves such as the mashed potato, the funky chicken, the robot and his tour de force move, the split, Brown had a combination of factors that made him influential in numerous ways, but all of this earned him the nickname “The Godfather of Soul”.
Revolution Soul: The Music of James Brown Playlist (Originally Aired February 2nd, 2019):
1. James Brown - Introduction To James Brown (Live At The Apollo - King Records - 1963)
2. James Brown - Lost Someone (Live At The Apollo - King Records - 1963)
3. James Brown - Prisoner of Love (Prisoner of Love - King Records - 1963)
4. James Brown - Mother Popcorn (It's A Mother - King Records - 1969)
5. James Brown - Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Grits & Soul - Smash Records - 1964)
6. James Brown - Don't Be A Dropout (James Brown Sings Raw Soul - King Records - 1967)
7. James Brown - Funky President (People It's Bad) (Reality - Polydor Records - 1974)
8. James Brown - Hey America (Hey America - King Records - 1970)
9. James Brown - Intro - Payback (Live In Zaire 1974)(The Godfather Goes To Africa - Big Fro Discs - 2003)
10. James Brown - Soul Power (Live In Zaire 1974)(The Godfather Goes To Africa - Big Fro Discs - 2003)
11. James Brown - The Boss (Live In Zaire 1974)(The Godfather Goes To Africa - Big Fro Discs - 2003)
12. James Brown - Make It Funky (Live In Zaire 1974)(The Godfather Goes To Africa - Big Fro Discs - 2003)
13. James Brown - Funky Drummer (Bonus Beat Reprise) (In The Jungle Groove - Polydor - 1976)
14. James Brown - I've Got Money (I Got You (I Feel Good) - King Records - 1966)
15. James Brown - She's The One (Motherlode - Polydor Records - 1988)
16. James Brown - You've Got To Change Your Mind (I Can't Stand Myself When You Touch Me - King Records - 1968)
17. James Brown - Papa's Got A Brand New Bag (Soul On Top - King Records - 1970)
18. James Brown - Funky Men (Soul Syndrome - TK Records - 1980)
19. James Brown - Unity Part 1 (w/ Afrika Bambaataa) (Revolution of the Mind: Live At The Apollo III - Polydor Records - 1971)
To download this weeks program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and download the file for February 2.
BONUS James Brown Playlist From the Sylvio & Soul Program (Originally Aired On February 6th, 2019):
1. James Brown - Intro/It’s A New Day So Let A Man Come in and Do The Popcorn (Revolution of the Mind: Live At The Apollo III - Polydor Records - 1971)
2. James Brown - Give It Up or Turnit Loose (Revolution of the Mind: Live At The Apollo III - Polydor Records - 1971)
3. Martha High - Things To Get Better (Get Together) (Tribute To My Soul Sisters - Record Kicks - 2017)
4. Martha High - Answer To Mother Popcorn (Tribute To My Soul Sisters - Record Kicks - 2017)
5. Jackie Shane - Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag (Any Other Way - Numero Group - 2017)
6. The Mighty Imperials - Cold Sweat (Thunder Chicken - Daptone Records - 2001)
7. The Soul Motivators - Hang On IN There (Free To Believe - Do Right! Music - 2015)
8. Five Alarm Funk - Power of Funk (Sweat - Five Alarm Funk - 2017)
9. Slim Moore and The Mar-Kays - Is It Because I’m Black (Introducing Slim Moore and The Mar-Kays - Marlow Records - 2011)
10. James Brown - It’s A Man’s World (Alternate Stereo Mix) (Star Time - Polydor Records - 1991)
11. James Brown - Don’t Be A Dropout (James Brown Sings Raw Soul - King Records - 1967)
12. James Brown - Money Won’t Change You (James Brown Sings Raw Soul - King Records - 1967)
13. James Brown - Introduction To Say It Loud (Say It Live and Loud : Live In Dallas 08-26-68- PolyGram - 1968)
14. James Brown - I Don’t Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing (Open Up The Door I’ll Get It Myself) (Say It Live and Loud : Live In Dallas 08-26-68- PolyGram - 1968)
15. James Brown - Get Up, Get Into It & Get Involved (In The Jungle Groove - Polydor - 1986)
16. James Brown - There It Is (There It Is - Polydor - 1972)
17. James Brown - Get On The Good Foot (Get On The Good Foot - Polydor - 1972)
18. James Brown - Automatic (The Next Step - Fome Records - 2002)
19. James Brown - Funky Men (Soul Syndrome - TK Records - 1980)
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