Jamses Brown, an american artist and musician, one of the founding fathers of funk music.
"Soul Session Live" is a 1988 live album by James Brown. Credited on the album cover to "James Brown & Friends". A must for James Brown fans and lovers of 60’s soul, this CD celebrates the considerable musical contributions of the man they call “The Godfather of Soul”. A feel-good collection from start to finish, the recordings here are taken from the soundtrack of the 1988 critically acclaimed TV special “A Soul Session with James Brown and Friends”.
Many of James Brown’s most well-known songs are featured, including “I feel Good”, Papas Got a Brand New Bag” and “Living in America”. A number of these are presented in duets with such talents as Joe Cocker, Wilson Pickett and Robert Palmer.
James Brown’s first words on this disc are simply "..1965 this was the sound”. Aficionados will know that this is his standard lead in to his top 10 minor R and B classic “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag”. Despite being the first performance of the night, James Brown has no trouble hooking into the song’s funky fast paced mid-60’s groove. The rendition here is every bit as good as the original and is laced with the Godfather of Soul’s trademark squeals and blistering saxophone solos.
It is impossible to fault this performance and it is a delight to listen to from start to finish. How do you Stop? is also a James Brown solo. The contrast in style, however, could not be more marked. “How do you Stop” is a gentle ballad with a 70’s, almost disco feel. Consistent with the nature of the song, James gives a suitably restrained performance that is laced with an appropriate sense of foreboding. The end result makes for great listening that is a credit to the artist and his band. “Cold Sweat” is a heavy 70’s vintage funk number and is performed in a duet with Wilson Pickett (the singer of the 60’s classic “Land of a 1000 dances”). This is probably my least preferred number on the collection. However, this should not be taken as in indictment against the track as I have never been a fan of this style of song. I should also add that both artists give their absolute all on this performance and I suspect that those who like heavy funk will probably love it. “Out of Site” made the top spot on the R & B chart way back in 1963. James Brown does not feature on the version presented here as the honors are given to a fellow by the name of Billy Vera. Though Mr Vera is certainly a most talented artist and does a great job on this sexually infused mid-tempo blues number, he does not surpass James Brown’s original work. That being said, this is still a great recording and fits in nicely with the rest of the material on this collection. "I´ll Go Crazy" with Joe Cocker, characterized by more raspy vocals than you can throw a stick at, numerous wild screams and a jarring stop-start drum beat, the number bleeds with cool. As Robert Palmer enters the stage, James asks him - “How do you feel?”. Not surprisingly, Robert responds with the lead in line to the Godfather’s well known hit “I Feel Good”. These two talented artists then rip into “I Feel Good” with all the passion and enthusiasm that this soul infused rock classic deserves.
The two artists work well together and perfectly preserve the 60’s feel of the number. Their performance brims with excitement and is complemented with appropriately timed James Brown squeals. The success of the performance can also be attributed to the great work of the band who perfectly capture the saxophone rifts and driving drum work that are so much a part of this outstanding song. The two then duet on the 60’s soulful ballad “Try Me”.
The sound and style of this number is reminiscent of the early Motown sound, and in particular the Temptations. There is more than a hint of blues in the song and this particularly suits the vocal styles of both singers who make the most of the excellent material. “Living in America” was James Brown’s last major hit single. It made the top 10 Charts in the mid-eighties and from memory won a Grammy for best R&B performance. The song was the theme tune for the movie Rocky IV.
Track listing
01. "Show Introduction" (James Brown) - 0:28
02. "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" (James Brown) - 3:15
03. "How Do You Stop" (Dan Hartman, Charlie Midnight James Brown) - 5:22
04. "Cold Sweat" (feat. Wilson Pickett) (James Brown, Pee Wee Ellis) - 4:08
05. "Out of Sight" (feat. Billy Vera) (James Brown) - 2:34
06. "When a Man Loves a Woman" (feat. Joe Cocker) (Calvin Lewis, Andrew Wright) - 5:46
07. "Gimme Your Love" (feat. Aretha Franklin) (Narada Michael Walden, Jeffrey Cohen) - 5:16
08. "I'll Go Crazy" (feat. Joe Cocker) (James Brown) - 3:16
09. "I Got You (I Feel Good)" (feat. Robert Palmer) (James Brown) - 3:25
10. "Try Me" (feat. Robert Palmer) (James Brown) - 5:18
11. "Living in America" (James Brown & Friends) (Dan Hartman, Charlie Midnight) - 4:06
Credits
Producer - Johnny Musso
Recorded at - the club Taboo, Detroit, MI.
Mixed at - Santa Monica Sound Recorders, Santa Monica, CA.
Engineered By - Tony Papa
Mastered By - Bernie Grundman
Mixed By - Tony Papa
Notes
Release: 1988
Genre: Funk, Soul, Live
Length: 32:05
Label: Scotti Bros. Records
© 1988
It is impossible to fault this performance and it is a delight to listen to from start to finish. How do you Stop? is also a James Brown solo. The contrast in style, however, could not be more marked. “How do you Stop” is a gentle ballad with a 70’s, almost disco feel. Consistent with the nature of the song, James gives a suitably restrained performance that is laced with an appropriate sense of foreboding. The end result makes for great listening that is a credit to the artist and his band. “Cold Sweat” is a heavy 70’s vintage funk number and is performed in a duet with Wilson Pickett (the singer of the 60’s classic “Land of a 1000 dances”). This is probably my least preferred number on the collection. However, this should not be taken as in indictment against the track as I have never been a fan of this style of song. I should also add that both artists give their absolute all on this performance and I suspect that those who like heavy funk will probably love it. “Out of Site” made the top spot on the R & B chart way back in 1963. James Brown does not feature on the version presented here as the honors are given to a fellow by the name of Billy Vera. Though Mr Vera is certainly a most talented artist and does a great job on this sexually infused mid-tempo blues number, he does not surpass James Brown’s original work. That being said, this is still a great recording and fits in nicely with the rest of the material on this collection. "I´ll Go Crazy" with Joe Cocker, characterized by more raspy vocals than you can throw a stick at, numerous wild screams and a jarring stop-start drum beat, the number bleeds with cool. As Robert Palmer enters the stage, James asks him - “How do you feel?”. Not surprisingly, Robert responds with the lead in line to the Godfather’s well known hit “I Feel Good”. These two talented artists then rip into “I Feel Good” with all the passion and enthusiasm that this soul infused rock classic deserves.
The two artists work well together and perfectly preserve the 60’s feel of the number. Their performance brims with excitement and is complemented with appropriately timed James Brown squeals. The success of the performance can also be attributed to the great work of the band who perfectly capture the saxophone rifts and driving drum work that are so much a part of this outstanding song. The two then duet on the 60’s soulful ballad “Try Me”.
The sound and style of this number is reminiscent of the early Motown sound, and in particular the Temptations. There is more than a hint of blues in the song and this particularly suits the vocal styles of both singers who make the most of the excellent material. “Living in America” was James Brown’s last major hit single. It made the top 10 Charts in the mid-eighties and from memory won a Grammy for best R&B performance. The song was the theme tune for the movie Rocky IV.
Track listing
01. "Show Introduction" (James Brown) - 0:28
02. "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" (James Brown) - 3:15
03. "How Do You Stop" (Dan Hartman, Charlie Midnight James Brown) - 5:22
04. "Cold Sweat" (feat. Wilson Pickett) (James Brown, Pee Wee Ellis) - 4:08
05. "Out of Sight" (feat. Billy Vera) (James Brown) - 2:34
06. "When a Man Loves a Woman" (feat. Joe Cocker) (Calvin Lewis, Andrew Wright) - 5:46
07. "Gimme Your Love" (feat. Aretha Franklin) (Narada Michael Walden, Jeffrey Cohen) - 5:16
08. "I'll Go Crazy" (feat. Joe Cocker) (James Brown) - 3:16
09. "I Got You (I Feel Good)" (feat. Robert Palmer) (James Brown) - 3:25
10. "Try Me" (feat. Robert Palmer) (James Brown) - 5:18
11. "Living in America" (James Brown & Friends) (Dan Hartman, Charlie Midnight) - 4:06
Credits
Producer - Johnny Musso
Recorded at - the club Taboo, Detroit, MI.
Mixed at - Santa Monica Sound Recorders, Santa Monica, CA.
Engineered By - Tony Papa
Mastered By - Bernie Grundman
Mixed By - Tony Papa
Notes
Release: 1988
Genre: Funk, Soul, Live
Length: 32:05
Label: Scotti Bros. Records
© 1988
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