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My first James Brown disc was "70"s Funk Classic's" and that was always my favorite, until I finally found this disc which has the unedited versions of "SEX MACHINE" and "SUPER BAD". Boy am I glad I found this one- HOLY-HOLY-HOLY!! This is 100% straight up no filler funk on the one!! From beginning to end is one groove after another. I also recommend the above mentioned disc which has "AINT IT FUNKY NOW", "FUNKY DRUMMER" and "THINK 73"-all classic must hear songs. Keep the Funk Alive!!

Funk! Funk! Funk!

Soul Brotha #1, indeed! We know him as James Brown, and we love him as James Brown; the one who is credited as inventing funk as we know it. On this compilation, we are treated to the funkmeister, while he gels with his short-lived band called The JB's (featuring a young Bootsy Collins before he would join Parliament), who created some majorly super-bad (pun intended) funk during their short-lived period in 1970. The music on here will most definitely get you shaking; it'll make you want to dance, work up a sweat; anything which'll get you moving, and you won't wanna stop till you drop!



While the music alone is powerful enough, it's also moving to hear James talking about important societal issues: drugs, race, poverty, the need for harmony amongst all people & all races, and the need for people of society to come together to help make the world a better place. To hear these messages infused in his (already powerful and empowering) music is something truly moving. However, reality can sometimes be a devastating thing to accept, as evidenced on this disc: at the end of the disc, James is heard in a 1970 recording warning many of the dangers of drug abuse, and encouraging many to stay away from them. It's heartbreaking to hear this from him, only to find out that he himself would have his own battle with drug addiction in subsequent years. It's truly a tough pill to swallow in many ways.



From James' fiery, manic, impassioned vocal delivery, to Bootsy's propulsive basslines, to Bobby Byrd's commading supporting role as co-vocalist, and the rest of the band's performance, the music on here is an unrelenting assault on the soul: it's a funk-attack, guaranteed to get that old rump of yours shaking, followed by the rest of your body. If you can grab hold of this compilation, snatch it up, as if your life depended on it! It's truly worthwhile to have in your collection: funk addict, or not!

Right On, People! Let It All Hang OUT!

I've had this cd since it was released in 1996, but diving into it once again the other night inspired me to share a few thoughts. Somewhere in my old vinyl collection is a JB compilation issued in the early '80's entitled "Can Your Heart Stand It?" That would have made a better parenthetical title for this disk: Heart conditions and pacemakers would be severely tested by daring to listen to this--because there's absolutely no choice in the matter: You Must and you Will get on up and get into it! I mean, people, this cd does not stop; it's just one hard-hitting groove after another. The only tempo breaks are the few seconds between tracks--and those'll do you no good unless you have a superhuman ability to stop on a dime. Another reviewer mentioned the full-length version of "Talking Loud And Saying Nothing" as one of the highlights; I concur heartily.. I also love the full, nearly ten-minute version of "Super Bad," which, along with a relentless groove, features a couple of the most gut-splitting high-pitched screams the Godfather ever uttered. Even the anti-drug PSA is supported by the JB's getting and staying on a groove while the Minister tells you why you should stay away from the stuff. Oh yes, you do get a few seconds to catch your breath at the beginning of the alternate version of "Sex Machine"--but you will hear James moving what sounds like a metal-legged kitchen chair out of his way, so he can do his thang yet again. ...