James Brown

There are a million James Brown compilations floating around, but this is one of the best. It focuses on tracks from the early '70s, when Brown acquired his classic JBs lineup following the departure of Maceo Parker, and the songs -- from "Funky Drummer" to "Soul Power"-- are all enshrined in the funk cannon. The combination of Bootsy Collins on bass and Clyde Stubblefieldlay on drums is lethal, daring you not to dance as it anchors Browns' various yelps, sexual declarations and sly taunts. Remastered in 2003 so that the aforementioned rhythm section is brought up, the sound is intense and beautiful.

This brilliant single-disc compilation focuses on the pinnacle of James Brown's
achievements: the dance music he made between 1969 and 1971, when he defined the
state of the art of rhythm, again and again and again. You may think you already know
"Funky Drummer" just because you've heard the rhythm sampled on a thousand hip-hop
tracks, but if you've never heard the full nine-minute jam, you need to. Brown l... More >