You MUST go own this record. Must. If you play keys, guitar, drums, bass, THIS is a turning point in funk:

James Brown: IN THE JUNGLE GROOVE

IN THE JUNGLE GROOVE documents one of the most important periods in the development of James Brown's music. In 1970, Brown's bandleader/sax player Maceo Parker departed to form his own band, taking much of Brown's group with him. This event heralded the arrival of the JB's, which included monster bassist Bootsy Collins, whose hyperkinetic style made Brown's funk harder, leaner, and meaner. This album gives listeners a bird's-eye view of the change, featuring the final sessions of the Maceo-led band as well as the first recordings of Bootsy and the JB's.

I JUST got MOTHERLODE and LOVE POWER PEACE, which had a live version of "Turn it Loose". I dl'd the original version (off of this record) and OH MOTHER HOLY GOD - this is the funky crap that Prince rips into on the aftershows. The is the funky shit that Prince cut into back when he was in the Revolution and would just BURN it up.

IF you like the Prince Funk - and I KNOW you do - IN THE JUNGLE GROOVE will find a place in your collection. It is a document of the changing tide of funk - just like DIRTY MIND was a document of the change from late 70's funk to stripped down 80's funk.

Get it. Can I say it again? DAMN RIGHT.

Get it.

I've only got Sex Machine and The Payback, I should get more JB really but sometimes I just find his gettup just too stuck in that there groove I'm more of a Funkadelic man myself... know what I mean?

Saying that, if Jungle Groove is anything near as good as my all time fave funkstrumental, THE GRUNT (f***ing rocks) I'll be gettin' it for sure!

By 1970, JB had already reached his prime and when Maceo departed with half the band, he took the essense of the James Brown sound with him. That sound had been around since the mid 50's until their departure. Why did they leave with the sax player instead of the headliner ? Because James Brown had lost much credibility for speaking out againt the 1968 riots. He was seen as a puppet for the Government. When "In the Jungle Groove" was released, it was seen as an apology for being such a puppet and many at that time saw him as trying to jump on the coat tails of the afrocentric music movement that defined the late 60's and early 70's. He was copying artist like Marvin gaye, Stevie Wonder and the legenday Curis Mayfield(R.I.P). James Brown, by that time, was a joke. "In the Jungle groove" certainly has its significance by him trying to mimic more credible acts at the time. You can certainly find more defining funk cuts of that time rather then listening to a falling star like James Brown. ie. Sly Stone, Earth, Wind and Fire, old school Cameo, Ohio Players, ...the list is never ending.

B.Robinson
VP of www.blackhistorychannel.tv

Thanks for the input.

HOWEVER.

Your explanation examines the more historical documentation of the events around the release of that record, versus the actual groove/funk of the music.

I'm with you completely on JB chasing the public, etc, but, ignore that for a minute and go listen to BOOTSY COLLINS cutting his teeth on this groove. I don't even KNOW if there are any decent lyrics on this record. Could care less, just like the fact that "Head" is an incredible groove, whether you care that it's about fellatio or not. The playing is SUPER tight. The groove is just hot.

I don't care if he's a puppet for Barney. This record is legendary in the development of the musical style, not lyrical style, of funk. For information on the LYRICAL development of funk, go check out "There's a Riot Goin' On", which is incredibly deep on lyrical content/political statements of the times.

And if he's a falling star in this record, then it's his swan song. I agree, he didn't put anything out of any real value after this, except (in my pinion) "STATIC", but you can't discard this album just because he was living on his past accomplishments within 5 years of this record's release.

Again, just go LISTEN to "give it up or turn it loose". Maceo might have left, but CLYDE STUBBLEFIELD was still in the band (THE funky drummer) and bootsy was in there.

But yeah, all this rambling aside, I know JACK about the political goings on within any funk bands in 1970. Hell I was only 5 at the time, kickin' it to "ABC" and "I want you back"

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well. crap. I'm actually doing the research on this frickin album now - you got me thinking.

This record wasn't officially released until 1986. It IS a compilation of recordings from 1969 thru 1971, so it contains old and new bands, but, apparently, it wasn't released in 1970, so, I guess (and I ain't trying to call you out on this... just asking you about it) I guess it wasn't released in 1970 at all, in response to anyone's else's development or change in style.

Hunh.

Shows you what I don't know.

So, if THIS wasn't released in 1970, and not released really until 1986, then, um, wow. This is an AWESOME groove. Who would say "naw, naw, hang on to that, man, in 1986, they're gonna have a thing called a sampler, and this record will make you FAMOUS all over again."

Damn industry pigs.
[This message was edited Mon Sep 15 13:16:31 PDT 2003 by otan]

It was indeed released in 1971, my mom's has an original. It was quickly shelved when the industry execs got wind of the word on the streets about JB. I didnt know they
re-released it. Nevertheless, all im saying, it is my opinion its more of an impersonation rather then an inspiration. According to Otan's statement, partial statement granted,

"IN THE JUNGLE GROOVE documents one of the most important periods in the development of James Brown's music"

That may be true, but from what I have studied and from the people we have interviewed, all it documents for most people that followed him during that time was his downfall. After Maceo departed, he was never the same. I cant go along with the notion that bootsy was somehow brilliant on that track. His brilliance was later documented with the
P funk ALl stars.

B.Robinson
VP of www.blackhistorychannel.tv

Thanks for the great in-depth info on this CD. I still think it jams, but this information on the disc is invaluable.

brobyn said:

Maceo was playing with James again a year and a half later...

-SWANGknowssomethangstoo

To my knowledge, the "New Breed" JB's including Bootsy can be heard on Soul Power, Give it up or turnit aloose, Superbad and the JB's The Grunt. That's some of THE tightest shit EVA. I know they're on part of the Sex Machine album (and Otan, hell yeah, that live version of Give it up... IT DON'T MAKE NO SENSE! The way Clyde and the conga's make that break ). I'm also sure Catfish is on Love Power Peace, but not if Bootsy is. Love Power Peace is, by the way, a rhythm guitar BIBLE. Only Troutman and sometimes P ever came close to that guitar work in pure terms of FUNK. MAN this stuff makes me want to use CAPITALS! In the jungle groove was put together to capitalize on James' popularity amongs hiphop samplists, it even features versions that were remixed to make sampling the beats easier. But regardless, it's one HELLUVA a tight set.

Love power peace is the bomb!!!
Just listen 2 how "Brother rapp" goes into
"Ain´t it funky".Just those few seconds alone make
that album a masterpiece.
/peace Manki

manki said:

AMEN. THAT is why I bought the CD in the first place - "Ain't it Funky" - the way it just DROPS! BAM!

awesome. I wonder how long they rehearsed that ONE changeup.