I'm not what you would call a hardcore James Brown fan, I'm kind of like a novice/average fan. Ever since he passed last Monday, I've just been listening to his work more and become interested in his different funk jams and workouts. These are the albums or compilations I already have:

Star Time Box Set
Live At The Apollo
In The Jungle Groove
Live At The Apollo Vol.2 Deluxe Edition
Funky Christmas
Ballads

Are there any more albums you can recommend for me to check out? I was thinking of buying his 1973 album, The Payback and his 1974 album, Hell. There is also the compilation series:

Roots of a Revolution
Foundations of Funk: A Brand New Bag, 1964-1969
Funk Power 1970: A Brand New Thang
Make It Funky - The Big Payback: 1971-1975
Dead on the Heavy Funk, 1975-1983

Are any of those compilations good?
[Edited 1/1/07 12:03pm]

(from http://blog.myspace.com/i...cdf52ec654)

Questlove said:

silverchild said:

The compilations are excellent - together they'd make one fucking great box set - but a few (Roots and Dead on the Heavy Funk) are hard to come by. Don't forget Soul Pride: The Instrumentals in that list.

Otherwise, yoiu can't do without Motherlode and the first two volumes of James Brown's Funky People. I'm also partial to Hell (although it divides fans and critics alike) and The Payback.

I thought the Star Time boxset was incredible, although it had nothing from the Live At The Apollo set! I guess I will check out those Payback and Hell joints.
[Edited 1/1/07 12:20pm]

Shapeshifter said:

That would be my recommendation. I listen to these more than James' own albums.

silverchild said:

Actually, it has "I Don't Mind." Still, everyone should have the Apollo albums.

CinisterCee said:

I heard about those and DJ's I know always play these when the party gets going. What's on these?

AlexdeParis said:

I have both Vol.1 and Vol.2 of them and they are the true ESSENTIALS. I heard that Revolution Of The Mind-Part 3 of the Apollo series wasn't all that good.
[Edited 1/1/07 12:30pm]

skip the albums except the Payback and get the compilations
they have all of the highlights plus the unedited versions

Roots of a Revolution
Foundations of Funk: A Brand New Bag, 1964-1969
Funk Power 1970: A Brand New Thang
Make It Funky - The Big Payback: 1971-1975
Dead on the Heavy Funk, 1975-1983

Funk Power and Makr it Funky is a lesson in funk. Dead has it's moments but u have 2 be a die hard 2 really get in2 it.

silverchild said:

There's a good reason for that. Compiled in 1986, it is like a "best of" James Brown 70's grooves. Every single track (no exaggeration) was all heavily sampled. You don't even need to get separate albums from these satellite acts once you have this collection, because this is all the hot shit/ sure shots! (in fact, by them here together: http://www.amazon.com/Jam...B000001FJT)

If it helps, here are the tracklists:

1. Gimme Some More - The JBs
2. Pass The Peas - The JBs
3. Think (About It) - Lyn 'The Female Preacher' Collins
4. Givin' Up Food For Funk (Part 1) - The JBs
5. Mama Feelgood - Lyn 'The Female Preacher' Collins
6. Hot Pants Road - The JBs
7. Rock Me Again & Again & Again & Again & Again & Again - Lyn 'The Female Preacher' Collins
8. Damn Right, I Am Somebody (Parts 1 & 2) - Fred Wesley & The JBs
9. Take Me Just As I Am - Lyn 'The Female Preacher' Collins
10. If You Don't Get It The First Time, Back Up And Try It Again, Party - Fred Wesley & The JBs
11. Parrty (Part 1) - Maceo & The Macks
12. (It's Not The Express) It's The JBs Monaurail (Part 1) - Fred & The New JBs
13. Same Beat (Part 1) - Fred Wesley & The JBs

1. I Know You Got Soul - Bobby Byrd
2. From The Love Side - Hank Ballard & The Midnight Lighters
3. What Do I Have To Do To Prove My Love To You - Marva Whitney
4. Soul Power '74 - Maceo & The Macks
5. Put it On The Line - Lyn Collins (The Female Preacher)
6. You Can Have Watergate But Gimme Some Bucks And I'll Be Straight (Parts 1&2) - Fred Wesley & The JB's
7. Cross The Track (We Better Go Back) - Maceo & The Macks
8. The Message From The Soul Sisters (Parts 1& 2) - Myra Barnes (Vicki Anderson)
9. Hot Pants...I'm Coming, Coming, I'm Coming - Bobby Byrd
10. Do Your Thing - Lyn Collins
11. I'm Paying Taxes, What Am I Buying - Fred Wesley & The JB's
12. Super Good (Parts 1& 2) - Myra Barnes (Vicki Anderson)
13. Blow Your Head - Fred Wesley & The JB's

^ yeah that's definitely the cream of the crop.

CinisterCee said:

Have you got James Brown's Funky Divas? LOADS of great stuff on that.

Shapeshifter said:

Yes I've got that too, but I must admit my favorite tracks on that are featured on Funky People.

Is this one any good?

Silverchild,the 'Make It Funky '71-'75' is funk personified. Along with the 'Foundations of Funk' set, it is an essential cornerstone of the JB catalogue.

If you don't like this, you ain't funky!!

Miles said:

Oh, I'm going to love it because I've been blasting the Star Time box set all day!

silverchild said:

You'd be better off getting into these albums before the compilations

"The Payback" is probably his most consistent studio album for me; "It's A Mother" would have to be a close second for me (loads of "Popcorn" tracks as well as his superb rendition of "If I Ruled The World"). It's not available on CD, but you might get lucky and find a good condition used copy (some record shops may also have a bootlegged version of it). I also think "Gettin' Down To It" is very under-rated and was re-issued recently on CD.

silverchild said:

along with funk power and in the jungle groove,it doesnt get any funkier!!!!
make it funky is my fav because the funk never stops!!!
the live joints are weighed down with songs like please pelase, it's a man's world, and bewildered 4 example. they are great and if u're looking 4 live jb, go get 'em. but if ur looking 4 james at his funkiest, make it funky!!!!

revolution75 said:

In The Jungle Floor is just one fonky compilation and it was one of the first compilations i ever brought by j.b.

Oops,,,nevermind I think you have it exclusive

I still need to check out this one....

[Edited 1/1/07 16:58pm]

Harlepolis said:

I already have this one and I've been digging it for 8 years! I hate the fact that the packaging has some wear on it, but it's still alive and kicking... If i want to hear some basic James, I always grab this set.

Harlepolis said:

I love this live disc and it definitely deserves all the hype its gotten over the years. This was the calm before the storm, which was funk and dance. This was R&B circa 1962. It's still a classic and one of my favorite live albums. You'll love this one...

CinisterCee said:

This is the best one, in my opinion

'Love/ Power/ Peace' is an essential live album, once you have 'Apollo' 1 & 2'.

It's the most ferociously, nastay funk I've ever heard. Hard and yet so fast and tight.

Of all the cd`s mentioned before i like "Foundations of Funk" and "live at the Apollo" the most, but very good ones are the following

"Out of sight" Polydor 1968
"Say it loud i`m black and proud" Polydor 1969

and i recommend the Marva Whitney Album "It`s my thing". That`s a great album produced by James Brown. It`s sounds like a JB Album, but Marva sings lead on all of the tracks except "Sunny" which is a duo with James. Originally released in 1969 on King Records. The band is Maceo,PeeWee,Fred,Clyde...It`s the James Brown band so...go figure! It`s very funky.