Following the passing of the mighty Godfather, I thought it might be a good time to discuss the finer points (or lack of) James Brown's later recording career, from 1980 - 2006 - A 26 year period! So, what did one of the foremost musical greats of the 20th century actually do in the second half of his recording career? The easy answer is 'not a lot compared to the first 25 years', but it's a little deeper than that imo. Opinions from the sage funk mystics of the org gratefully accepted.


To refresh memories, to my knowledge his major new releases in this period were -

The 'Unity' single with Afrika Bambaata - 1984 - Pretty good, imo fun early '80s electro hip-hop.


The albums -

'Gravity' - produced by the late Dan Hartman - 1985 - Not very familiar with it except for 'Livin' in America'. It's had some ok reviews here and there tho.

'I'm Real' - mainly produced by Full Force - 1988 - Fairly strong set. It's true his 60's & 70's material runs circles over his later work but this is alright for it's time period. 'Static' is the obvious stand-out track. And Maceo returns as only he can. Funky if lightweight, late '80s JB fun.

'Love Overdue' - Entirely JB produced - 1991 - Fairly tired, but a couple of good funkers in 'Move On' and 'Dance, Dance, Dance to the Funk', and a nice '50s-style JB balled 'Teardrops on Your Letter'.

'Universal James' - mainly produced by Jazzy B of Soul 2 Soul, but 3 tracks produced by JB - 1993 - IMO his strongest later career set. Yes, there's not much JB band in evidence, with its very 'modern, of the times produced'sound, and so a little dated in places now, and here and there JB's vocals sound indistinct, but the overall quality is just stronger imo. 'Can't Get Any Harder', even with JB reduced to little more than a cameo appearance, is very good and almost MJ funky style, and 'Everybody's Got a Thang' is almost experimental atonal funk (JB produced too!). For me, the real highlight is 'Moments', a kind of jazzy, stream-of-conscious update of 'King Heroin'. Even tho JB didn't write the words, he raps on this 'state of the world address' like it's straight from his heart. It's moving, soulful and fairly tasteful musically. A minor late career classic track imo.

'Live At the Apollo 1995' - Live album - A decent live set but obviously buy 'Apollo's 1-3 first. - 1995

'I'm Back' - 1998 - Almost all produced by Derrick Monk - Yes, it has the truly hideous 'What It Takes' duet with final wife Tommi-Rae, it's also got a lively run-through of "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" with a bright new St. Clair Pinkney solo. The highlight for me is a touching version of the old classic 'Lucky Old Sun', which ain't that far behind the Louis Armstrong classic version. 'I Don't Hear No Music' is also good, new old skool JB, and 'Peace in the World' is decent latin soul with Mr Dynamite in good voice. So, a mixture of schlok and decent funk.

'Merry Christmas Album' - 1999 - Yes, JB's first xmas album in decades! Never heard it, and it's probably for the best as it can't compete with the 'Funky Christmas' set anyway.

'The Next Step' - 2002 - Almost all produced by Derrick Monk. - Not heard so can't comment, tho looking at the tracklist, the dreaded 'What It Takes' from 'I'm Back' returns in a new version .

I also heard that he had been making a new album, tho not sure how far that got. Probably safe to say it would be in a similar vein to the last two records.

Note - None of the above should be bought by JB novices before the classic 65-75 compilations and albums.


While I feel that JB's later recording career was full of lost opportunities, and he never really enjoyed a late career creative renaissance like Johnny Cash or John Lee Hooker to name two, imo there is much to enjoy over the above eight albums, and a single CD compilation of the best of 'JB - The Second 25 Years' would be a good addition to his catalogue, clearances permitting.

If only James had say, recorded with some good, complementary West African Afrobeat musicians like some of Fela Kuti's band (espec. Tony Allen), or recorded some more gospel and/ or blues (both genres I feel he is underrated in), or just worked with more good producers who pushed him, who knows what the Godfather may have added to his legacy? Just like his old rock n' soul brother Little Richard, nobody seemed to know (or care) how best to record these greats after the goldrush. It's a shame when the man was active, well(ish) and touring almost constantly (jailtime excepted - Godfather needed a rest at that time imo), and still giving good shows, nobody managed to squeeze another really good or great album out of him.

So, later JB - out of ideas and outta gas, or good Godfather on at least half (soul) power??

I'll just comment on the one that I have...



...Gravity.

Dan Hartman did a very good job on this one.
There are 3 tunes that I listen to from this album and Living In America isn't one of them.

Gravity
Goliath
Let's Get Personal


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

theAudience said:

Those are the only 3 tracks I play, that and "living in america". I love that track.

"I'm real" is an OK album. I like the title track.


"Full force loves u godfather. Long live the king"

Gravity & I'm Real are the best of the second half of his career.
"How Do You Stop" is my fave on Gravity
The title track is my fave on "I'm Real"

I've long thought his later years, while sub-par compared to the golden years, have been a little over-neglected, hence this thread. James was very patchy quality-wise, yes, but could still bring the goods on the odd track or two on most of these albums.

I'd definitely recommend 'Universal James' as a good later album. As I said above, it's fairly light on the live band, and has more programmed beats and synths, but it's just a good, more modern JB record and more consistent, with a stronger vibe than some of his other later stuff. I agree that 'I'm Real' is good too, espec.'Static' and the title track.

I love the cover to 'Gravity'. That smile, such fine dentistry.

I've also just remembered I've got a budget-priced tape of JB and Soul Generals live in the mid-'80s. Not sure what year it was recorded, but I'd say late '84-'85, as JB at one point in 'Man's World' (I think) gives respect to deceased music stars, such as Jimi Hendrix, Wes Montgomery, Otis Redding and (then recently departed) Marvin Gaye. And he doesn't do 'Living In America'.

It shows that, while definitely into cabaret mode, JB and the band were still bringing it to the stage pretty strong in the '80s. I can't find the tape right now, but I think Maceo's on there too. A shame JB didn't seem to change around his live show much in his later years. He seemed to lose some energy and drive in the mid-late '70s (probably one-too-many hard knocks plus encroaching middle age). Even James Brown was human, I suppose.

Also, I'm sure I remember reading that Bootsy and Bobby Byrd (I think) reunited with James in recent years for a few shows.I know Bobby's on JB's last album from '02. Anyone got any more info on when this was, etc? I'd like to have been there for those. I never saw JB live unfortunately. I slightly avoided him in recent years when he came around (I thought 'how could it be like the old days?),and now regret it a little.

ok


Hell ( wasnt to crazy bout that piece)
There it is ( title track bangin') but the rest?
Everybody's dead on the hustle and the double bump ( what the fuck???)

I only have the "I'm Real" album which is decent. I'd like to check out "Gravity" though. There was also a single that he did with Aretha Franklin around 1989 that was pretty good.

I dug James from the 1950's throught about 1975. It was downhill from there.

Graycap23 said:

Hot ( i need to be loved) was garbage

vainandy said:

Is that the one that Prince remixed?

I edited my post because I found the info when I searched the internet. The song was called "Gimme Your Love" by Aretha Franklin and James Brown on the Arista Label but the 12 Inch had a "Paisley Park Remix".
.
.
[Edited 1/2/07 9:25am]

vainandy said:

I'd like to hear that. On paper it sounds hot--I mean, James and Aretha remixed by Prince! But often times when you throw a bunch of big names together in the studio, the results are disappointing.

The original version sounds pretty good. I've never heard the remix though.

vainandy said:

I have that 12". Don't like it at all.

sextonseven said:

Production (Michael Walden) sounds very 80s.
(Talking about the *Soul Session Live version on Scotti Bros. )

The samples during the intro are extremely annoying.
(Why do you need JB Oowww & Huh samples when he's live in the studio? )

Fun track but this duet would've been better if it had been done 10 to 20 years earlier.


*Strange album.
As an example, you'd figure pairing JB with Wilson Pickett on Cold Sweat might work.
Unfortunately it ends up being a train wreck as they just get in each others way.

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431
[Edited 1/2/07 10:03am]

theAudience said:

Narada Michael Walden who did Aretha's 'Who's Zoomin' Who' album?

I'd still like to hear what Prince did with it.

sextonseven said:

Yes.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

I admit I did enjoy much of his later output, quite patchy sure, still always good enough to keep up the interest. the albums you mentioned which I own, I would rank like this:

1) I'm Real (my fave FF production ever)
2) Universal James
3) I'm Back
4) Gravity
5) Love Overdue

the 12" of Unity holds six differnt versions/parts of the song, but still does not qualify as an album, so I won't rank it

The Paisley Park mix is great imho - long and funky!

There is a new album in the can, and it's his best work since the mid-1970s!! The new single will be called "Gutbucket Funk", and for the record, Brown has reunited many of his former bandmembersm, like Fred Wesley and Pee Wee Ellis. I was fortunate to be able to listen to the whole record, and I was impressed. I didn't expect a serious funk record like that in his later days.

Now the question is ... will the album ever see the light of day?

MrSoulpower said:

'Gutbucket' is a cool song. In the UK it was given away free with MOJO Magazine in the Summer.

The new album was slated for Jan 2007.

I think now that James has passed, you can almost guarantee it will be released.

NewMr7 said:

The working title for the new album was "World Funk against the Grain". As I have said, I have heard it, but not the final master. I have only heard the music with bandmembers singing over the tracks (mainly Fred and Holly Farris), but I don't know if JB has ever completed all voice-overs. The band doesn't know either.

MrSoulpower said:

Well, I've heard the 'Gutbucket' track and it's not bad. I'd hazard a guess that if he recorded vox for that, he'd must have sung at least some of the others too. If on form, a singer can record all lead vocals for an album in a day or two.

And if, as NewMr7 said, it was pencilled in for a Jan07 release, that may well indicate that James would have finished working on the record at least a couple months before, but who knows? I'd say they'll put something together later in the year, if only from recent-ish out-takes, if only to 'cash in' on the brotha's passing.

Strange tho, that JB, one of the ultimate 'live' performers, on stage and in studio, would record his vocals separate from the band.

Let's hope he did most if not all the record and that there's enough good stuff to release a nice final album.

MrSoulpower said:

Sounds promising.

theAudience said:

Yes, yes! "Goliath" IS the shit. Maceo is - quite clearly I might add - playing his motherfuckin'ass off on that shit. AND, I LOVE the cover of "Gravity" - James once said all a man needs to make it in America is good teeth and perfect hair.

I'm not ready to hear these.

My impression of James is that he was more of a singles guy than an album guy, maybe because of the era he came up during?

CinisterCee said:

I can vouch for the fact that you're ready to hear the cuts from Gravity.
Unfortunately, i've got them on vinyl or i'd make you hear them.





tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

theAudience said:

NDRU said: