I'm going through a James Brown phase,y'all.I'm gonna start collecting his stuff.How many of you have the James Brown box set 'Star Time'? I wanna know more about it.Is it the best place to find all the essential James Brown jams? Or,are there any other more recent compilations that are better? Or should I just start with the individual albums? Are they even in print?


Help me out,guys

Damn, I'm sorry

I didn't even know of that set until you mentioned it just now. The last JB "anything" I bought was one of his Funky People albums, and that was secondhand from this site, a year ago.

Yes, Startime is the best collection u can get, but it can be hard to track down, but not impossible.

There is a new one that's just as good - "50th Anniversary Collection", go to Amazon and check that one out. It's a must have!

Thanks for the advice.The 'Star Time' box set is at Amazon for $53.00.It looks like a good set.
[This message was edited Mon Jan 19 2:43:34 PST 2004 by DavidEye]

STAR TIME is the best place to start. Shamefully enough, many of James great albums are STILL out of print. Wonder what IS the holdup? It's not like a lot of his albums was one or two good songs and the rest was filler like a lot of those 60's Motown albums. I went through some of my uncles old vinyls and found a couple of James Brown albums from the early 70's and listened to them...That stuff was cookin with Crisco grease...One of those albums was Get On The Goodfoot.

BRO915 said:

I want those albums!!! Hopefully,they will put it on CD someday.But yeah,I think I will start with the box set.

i agree with the squad... star time is the essential set Dave..

TheRealFiness said:

I noticed that 'Star Time' doesn't include his 1985 hit "Livin In America",which is his best,funkiest jam EVER.So already,it's severly flawed






I'M JOKING,FOLKS!!!

I agree. "Star Time" is the best starting point for JB.

"Living in America" is not on it but if you want this song you can buy the JB's "Greatest Hits of the 80's" CD (it's really like the additional 4th CD of "Star Time", even from the artwork, you'll see).
If you want something more deep and focused (talking of the JB funk golden age) you can go for the following CD's:

- "Foundations of Funk" 2CD
- "Funk Power 1970"
- "Make it Funky: The Big Payback" 2CD
- The JB's "Funky Good Time: The Anthology" 2CD

I've got a lot of other JB release in my collection but honestly these are the essentials.

Going to the James Brown section in the wrecka stow is a depressing experience. It is filled with shitty compilations and 80's live shows, with virtually no original albums, many of which have NEVER been released on CD, which is incredible considering Brown's stature. Polydor seemed to be issuing his 70's albums on CD in order in the early 90's, but to my knowledge they stopped at Reality.

Rioub said:

I completely agree with you.
As entertaining and complete IMO the Polydor selection are(I'm talking of the 4 that I listed before and also of "Soul Pride: The Instrumentals"), I have to say that I really can't understand why an album like "The Popcorn" hasn't yet received a CD release (just to make an example).

DavidEye said:

"Star Time"
"In The Jungle Groove"
"Motherlode"
"40th Anniversary Collection"
[This message was edited Mon Jan 19 7:32:28 PST 2004 by JohnnyTheFox]

Buy all the albums. There is no such thing as a bad James Brown record (except the ones after 1980). Dont waste your money on compilations. Get the real deal.

The 50th Anniversary Collection is not as good as the 40th because it includes edited songs and the 40th has the full length... They tried to cram as much into it as they could to justify a new release.

WatchThemFall said:

The 40th doesnt have full length versions either. "Aint it funky" and many more songs are heavily edited.

The album

Love, Power and Peace

will make you wonder why people suggest box sets or compilations.

DavidEye said:

I swear, you almost had me, you ALMOST did!

You can't get a JB compilation that would outdo Star Time. And as far as I know, the only JB albums they're reissuing right now are the Live At The Apollo albums, but I haven't thoroughly checked. If you're more than a casual JB fan, you NEED Star Time.

BoraBora said:

I agree. I have those 2 and the "20" collection and I am more than satisfied.

DavidEye said:

They have been released on CD - in Japan. Check eBay now and then and you should be able to find them.

get the live at the apollos,motherlode,hot pants,50th anniversary,40th anniversary...get everything!!!

I found Star Time box set second hand for $40 Canadian.

The best compilations I've found have been:

Foundations of Funk: 1964-1969
Make It Funky: The Big Payback: 1971-1975
Dead on the Heavy Funk: 1976-1983

These are all two CD sets which contain the full-length album versions of his best funk.

I ordered the StarTime box set from Amazon,it should be here anyday now.

DavidEye said:

Congratulations!Youre gonna love it.

psykosoul, I'm kinda concerned about buying versions that are only "pt. 1" or "pts. 1 & 2" when I want the whole enchilada. Take "Escapism" for example: I only listen to the 19 minute "complete take" version on the re-issue of 1971's Hot Pants album.

So, would you still recommend these double sets?
Foundations of Funk: 1964-1969
Make It Funky: The Big Payback: 1971-1975
Dead on the Heavy Funk: 1976-1983

MrTation said:

I just got it in the mail yesterday.In a few days,I'll post my review/thoughts.

CinisterCee said:

Kind of an iffy decision. For example The Big Payback 1971-1975 contains Parts 1,2,3 & 4 of Make it Funky but only the 4:02 minute edit of Escapism. But for me, Escapism isn't one of those tunes I could jam all day like Papa Don't Take No Mess (13:50) Compilation wise, I think they culled the best tracks from the era and they represent James Brown better than all of James' most popular songs a la Star Time.

Star Time is where you should start indeed David, but don't forget "Love Power Peace", which is maybe the greatest funk concert ever recorded live (ok, let me add EWF's gratitude and a few Prince's bootlegs). A MUST!

psykosoul said:

I'm not looking for the most popular tracks either, just the best ones in full form so I think I'll heed your advice and look out for those 3. The more popular ones that they edit I can probably find elsewhere anyway. Thanks!

Anyone who likes the funk should get 'Love/Power/Peace' (awesome, only the weak horns let it down a little. Catfish Collins was never better, tho!).

Also 'Live at the Apollo Vol. II' (Less funk, more all-round entertainer, but still funky. You get the first ever recording of 'Cold Sweat'. And it's incredible!).

'Love/Power/Peace' is the best live funk album I've ever heard. Relentless. The definition of nastay! If I could have been in Paris in 1971 for that one ...