James Brown - The Amazing James Brown (1961) {Universal Music Japan Mini LP UICY-9282 rel 2003}

James Brown - The Amazing James Brown (1961) {Universal Music Japan Mini LP UICY-9282 rel 2003}

Long before he was the Godfather of Soul, James Brown was an artist that King Records struggled to fully understand or appreciate. His breakthrough hit Please Please Please was nearly not released, owing to the record company executive believing it to be rubbish and being perhaps as surprised as the public when it went on to become a major smash. King then tried to position him as a blues singer, only to see his body of work become revered on the R&B market. In time James would cross over to the pop field and register a series of hits that confirmed him as one of the biggest stars in popular music, irrespective of genre. This particular album was originally released in 1961 and whilst it failed to chart does contain no fewer than four hit singles.

1961's THE AMAZING JAMES BROWN, credited to JAMES BROWN and his FAMOUS FLAMES, was his fourth album release for King Records (K-743). As usual, the album contained a host of recent singles, and a few that would be released later on. For example, "So Long," "Dancin' Little Thing" and "Tell Me What You're Gonna Do" were released on singles in 1964 while Brown and King honcho Syd Nathan were battling over his contract with Smash Records (see my OUT OF SIGHT review). "So Long" had also been released on the preceding album, THINK! King also reissued the album in 1963 with a different cover as "THE ALWAYS AMAZING JAMES BROWN" and in England it was known as "TELL ME WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO" with it's own unique cover art. They did this regularly with a lot of his albums hoping to get repeat sales from those not paying attention to the track list. In 1963 half of the album's tracks were used again for the release SHOUT AND SHIMMY aka GOOD, GOOD TWISTIN' aka COOL-TOUGH-PURE EXCITEMENT "Mr. Dynamite." The TELL ME WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO/SHOUT & SHIMMY import CD has all the tracks from both iterations along with copious notes and photos.

Here's the tune stack and discographical info……

1. Just You And Me, Darling (KING-5547B 8/22/61)**
2. I Love You, Yes I Do (KING-5547A 8/22/61)#
3. I Don't Mind (KING-5466A 5/61, #4 R&B, #47 Pop)*
4. Come Over Here (KING-5657B 6/6/62, #16 R&B, #61 Pop)**
5. The Bells (KING-5423A, 11/60)***
6. Love Don't Love Nobody (KING-5466B 5/61)*
7. Dancin' Little Thing (KING-5899B, 5/64)****
8. Lost Someone (KING-5573A 12/1/61, #2 R&B)****
9. And I Do Just What I Want (KING-5423B, 11/60)***
10. So Long (KING-5899A 5/64)*
11. You Don't Have To Go (KING-5672B 8/4/62, #21 R&B, #82 Pop)****
12. Tell Me What You're Gonna Do (KING-5922A 8/64)***

the musicians:
*September 27, 1960, United Studios, Hollywood, CA
James Brown- lead vocals. piano (Track 3)
Bobby Byrd, Eugene "Baby Lloyd" Stallworth & Bobby Bennett - backing vocals (Track 3)
Alfred "Fats Gonder or Bobby Byrd - piano
Les Buie - guitar
Herbert Lee Perry - bass
Nat Kendrick - drums
Alfred Corley - alto sax (except Track 3
J.C. Davis - tenor sax (except Track 3
Roscoe Patrick - trumpet (except Track 3)
Produced by Sonny Thompson

**September 29, 1960, United Studios, Hollywood, CA
James Brown- lead vocals
Bobby Byrd, Eugene "Baby Lloyd" Stallworth & Bobby Bennett - backing vocals (except Track 9)
Sonny Thompson - piano (Track 1)
Les Buie - guitar
Herbert Lee Perry - bass
Nat Kendrick - drums
Alfred Corley - alto sax
J.C. Davis - tenor sax (except Track 9)
Roscoe Patrick - trumpet (except Track 9)
Produced by Sonny Thompson

***October 4, 1960, United Studios, Hollywood, CA
James Brown- lead vocals
Les Buie - guitar
Herbert Lee Perry - bass
Nat Kendrick - drums
Sonny Thompson or Bobby Byrd - piano
Alfred Corley - alto sax
J.C. Davis - tenor sax
Roscoe Patrick - trumpet
Produced by Sonny Thompson

****Feb. 9, 1961, King Studios, Cincinatti, OH
James Brown - vocals
Bobby Byrd - organ (Track 8)
Les Buie - guitar
Hubert Lee Parry - bass
Nat Kendricks - drums
J.C. Davis - tenor sax
Roscoe Patrick - trumpet
Produced by Hal Neely

#Feb. 9, 1961, King Studios, Cincinatti, OH
James Brown - vocals
Bobby Byrd, Eugene "Baby Lloyd" Stallworth & Bobby Bennett - backing vocals (Track 7)
Bobby Byrd or Alvin "Fats" Gonder - organ
Alvin "Fats" Gonder - electric piano (Track 7)
Les Buie - guitar
Hubert Lee Parry - bass
Nat Kendricks - drums
J.C. Davis - tenor sax
Produced by Hal Neely