James Brown (1) (1933–2006)

Brown performs with his band.

3/4 (Good).

He races through his songs like he has somewhere to be. It feels more like an ad for James Brown than a concert. On the other hand, all the mess surrounding it makes the center-piece, 10-minute "Lost Someone" all the more effective.

My old schoolmate Geoff MacCormack brought this around to my house one afternoon, breathless and overexcited. “You have never, in your life, heard anything like this,” he said. I made a trip to see Jane Greene that very afternoon. Two of the songs on this album, “Try Me” and “Lost Someone,” became loose inspirations for Ziggy’s “Rock & Roll Suicide.” Brown’s Apollo performance still stands for me as one of the most exciting live albums ever. Soul music now had an show more undisputed king. show less

Another autobiography by JB. This one is notable for the shameless namedropping (people that were close, personal friends of James: Little Willie John, Elvis Presley, Robert Blake, Little Richard, Ray Charles… you get the picture). One thing you won't find is any mention of his musicians, the artists whose responsibility for bringing JB's rhythmic vision into reality is as large as James Brown's—only Bobby Byrd is mentioned, in passing. I'm not sure how it's possible to write a book show more about James Brown and avoid mentioning Maceo Parker, but there you go.

The only redeeming qualities are James's thoughts on showmanship, his own and in general, which are sprinkled throughout the book, and his discussion of "The One," which is more confusing than enlightening, but entertaining nonetheless. show less

Brown's first album, collecting singles.

He hasn't found his sound yet, and this collection makes for a disjointed mess of an album. There's some great stuff on it, though.

Writing technique: C
Writing musicality: B
Performance technique: C
Performance musicality: A
Arrangements: B
Coherence/concept: D
Pacing/listenability: C
Recording/mastering: C
Cover art: C

Enjoyment: B

GPA: 2.4/4