Jabo

James Brown - I Got The Feelin' (1968) {Universal Music Japan Mini LP UICY-9291 rel 2003}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 233 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 85 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 31 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1968, 2003 Polydor / Universal Music Japan | UICY-9291 | Cardboard Sleeve | 24bit remastering
Funk / R'n'B / Soul / Funky Jam

Limited to 5000 copies. Paper sleeve. I GOT THE FEELIN' was released in 1968 as KING KS-1031 in stereo. It was released in France and Germany as KING OF SOUL with cover art that portrayed Brown dressed as Uncle Sam! It was released in Japan numerous times on CD, including a 2007 mini-LP sleeve issue. Although it has the usual mix of previously released singles, it's one of his earliest thematically sound albums, with all the tracks having been recorded within a year's time, between March '67 and '68.

Drummer Jim Payne performs bluesy material with his traditional yet forward-looking organ trio. Guitarist John Scofield sits in on the blues "Jabo" and Mike Clark plays second drums on two numbers, but otherwise the music is interpreted by the trio of organist Jerry Z, guitarist Bill Bickford (who sometimes hints a bit at Scofield), and Payne. It is danceable, grooving, funky, R&B-ish, and full of the blues without being overly predictable. While Energie can be played in the background at parties, it rewards close listenings too, for it is quite fun. The three core musicians clearly enjoy playing off each other, to the benefit of listeners.

On the 3-hour Groove Alchemy DVD, Stanton presents a historical overview of some of the most important drum grooves in history, showing the basic elements and conceptual development of each groove. He then shows you how to learn from the past and develop your own complete vocabulary for creating new funk grooves and patterns on the drumset. Starting with an in-depth study of the James Brown drummers (especially Clyde Stubblefield and Jabo Starks) and Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste of the Meters, Groove Alchemy goes far beyond a mere history lesson by applying Stanton's concepts for making your own playing more creative, musical, and funky.

James Brown is featured here with the then newly formed J.B.'s – the maestro's second great band, including Bootsy Collins, Phelps Collins, Jabo Starks, Bobby Byrd, and Fred Wesley. Live at the Apollo had caught James Brown the '50s gospel/R&B singer; Love Power Peace captures James Brown the funkster. In the early '70s Brown turned up the funk, recording such litanies for Black America as "Ain't It Funky Now," "Sex Machine," "Give It Up or Turn It Loose," "Super Bad," "Get Up, Get into It, Get Involved," and "Soul Power." They're all here, along with revved-up, white-hot versions of the early- and middle-period classics. Brown had planned to release this as a triple album in 1971. When several bandmembers left shortly after it was recorded, Brown switched from King to Polydor Records, leading him to scrap it and record a new studio album instead. In 1992, Polygram decided to make the recording available for the first time.

James Brown - I Can't Stand Myself When You Touch Me (1968) {Universal Music Japan Mini LP UICY-9290 rel 2003}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 277 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 101 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 8 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1968, 2003 Polydor / Universal Music Japan | UICY-9290 | Cardboard Sleeve | 24bit remastering
Funk / R'n'B / Soul / Funky Jam

Limited to 5000 copies. Paper sleeve. I CAN'T STAND MYSELF (WHEN YOU TOUCH ME) was originally released in stereo as KING-1030 in early 1968, his second of eight releases that year. It was preceded by COLD SWEAT and followed by I GOT THE FEELIN'. I CAN'T STAND MYSELF was also released in The Netherlands (as GREATEST HITS Vol. 2!), England, Germany (as THIS IS JAMES BROWN) and Spain (as ¡ESTE ES JAMES BROWN!), all with different cover art. The US and Canadian version also featured pictures of various VOX instruments on the rear, an obvious product tie-in.