Search - James Brown :: Make It Funky: Big Payback 1971-1975

As brief as I can be with this...

Tezuker | Brisbane, QLD Australia | 08/28/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you are going to buy one James Brown CD then this dual CD "Make it funky, the big payback" has to be it. This is JB at his finest, accompanied by a first class line up. Every track swings, as the godfather of soul cooks the funk in true James Brown style. CD 1, it's all good baby. "Hot pants" has a positively infectious groove from the onset driven by Robert Coleman's slick guitar riff and John Starks struttin' drums. The Bridge section of "Make it funky" shows how good bass can be, sure, Fred Thomas's riff is simple, but when it sounds so good why change it. Track 5, "King Heroin" is JB's stand against drugs in the form of a beautiful poetic, spoken word piece. Track 8, "get on the good foot" Gives Fred Thomas the freedom on the bass he deserves, and the track benefits from this greatly. By now if your not shaking your booty, or something, you must be dead! It's funk liberation, and were only 8 tracks in. Steve Gadd (drums) joins in the fun at track 11 and 12, both tracks are sweet gems to help finish off CD 1. After quickly inserting CD 2, you are rewarded with "The Payback" track 1, this funk is straight outa '74 and its still as fresh as a daisy. In "Stoned to the Bone" we hear the legend, Maceo Parker on Sax for the first time in the comp. It's worth the wait, and he contributes along side the usual suspects for most of this CD. James Brown is busting with energy throughout the entire set. He deserves every accolade he gets and this album demonstrates why in every word, yelp, and affirmation in all 26 tracks. The godfather turned on the funk in '71 and it still flows are pure today as it did then. Classic!"

Minister of New New Super Heavy Funk

katja_r | 01/10/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I enjoy the music on this CD immensely. Mr. James Brown (b1928) is the most charted artist alive, with a total of 98 Top 40 hits on the R&B charts. This collection demonstrates how the "Hardest Working Man in Showbiz" refused to rest on his laurels, but instead created and nurtured a brand new style, namely Funk. The notes provide the events during the period of 1971-75. Mr Alan Leeds, a long-time associate of Mr Brown, writes, "But for the veteran fan professing to appreciate the entire career, nothing is more eye-opening than the generation which defines Brown by seventies hits like 'The Payback' and 'Funky President'. The seventies - from hippies to psychedelia to disco - kept James Brown on his toes." These Super Heavy Funk rhythms certainly do that for me. The songs follow the format of a solid groove with Mr Brown rapping. It sounds easy, but no one else has been able to match it for excitement. All of the songs get me moving. "I'm a Greedy Man" is a bit faster than the rest, and "Make it Funky, Part 4" shows Mr Brown having fun with his musicians. He also has a serious side in an anti-drug song "King Heroin" and "Down and Out in New York City". Among those influenced by Mr Brown are Mrrs George Clinton (Parliment), Bootsy Collins, and Prince. If you are interested in Block Rockin' Super Heavy Funk, this CD will be interesting to you."