THE POLLBACK: James Brown Tracks Poll Results Thread

27. James Brown - “It’s a New Day” 241 points
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrV3kxeqa5M&feature=related

26. James Brown - “Funky President (People It’s Bad)” 255 points
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_ODghRTeyQ

25. James Brown - “Get Up Offa That Thing (Release the Pressure)” 263 points
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_oLKupaubo

24. James Brown - “Think” 265 points (tie)
23. James Brown - “Make It Funky” 265 points (tie)

Not really sure which version of "Think" people voted for here, so just posting my favorite here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9R-k7IesuM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJHjkS0eFHM

22. James Brown - “Night Train” 274 points
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BVgeEHfuG0

21. Fred Wesley and the JBs - “Doing It to Death” 278 points/1 first-place vote

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Scfkmmrq3ME

Shot, damn good work. I would have voted "Doing The Best I Can" FWIW

someone should spotify this ish

Also "Blues For My Baby"

last one for today...

20. James Brown - “I Don’t Want Nobody To Give Me Nothin (Open Up the Door, I’ll Get It Myself) 285 points

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYNJK5sHHeo&feature=related

Didn't feel I knew enough to participate in this poll, but very interested in the results. Educational!

That said, v. pleased 'Open Up The Door, I’ll Get It Myself' placed.

King Heroin was my number one. Glad it placed. Xgau: "Yet the climax comes quietly nine tracks later: the orchestrated sermon "King Heroin" still packs a depressing wallop despite some typically bizarre moments ("Be you Italian, black, Jewish, or Mex"). Maybe it's Richard Tee's organ, or the French horns Dave Matthews hired. More likely it's JB hitting everything right, as at a given moment he always could."

Always considered Papa Don't Take No Mess to be an obvious career highlight for Brown. It confuses me to see it land at only 31 (with a lot of help from my ballot). Same with Make It Funky.

Hold on, where's no.35?!

Only two of mine placing so far - Funky President and I Don't Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing (Open Up The Door, I'll Get It Myself). I had Hot Pants Road too, but from memory that's a different track.

I'm always amazed by Funky President. It just seems to me, not being steeped in the funk by way of background, that that shouldn't work at all as non-lame music. It's too slow; the bassline's high, weird and sparse, and not what I'd've ever thought of as groovy; the guitar sounds kind of embarrassing to the novice player. Yet when we first found it in the dancey game on San Andreas, we couldn't stop digging it for days. You can't not move to it.

shit sorry about skipping 35, dunno what happened there. um THERE IT IS:

35. Fred Wesley and the JBs - “Pass the Peas” 154 points
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1x9j8kecMs

'pass the peas' has been just about ruined by jam bands etc, but the original recording holds up.

aaaaanyway gettin down to it

19. James Brown - “Licking Stick, Licking Stick” 297 points/1 first-place vote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MLxkGZC_U0

18. James Brown - “There It Is” 299 points

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVsL4ExBwlI

I believe this is what Fred Wesley refers to as "that washing machine groove"

"Pass The Peas" now as high as it should be.

17. James Brown - “Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved” 305 points
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEMyha47FzY

can't hear this one anymore without immediately thinking of Public Enemy's "Brother's Gonna Work It Out" tbh

i was the #1 voter for "Think (About It)" XD

16. James Brown - “I Got You (I Feel Good)” 319 points
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNXaCXVNFm8

15. James Brown - “Mother Popcorn” 331 points/1 first-place vote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DJyXnYQbcM

^WAY TOO LOW

yeah that would have been my number 1. should have voted.

14. James Brown - “There Was a Time” 366 points
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5CCQLOCEZw&feature=related

^^^ from the "riot-stopping" Boston Gardens show

Haha I'm not sure I've even heard of half of these.

ha the vibe on that video is a little uncomfortable, with everybody sitting in chairs around jb. much better once maceo gets up.

xp to mother popcorn

love 'get up, get into it, get involved', especially that guitar line.

I think the people sitting in chairs are his string section. The horn players and guitarists are standing (and moving) throughout.

13. James Brown - “Get on the Good Foot” 367 points
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl3NIHvlFds

iirc the time between cutting and getting this on the radio was insanely short - like a couple of days - with Brown personally rushing a test pressing to air on one of his radio stations

when i was adding in the new votes last weekend, i also re-read douglas wolk's 33 1/3 and lethem's big ass rs profile, while listening to star time. i'm a little jb'd out!

as an extra, here's a gem of an unreleased version:
http://www.youtube.co/watch?v=wHTKtW45Ii0&feature=related

that Lethem article is pretty good, the James Brown+time travel angle is a fun hook
xp

I feel bad for not commenting much on these results, but the monolithic wall of awesomeness* is kind of daunting, plus work deadlines etc. I will say that for this poll, I probably did the most studying/listening before making my ballot.

*probably the same thing that limited the total number of ballots

http://www.youtube.co/watch?v=wHTKtW45Ii0&feature=related

embed goddammit

Mr. Dynamite, Soul Brother #1, the World's Greatest Entertainer, Mr. Please Please Please himselfSongs beginning with 'Get'

12. James Brown - “I Got the Feeling” 377 points/1 first-place vote

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAJHHQO5czw

I think the people sitting in chairs are his string section. The horn players and guitarists are standing (and moving) throughout.

no big deal, but you can clearly see the guitarists & horns sitting down, and there are no strings? talking about the mother popcorn vid.

11. James Brown - “Say It Loud -- I’m Black and I’m Proud” 393 points
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VRSAVDlpDI

not the greatest or canonical version there, but posted because of youtube comments

ie

No one in my class at knows who James Brown is so I tried to do a impression, but being a white 14yr old girl people think I'm weird now...

ihatecancer1000 3 months ago 16

10. James Brown - “Funky Drummer” 427 points/1 first-place vote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNP8tbDMZNE

09. James Brown - “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” 464 points/1 first-place vote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwuO2dfqrF4

08. James Brown - “Soul Power” 466 points
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s35mS0vCcp4

07. James Brown - “Give It Up Or Turn It A Loose” 503 points/2 first-place votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf5CqSDgiLU

no big deal, but you can clearly see the guitarists & horns sitting down, and there are no strings? talking about the mother popcorn vid.

Sorry, I thought you were referencing the Boston footage.

weird list, but the top 10 is looking good for now.

06. James Brown - “Talkin’ Loud and Sayin’ Nothin’” 510 points/1 first-place vote
http://www.world-art.ru/cinema/img/10000/5436/11.jpg

This was a great, great, great poll. But it wouldn't have been nothing -- NOTHING! -- without a strongo or a Shakey.

my number one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAATcEJOWXo

results are a bit light on the epic funk jams imho but JB is many things to many folks I guess

40. James Brown - “Bewildered” 129 points/1 first-place vote
39. Fred Wesley and the JBs - “The Grunt” 138 points
38. James Brown - “King Heroin” 140 points/1 first-place vote
37. James Brown - “Let Yourself Go” 150 points
36. James Brown - “Bring It Up (Hipster’s Avenue) 152 points
35. Fred Wesley and the JBs - “Pass the Peas” 154 points
34. James Brown - “People Get Up and Drive Your Funky Soul” 173 points
33. Lyn Collins - “Think (About It)” 187 points/1 first-place vote
32. James Brown - “I Don’t Mind” 199 points
31. James Brown - “Papa Don’t Take No Mess” 204 points
30. James Brown - “Try Me” 207 points
29. James Brown - “Hot Pants” 226 points
28. James Brown - “Please, Please, Please” 239 points
27. James Brown - “It’s a New Day” 241 points
26. James Brown - “Funky President (People It’s Bad)” 255 points
25. James Brown - “Get Up Offa That Thing (Release the Pressure)” 263 points
24. James Brown - “Think” 265 points (tie)
23. James Brown - “Make It Funky” 265 points (tie)
22. James Brown - “Night Train” 274 points
21. Fred Wesley and the JBs - “Doing It to Death” 278 points/1 first-place vote
20. James Brown - “I Don’t Want Nobody To Give Me Nothin (Open Up the Door, I’ll Get It Myself) 285 points
19. James Brown - “Licking Stick, Licking Stick” 297 points/1 first-place vote
18. James Brown - “There It Is” 299 points
17. James Brown - “Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved” 305 points
16. James Brown - “I Got You (I Feel Good)” 319 points
15. James Brown - “Mother Popcorn” 331 points/1 first-place vote
14. James Brown - “There Was a Time” 366 points
13. James Brown - “Get on the Good Foot” 367 points
12. James Brown - “I Got the Feeling” 377 points/1 first-place vote
11. James Brown - “Say It Loud -- I’m Black and I’m Proud” 393 points
10. James Brown - “Funky Drummer” 427 points/1 first-place vote
09. James Brown - “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” 464 points/1 first-place vote
08. James Brown - “Soul Power” 466 points
07. James Brown - “Give It Up Or A Turn It Loose” 503 points/2 first-place votes
06. James Brown - “Talkin’ Loud and Sayin’ Nothin’” 510 points/1 first-place vote
05. James Brown - “Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine” 517 points
04. James Brown - “The Payback” 541 points
03. James Brown - “Super Bad” 554 points/2 first-place votes
02. James Brown - “Cold Sweat” 558 points/1 first-place vote
01. James Brown - “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” 589 points/1 first-place vote

The only big surprise for me is that "I Can't Stand Myself When You Touch Me" didn't place.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMWHTQKahz0&noredirect=1

Not seeing this, and that's so wrong

when i was making my ballot, i prioritized listening to and considering voting for any song with a ludicrously long title

my ballot:

1) Give It Up or Turn It Loose
2) Funky Drummer
3) Soul Power
4) People, Get Up and Drive Your Funky Soul
5) I Got to Move (There Was a Time)
6) Talkin' Loud (and Sayin' Nothing)
7) Make It Funky
8) Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved
9) The Big Payback
10) You Can Have Watergate
11) The Boss
12) I Got the Feeling (Somehow the original studio recording is still more rhythmically beguiling than any other JB tune, after all these years)
13) Doing It To Death (would blurb about this if necessary)
14) Brother Rapp
15) Stone to the Bone
16) Cold Sweat
17) Ain't it Funky
18) My Thang
19) Say It Loud (I'm Black & I'm Proud)
20) Tighten Up
21) Untitled (Instrumental) - from Motherlode
22) The Grunt
23) Sex Machine '76 (from Dead on the Heavy Funk)
24) Sex Machine
25) Cold Sweat
26) Super Bad
27) Too Funky in Here
28) Funky President
29) I Don't Want Nobody to Give Me Nothin' (Open Up the Door etc)
30) Papa's Got a Brand New Bag
31) Papa Don't Take No Mess
32) Rapp Payback
33) Mother Popcorn
34) Hot Pants
35) I Got You (I Feel Good)
36) Super Bad
37) For Goodness Sakes, Just Look at Those Cakes

Cold Sweat is such a jam.

Ismael Klata
to jess.harvell
mine:

1. James Brown - It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World
2. Dee Felice Trio - Sunny
3. James Brown - Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved
4. James Brown - Woman
5. James Brown - Down & Out In New York City
6. James Brown - World
7. James Brown - Hey America
8. James Brown - It’s A New Day
9. James Brown - Recitation By Hank Ballard
10. James Brown - Soul Power

11. James Brown - Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag
12. James Brown - Hot Pants Road
13. Lyn Collins - Rock Me Again And Again And Again
14. James Brown - Public Enemy #1
15. Lyn Collins - You Can’t Beat Two People
16. The JBs - Thank You For Lettin' Me Be Myself
17. James Brown - Goodbye My Love
18. James Brown - Ain’t It Funky Now
19. James Brown - Time After Time
20. James Brown - People, Get Up And Drive

21. James Brown - Funky President
22. James Brown - Get On The Good Foot
23. James Brown - Turn On The Heat And Build Some Fire
24. James Brown - The Bells
25. James Brown - I’m Not Demanding
26. The JBs - Superbad
27. The First Family - Control
28. James Brown - Reality
29. James Brown - There It Is
30. James Brown - Living In America

31. James Brown - Superbad
32. James Brown - Mother Popcorn
33. James Brown - America Is My Home
34. James Brown - Dead On It
35. James Brown - Summertime
36. James Brown - I Got A Bag Of My Own
37. James Brown - I Got You (I Feel Good)
38. James Brown - I Don’t Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing
39. James Brown - I Don’t Care
40. James Brown - The Little Groove Maker Me

1. Super Bad
2. Think
3. I Got You (I Feel Good)
4. Cold Sweat
5. Papa's Got a Brand New Bag
6. Prisoner of Love
7. Funky Christmas
8. Licking Stick - Licking Stick
9. Sex Machine
10. Soul Power
11. Night Train
12. I Don't Mind
13. The Payback
14. Give It Up or Turnit a Loose
15. Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud
16. Pass the Peas (The J.B.'s)
17. I Don't Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing (Open Up the Door I'll Get It Myself)
18. It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World
19. Please, Please, Please
20. Hot Pants
21. My Brother
22. Get Up Offa That Thing
23. Out of Sight
24. Funky President
25. King Heroin
26. Try Me
27. I Can't Stand Myself (When You Touch Me)
28. Mother Popcorn
29. Funky Drummer
30. Escape-Ism
31. Sunny (with the Dee Felice Trio)
32. Get On the Good Foot
33. I Got the Feelin'
34. Doing It To Death
35. Georgia on My Mind

1 Bobby Byrd I Know You Got Soul
2 James Brown People Get Up And Drive Your Funky Soul
3 James Brown Funky President (People It's Bad)
4 James Brown Blind Man Can See It
5 James Brown She's The One
6 James Brown The Boss
7 James Brown I'm A Greedy Man
8 James Brown The Payback
9 James Brown Soul Power
10 James Brown Blues & Pants
11 James Bro Super Bad
12 James Brown Since You've Been Gone
13 James Brown Talkin' Loud & Sayin' Nothing
14 James Brown Make It Funky
15 James Brown Funky Drummer
16 James Brown Get On The Good Foot
17 James Brown Say It Loud, I'm Black And I'm Proud
18 The JBs You Can Have Watergate…
19 James Brown Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose
20 James Brown Get Up Off That Thing

1. King Heroin
2. Papa Don't Take No Mess
3. There Was A Time
4. The Payback
5. Mother Popcorn
6. Make It Funky
7. Funky Drummer
8. Talkin' Loud & Sayin' Nothing
9. Soul Power
10. Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose
11. Super Bad
12. It's A New Day
13. It's A Man's Man's Man's World
14. Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine
15. Cold Sweat
16. Doing It To Death
17. I Don't Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing (Open Up The Door I'll Get It Myself)
18. It's Too Funky In Here
19. Get On The Good Foot
20. Hot Pants
21. I'm A Greedy Man
22. Get It Together
23. Funky President (People It's Bad)
24. I Got The Feelin'
25. There It Is
26. I Got A Bag Of My Own
27. Don't Be A Dropout
28. Papa's Got A Brand New Bag
29. Ain't That A Groove
30. Bring It Up (Hipster's Avenue)
31. I Can’t Stand It
32. Public Enemy #1
33. Stone To The Bone
34. Mind Power
35. Don't Tell It
36. Down And Out In New York City
37. Coldblooded
38. Say It Loud, I'm Black And I'm Proud, Pt .1
39. Get Up Offa That Thing
40. My Thang

http://open.spotify.com/user/arosner/playlist/2kAJCrG2lVdGfrAJwCIvoB

yaaaay
THANK YOU

Wow, thanks for posting this. Here's my ballot:


1. I Got the Feelin (50)
2. Please Please Please (49)
3. Cold Sweat (48)
4. Soul Power (47)
5. Super Bad (46)
6. The Payback (45)
7. Out Of Sight (44)
8. There Was A Time (43)
9. Papa's Got a Brand New Bag (42)
10. Aint That A Groove (41)
11. Say It Loud (40)
12. I Feel Good (39)
13. Papa Don't Take No Mess (38)
14. Hot (37)
15. Bring It Up (36)
16. Let Yourself Go (35)
17. Get Up, Sex Machine (34)
18. I Can't Stand Myself (33)
19. Talking Loud And Saying Nothing (32)
20. Stoned To The Bone (31)
21. Baby, You're Right (30)
22. Money Won't Change You (29)
23. Give It Up Or Turn It Loose (28)
24. Licking Stick - Licking Stick (27)
25. I'll Go Crazy (26)
26. Get Up Offa That Thing (25)
27. I Got A Bag Of My Own (24)
28. Make It Funky (23)
29. Try Me (22)
30. Doing It To Death (21)
31. There It Is (20)
32. I Got You (19)
33. Mother Popcorn (18)
34. Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved (17)
35. Mashed Potatoes (16)
36. Tell Me What I Did Wrong (15)
37. It's A Man's World (14)
38. Hot Pants (13)
39. Night Train (12)
40. Funky Drummer (11)