The J.B.'s - Funky Good Time: The Anthology (2 CD, 1995/FLAC)

The J.B.'s recorded under various billings in the early '70s, including the J.B.'s, Fred Wesley & the J.B.'s, Maceo & the Macks, the First Family, the Last Word, and others. This double CD gathers 30 of the prime tracks by all of the above configurations from the first half of the '70s, including all nine of their chart hits and quite a few rare singles and long versions. Often, James Brown himself chips in with incidental vocals (though this is mostly instrumental) and keyboards. The two-and-a-half-hour program can start to sound monotonous if taken all at once, but it's prime, often riveting funk, jammed with lockstep grooves that vary between basic R&B vamps and imaginative, almost jazzy improvisation.

James Brown (vocals, organ, synthesizer, drums); Lyn Collins, Vicki Anderson (vocals); Phelps "Catfish" Collins, Hearlon "Cheese" Martin, Jimmy Nolen (guitar); Jimmy Parker (alto saxophone); Maceo Parker (alto saxophone, flute); St. Clair Pinckney (tenor saxophone); Darryl "Hasaan" Jamison, Jerone "Jasaan" Sanford, Russell Crimes, Isaiah "Ike" Oakley (trumpet); Fred Wesley (trombone, vocals); Bobby Byrd (piano); Dave Matthews (electric piano, organ); William "Bootsy" Collins, Fred Thomas (bass); John "Jabo" Starks (drums); Johnny Griggs (congas).

 

 

CD1:
1. Introduction To The J.B.'s / Doing It To Death - (complete version)
2. Grunt, The (Parts 1 & 2)
3. My Brother (Parts 1 & 2)
4. Pass The Peas
5. Gimme Some More
6. J.B. Shout
7. Blessed Blackness
8. Hot Pants Road
9. Givin' Up Food For Funk (Parts 1 & 2)
10. Honky Tonk (Part 1)
11. Dirty Harri
12. Watermelon Man
13. Parrty (Parts 1 & 2)
14. You Can Have Watergate But Gimme Some Bucks And I'll Be Straight
15. More Peas - (complete version)

CD2:
1. Gimme Some More - (previously unreleased, live)
2. Same Beat (Parts 1, 2 & 3)
3. If You Don't Get It The First Time, Back Up And Try It Again, Party
4. Damn Right I Am Somebody
5. I'm Payin' Taxes, What Am I Buyin'
6. Soul Power '74
7. Keep On Bumpin' Before You Give Out Of Gas
8. Breakin' Bread
9. Rockin' Funky Watergate
10. Control (People Go Where We Send You) (Part 1)
11. Cross The Track (We Better Go Back)
12. All Aboard The Soul Funky Train
13. It's The J.B.'s Monaurail, (It's Not The Express)
14. Future Shock (Dance Your Pants Off)
15. Everybody Wanna Get Funky One More Time (Part 1)