Papa's Got a Brand New Bag
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| "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" | ||||||||||
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| Single by James Brown | ||||||||||
| from the album Papa's Got a Brand New Bag | ||||||||||
| A-side | "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag - Pt. 1" | |||||||||
| B-side | "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag - Pt. 2" | |||||||||
| Released | June 1965 | |||||||||
| Format | vinyl record (7" 45 RPM) | |||||||||
| Recorded | February 1965 at Arthur Smith Studios, Charlotte, North Carolina | |||||||||
| Genre | Rhythm and blues, funk | |||||||||
| Length | 2:07 (Pt. 1) | |||||||||
| Label | King 5999 |
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| Writer(s) | James Brown | |||||||||
| Producer | James Brown | |||||||||
| James Brown singles chronology | ||||||||||
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"Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" is a song written and recorded by James Brown.[1] It was released as a two-part single in 1965, and is considered seminal in the musical genre of funk.
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[edit] The hit single
The 45rpm single was Brown's first song to reach the Billboard Hot 100 Top Ten, peaking at number eight. It was also a number-one R&B hit, topping the charts for eight weeks.[2]
"Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" is widely considered the first recording to showcase what later became Brown's signature musical style, and marks the beginning of the development of funk. As Brown sings the praises of an old man brave enough to get out on the dance floor of a nightclub, Brown's band provides a horn-heavy backdrop with a prominent rhythm and an electric guitar riff for a hook. It is considered one of Brown's signature songs, and has been covered by many artists, both within the R&B genre and outside of it.
The recording of the tune was taped in under one hour, on the way to a live performance. The released single was the result of speeding up the recording tape so that the key of the song was raised a musical half-step.[citation needed]
[edit] Legacy
In 2004, "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" was ranked number 72 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. (In 2010 the magazine updated its list, and the song was moved up a rank to number 71.)[3] The song is currently ranked as the 82nd greatest song of all time, as well as the sixth best song of 1965, by Acclaimed Music.[4]
[edit] Other James Brown versions
Brown recorded a big band jazz arrangement of "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" with the Louie Bellson Orchestra for his 1970 LP Soul on Top.
Brown's 1991 4-CD box set Star Time includes the 6:58-long, un-sped up recording of the song in its original key and tempo. The track includes lead-in studio chatter, with Brown throatily (and presciently) shouting "This is a hit!" just before the drum and horn intro.
[edit] Cover versions
In 1965, this song was covered by The Fabulous Echoes on their LP album Lovin' Feeling with the Hong Kong-based Diamond Records.
Otis Redding released a version of "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" in 1968. It was recorded live at the Whisky a Go Go in 1966.
[edit] Personnel
- James Brown - lead vocal
with the James Brown Band:
- Joe Dupars - trumpet
- Ron Tooley - trumpet
- Levi Rasbury - trombone
- Wilmer Milton - trombone
- Nat Jones - alto saxophone
- Maceo Parker - tenor and baritone saxophones
- St. Clair Pinckney - tenor saxophone
- Eldee Williams - tenor saxophone
- Al "Brisco" Clark - tenor saxophone
- Nat Jones - organ
- Jimmy Nolen - guitar
- Sam Thomas or Bernard Odum - bass
- Melvin Parker - drums
[edit] Similarly named songs
- A song recorded by the band Pigbag, "Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag", was a worldwide hit in 1981.
- In 1995 Paul Oakenfold's Perfecto Allstarz project recorded "Reach Up (Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag)", which peaked at #6 in the UK Singles Chart.
- The Capitol Steps recorded the parody "Papa's Got A Brand New Baghdad" for their 2004 album of the same name.
In addition, "Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse," an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, was named for the song.
| Preceded by "In the Midnight Hour" by Wilson Pickett |
Billboard Hot R&B Singles number-one single August 14, 1965 – October 2, 1965 (eight weeks) |
Succeeded by "I Want To (Do Everything For You)" by Joe Tex |
[edit] References
- Leeds, Alan M., and Harry Weinger (1991). Star Time: Song by Song. In Star Time (pp. 46–53) [CD liner notes]. London: Polydor Records.
- White, Cliff (1991). Discography. In Star Time (pp. 54–59) [CD liner notes]. London: Polydor Records.
[edit] Notes
- ^ James Brown interviewed on the Pop Chronicles (1969).
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 84.
- ^ "'Rolling Stone' Updates '500 Greatest Songs' List". 28 May 2010. http://www.cbs2chicago.com/entertainment/rolling.stone.songs.2.1721498.html.
- ^ "Acclaimed Music Top 3000 songs". 27 May 2009. http://www.acclaimedmusic.net.
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