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James Brown discography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James Brown discography
James Brown during the NBA All Star Game jam session in 2001.
Studio albums59
Soundtrack albums2
Live albums15
Compilation albums49
Singles144
Video albums7
Music videos10

This is a discography chronicling the musical career of James Brown. Brown joined Bobby Byrd's vocal group The Flames in 1953, first as a drummer, and then as leading front man. Later becoming The Famous Flames, they signed with Federal Records in 1956 and recorded their first hit single, "Please, Please, Please", which sold over a million copies.

After the hit release of "Try Me", following nine relative failures, the group scored a series of hit albums and recordings in the early 1960s. Brown's solo aspirations started around 1962. By the time of "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag", he used the Flames less and less as he became a full-fledged solo artist who was now involved in the development of a new R&B subgenre, funk. Eventually the Famous Flames left him in 1968 as did his James Brown band by 1970 and Brown hired The J.B.'s who helped contribute to his continuing success in the 1970s. After their disbanding, Brown struggled for a number of years with recordings before the release of 1985's "Living in America", and having success with the albums Gravity (1986) and I'm Real (1988).

Brown charted at least 96 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 and at least 110 entries on the R&B chart. Seventeen of Brown's singles, including five credited as "James Brown and the Famous Flames", hit number-one on the R&B chart. He recorded several more hits pseudonymously, notably "(Do the) Mashed Potatoes" and "Doing It to Death". In addition to his own hits, Brown wrote and produced charting records by many other performers, including Bobby Byrd, Hank Ballard, Tammy Montgomery, Lyn Collins, Marva Whitney, and The J.B.'s. In contrast to his chart success, few of Brown's hit recordings were certified by the RIAA, partly due to the reluctance of his record labels to pay the required fees.[1] He had just two certified gold singles - "Get on the Good Foot" (1972) and "The Payback" (1974) - and one gold album, 1973's The Payback.[2] However, two 1991 compilations of his work earned RIAA certification: Star Time (gold) and 20 All-Time Greatest Hits! (platinum).

Albums

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
US
[3]
US
R&B

[4]
CAN
[5]
SWI
[6]
UK
[7]
Please Please Please
(James Brown and The Famous Flames)
  • Released: 1958
  • Label: King
Try Me!
(James Brown and The Famous Flames)
  • Released: 1959
  • Label: King
Think!
(James Brown and The Famous Flames)
  • Released: 1960
  • Label: King
The Amazing James Brown
(James Brown and The Famous Flames)
  • Released: 1961
  • Label: King
James Brown and His Famous Flames Tour the U.S.A.
(James Brown and The Famous Flames)
  • Released: c. September 1962
  • Label: King
Prisoner of Love
  • Released: September 1963
  • Label: King
73 15
Showtime
  • Released: April 1964
  • Label: Smash
61 12
Grits & Soul
  • Released: 1964
  • Label: Smash
124 9
Out of Sight
  • Released: September 1964
  • Label: Smash
65 7
James Brown Plays James Brown Today & Yesterday
  • Released: November 1965
  • Label: Smash
42 3
Mighty Instrumentals
  • Released: 1966
  • Label: King
James Brown Plays New Breed (The Boo-Ga-Loo)
  • Released: March 1966
  • Label: Smash
101 27
James Brown Sings Christmas Songs
  • Released: November 1966
  • Label: King
Handful of Soul
  • Released: November 1966
  • Label: Smash
135 24
James Brown Sings Raw Soul
  • Released: March 1967
  • Label: King
88 14
James Brown Plays the Real Thing
  • Released: June 1967
  • Label: Smash
164 27
Cold Sweat
(James Brown and The Famous Flames)
  • Released: August 1967
  • Label: King
35 5
I Can't Stand Myself When You Touch Me
  • Released: March 1968
  • Label: King
17 4
I Got the Feelin'
  • Released: April 1968
  • Label: King
135 23
James Brown Plays Nothing But Soul
  • Released: August 1968
  • Label: King
150 28
Thinking About Little Willie John and a Few Nice Things
  • Released: December 1968
  • Label: King
A Soulful Christmas
  • Released: 1968
  • Label: King
Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud
  • Released: March 1969
  • Label: King
53 6
Gettin' Down to It
  • Released: May 1969
  • Label: King
99 26
The Popcorn
  • Released: August 1969
  • Label: King
148 31
It's a Mother
  • Released: August 1969
  • Label: King
26 3 49
Ain't It Funky
  • Released: January 1970
  • Label: King
43 5
Soul on Top
  • Released: April 1970
  • Label: King
125 12
It's a New Day – Let a Man Come In
  • Released: June 1970
  • Label: King
121 19
Hey America
  • Released: 1970
  • Label: King
Sho Is Funky Down Here
  • Released: April 1971
  • Label: King
137 26
Hot Pants
  • Released: August 1971
  • Label: Polydor
22 4
There It Is
  • Released: June 9, 1972
  • Label: Polydor
60 10
Get on the Good Foot
  • Released: November 20, 1972
  • Label: Polydor
68 8
Black Caesar
  • Released: February 1973
  • Label: Polydor
31 2
Slaughter's Big Rip-Off
  • Released: September 1973
  • Label: Polydor
92 15
The Payback
  • Released: December 1973
  • Label: Polydor
34 1 92
Hell
  • Released: June 28, 1974
  • Label: Polydor
35 2 78
Reality
  • Released: December 19, 1974
  • Label: Polydor
56 11
Sex Machine Today
  • Released: May 1975
  • Label: Polydor
103 24 60
Everybody's Doin' the Hustle & Dead on the Double Bump
  • Released: September 1975
  • Label: Polydor
193 31
Hot
  • Released: January 1, 1976
  • Label: Polydor
198 35
Get Up Offa That Thing
  • Released: July 1976
  • Label: Polydor
147 24 12
Bodyheat
  • Released: December 1976
  • Label: Polydor
126 20
Mutha's Nature
  • Released: 1977
  • Label: Polydor
38
Jam 1980's
  • Released: March 1978
  • Label: Polydor
121 32
Take a Look at Those Cakes
  • Released: December 1978
  • Label: Polydor
55
The Original Disco Man
  • Released: July 1979
  • Label: Polydor
152 37
People
  • Released: March 1980
  • Label: Polydor
Soul Syndrome
  • Released: 1980
  • Label: TK
63
Nonstop!
  • Released: April 1981
  • Label: Polydor
Bring It On!
  • Released: 1983
  • Label: Augusta Sound
Gravity 156 38 85
I'm Real
  • Released: 1988
  • Label: Scotti Brothers
96 15 19 27
Love Over-Due
  • Released: July 23, 1991
  • Label: Scotti Brothers
51 35
Universal James
  • Released: March 9, 1993
  • Label: Scotti Brothers
78 34
I'm Back
  • Released: November 17, 1998
  • Label: Inferno
The Merry Christmas Album
  • Released: November 16, 1999
  • Label: Waxworks
The Next Step
  • Released: August 27, 2002
  • Label: Fome
72
"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

[edit]
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
US
[9]
US
R&B

[10]
NED
[11]
SWI
[6]
UK
[7]
Papa's Got a Brand New Bag
  • Released: 1965
  • Label: King
26 2
I Got You (I Feel Good)
  • Released: January 1966
  • Label: King
36 3
It's a Man's Man's Man's World
  • Released: August 1966
  • Label: King
90 8
Soul Classics
  • Released: 1972
  • Label: Polydor
83 13
Soul Classics, Volume II
  • Released: 1973
  • Label: Polydor
31
Solid Gold, 30 Golden Hits
  • Released: 1977
  • Label: Polydor
The Fabulous James Brown
  • Released: 1977
  • Label: HRB Music Company
Can Your Heart Stand It?
  • Released: 1981
  • Label: Solid Smoke
The Best of James Brown
  • Released: 1981
  • Label: Polydor
The Federal Years, Part I
  • Released: 1984
  • Label: King
The Federal Years, Part II
  • Released: 1984
  • Label: King
Roots of a Revolution, 1956–1965
  • Released: 1984
  • Label: Polydor
Ain't That a Groove, 1966–1969
  • Released: 1984
  • Label: Polydor
Doing It to Death, 1970–1973
  • Released: 1984
  • Label: Polydor
Dead on the Heavy Funk, 1974–1976
  • Released: 1985
  • Label: Polydor
The CD of JB: (Sex Machine and Other Soul Classics)
  • Released: 1985
  • Label: Polydor
The LP of JB
  • Released: 1986
  • Label: Polydor
In the Jungle Groove
  • Released: August 1986
  • Label: Polydor
The CD of JB II, Cold Sweat and Other Soul Classics
  • Released: 1987
  • Label: Polydor
The Best of James Brown
  • Released: October 1987
  • Label: K-tel
17
Motherlode
  • Released: 1988
  • Label: Polydor
The Great James Brown, Soul Brother Number One
  • Released: 1988
  • Label: Polydor
33
Dance Machine
  • Released: 1990
  • Label: Polydor
Messin' with the Blues
  • Released: 1991
  • Label: Polydor
Star Time
  • Released: May 7, 1991
  • Label: Polydor
89
20 All-Time Greatest Hits!
  • Released: October 22, 1991
  • Label: Polydor
133 99
  • US: Platinum[8]
Sex Machine, The Very Best of James Brown
  • Released: November 1991
  • Label: Polydor
19
Greatest Hits of the Fourth Decade
  • Released: 1992
  • Label: Attic
Living in America
  • Released: 1995
  • Label: Polydor
Roots of a Revolution 1956–1963
  • Released: 1995
  • Label: Polydor
Roots of a Revolution 1956–1963
  • Released: 1995
  • Label: Polydor
James Brown's Funky Christmas
  • Released: 1995
  • Label: Polydor
Foundations of Funk, A Brand New Bag, 1964–1969
  • Released: March 19, 1996
  • Label: Polydor
Funk Power 1970, A Brand New Thang
  • Released: June 4, 1996
  • Label: Polydor
Make It Funky, The Big Payback, 1971–1975
  • Released: July 23, 1996
  • Label: Polydor
JB40 – 40th Anniversary Collection
  • Released: October 8, 1996
  • Label: Polydor
Dead on the Heavy Funk, 1975–1983
  • Released: 1998
  • Label: Polydor
20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of James Brown
  • Released: 1998
  • Label: Polydor
Classic James Brown, Universal Masters Collection
  • Released: 2001
  • Label: Polydor
20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of James Brown, Vol. 2: The 70's
  • Released: January 2002
  • Label: Polydor
The Godfather, The Very Best of James Brown 61 30
Classic James Brown, Volume II, Universal Masters Collection
  • Released: 2003
  • Label: Polydor
20th Century Masters, The Christmas Collection
  • Released: 2003
  • Label: Polydor
50th Anniversary Collection
  • Released: 2003
  • Label: Universal
The Singles, Volume I: The Federal Years, 1956–1960
  • Released: September 1, 2006
  • Label: Hip-O
The Singles, Volume II: 1960–1963
  • Released: March 27, 2007
  • Label: Hip-O
The Singles, Volume III: 1964–1965
  • Released: June 8, 2007
  • Label: Hip-O
A Family Affair
(with daughters Yamma and Venisha)
  • Released: 2007
  • Label: Let Them Eat Vinyl
The Singles, Volume IV: 1966–1967
  • Released: October 19, 2007
  • Label: Hip-O
Number 1's
  • Released: 2007
  • Label: Universal
Soul Brother No. 1
  • Released: 2008
  • Label: Universal
170
The Singles, Volume V: 1967–1969
  • Released: 2008
  • Label: Hip-O
The Singles, Volume VI: 1969–1970
  • Released: 2009
  • Label: Hip-O
The Singles, Volume VII: 1970–1972
  • Released: 2009
  • Label: Hip-O
The Singles, Volume VIII: 1972–1973
  • Released: 2009
  • Label: Hip-O
Icon
  • Released: 2010
  • Label: Polydor
The Singles, Volume IX: 1973–1975
  • Released: 2010
  • Label: Hip-O
The Complete James Brown Christmas
  • Released: 2010
  • Label: Hip-O
The Singles, Volume X: 1975–1979
  • Released: 2011
  • Label: Hip-O
The Singles, Volume XI: 1979–1981
  • Released: 2011
  • Label: Hip-O
Get On Up, The James Brown Story
  • Released: 2014
  • Label: Polydor
61 9
"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Live albums

[edit]
Title Album details Peak chart positions Notes
US
[13]
US
R&B

[14]
GER
[15]
NED
[11]
Live at the Apollo
(James Brown and The Famous Flames)
  • Recorded: October 24, 1962
  • Released: May 1963
  • Label: King
2 Re-sequenced and re-released with bonus tracks in 2004
Pure Dynamite!, Live at the Royal
(James Brown and The Famous Flames)
  • Released: 1964
  • Label: King
10 Includes 2 studio tracks with overdubbed audience
The James Brown Show
  • Released: January 1967
  • Label: Smash
Partly live
Live at the Garden
(James Brown and The Famous Flames)
  • Released: May 1967
  • Label: King
41 6 Includes one studio track with overdubbed audience; re-sequenced and re-released with bonus tracks in 2009
Live at the Apollo, Volume II
(James Brown and The Famous Flames)
  • Released: August 1968
  • Label: King
32 2 32 19 Double LP; re-sequenced and re-released with unreleased and extended performances in 2001
Sex Machine
  • Released: September 1970
  • Label: King
29 4 Double LP; 1st record contains studio tracks overdubbed with audience; 2nd record contains live concert with one studio track overdubbed with audience
Super Bad
  • Released: c. February 1971
  • Label: King
61 4 Features studio tracks with overdubbed audience.
Revolution of the Mind, Live at the Apollo, Volume III
  • Released: December 1971
  • Label: Polydor
39 7 Double LP
Hot on the One
  • Released: July 1980
  • Label: Polydor
Double LP
Live in New York
  • Released: 1981
  • Label: Knockout
Double LP; includes two studio instrumentals by the Bay Ridge Band
Live at Chastain Park Recorded 1985
Soul Session Live
  • Released: 1989
  • Label: Scotti Brothers
46 Includes one studio duet with Aretha Franklin
Love, Power, Peace, Live at the Olympia, Paris 1971
  • Released: August 23, 1992
  • Label: Polydor
Previously unreleased triple LP
Live at the Apollo 1995
  • Released: July 18, 1995
  • Label: Scotti Brothers
Includes one studio track
Say It Live and Loud, Live in Dallas 08.26.68
  • Released: August 11, 1998
  • Label: PolyGram
Previously unreleased
Live at the Apollo, Volume IV: September 13–14, 1972
  • Released: April 16, 2016
  • Label: Polydor
45 Double LP; features two performances by Brown. The JB's, Bobby Byrd, and Lyn Collins are spotlighted on this record.
Live at Home with His Bad Self
  • Released: October 25, 2019
  • Label: Republic
Live on October 1, 1969 at the Bell Auditorium, Augusta, Georgia.
"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Singles discography

[edit]

(Note) Listed below are the charting singles James Brown released on the King Records subsidiary Federal and King record labels, and Smash Records . Most of the songs also feature The Famous Flames on backing vocals through 1965. Brown had recorded singles for Bethlehem and Ember Records alternatively.

1956–1971

[edit]
Year Titles (A-side, B-side)
Both sides from same album except where indicated
Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[16]
US
R&B

[17]
BEL
[18]
CAN
[19]
GER
[20]
ITA
[21]
NED
[22]
UK
[7]
Federal releases:
1956 "Please, Please, Please"
b/w "Why Do You Do Me" (from Try Me!)
6 Please Please Please
"I Don't Know"
b/w "I Feel That Old Feeling Coming On"
"No, No, No, No"
b/w "Hold My Baby's Hand"
"Chonnie-On-Chon"
b/w "I Won't Plead No More" (from Try Me!)
1957 "Just Won't Do Right"
b/w "Let's Make It"
"Gonna Try"
b/w "Can't Be the Same"
Try Me!
"Messing with the Blues"
b/w "Love or a Game" (from Please, Please, Please)
"You're Mine, You're Mine"
b/w "I Walked Alone" (from Please, Please, Please)
"That Dood It"
b/w "Baby Cries Over the Ocean"
Please, Please, Please
1958 "Begging, Begging"
b/w "That's When I Lost My Heart"
"Try Me"
b/w "Tell Me What I Did Wrong"
48 1
1959 "I Want You So Bad"
b/w "There Must Be a Reason"
20 Try Me!
"I've Got to Change"
b/w "It Hurts to Tell You"
"It Was You"
b/w "Got to Cry"
"Good Good Lovin'"
b/w "Don't Let It Happen to Me" (from Try Me!)
Think!
1960 "I'll Go Crazy"
b/w "I Know It's True"
15
"Think" / 33 7
"You've Got the Power" 86 14
"This Old Heart"
b/w "Wonder When You're Coming Home"
79 20
King releases:
"The Bells"
b/w "And I Do Just What I Want"
68 The Amazing James Brown
1961 "Hold It"
b/w "The Scratch" (from James Brown Presents His Band!/Mighty Instrumentals)
James Brown Presents His Band/James Brown Plays James Brown Today & Yesterday
"Bewildered"
b/w "If You Want Me"
40 8 Think!
"I Don't Mind"
b/w "Love Don't Love Nobody"
47 4 The Amazing James Brown
"Suds"
b/w "Sticky" (from Tour the U.S.A.)
James Brown Presents His Band/Mighty Instrumentals
"Baby You're Right"
b/w "I'll Never, Never Let You Go"
49 2 Think!
"Just You and Me, Darling"
b/w "I Love You, Yes I Do"
17 The Amazing James Brown
"Lost Someone"
b/w "Cross Firing" (from Tour the U.S.A.)
48 2
1962 "Night Train"
b/w "Why Does Everything Happen to Me" (a.k.a. "Strange Things Happen", from Try Me!)
35 5 ` non-album track/later included on I Got You (I Feel Good)
"Shout and Shimmy"
b/w "Come Over Here"
61 16 Good, Good, Twistin' with James Brown
"Mashed Potatoes U.S.A."
b/w "You Don't Have to Go" (from The Amazing James Brown)
82 21 James Brown and His Famous Flames Tour the U.S.A.
"Three Hearts in a Tangle"
b/w "I've Got Money"
93 18
1963 "Like a Baby" / 24
"Every Beat of My Heart" 99
"Prisoner of Love"
b/w "Choo Choo"
18 6 Prisoner of Love
"These Foolish Things"
b/w "(Can You) Feel It Part 1" (from Prisoner Of Love)
55 25 non-album track (later re-recorded for Hell)
"Signed Sealed and Delivered"
b/w "Waiting in Vain"
77 Prisoner of Love
"I've Got to Change"
b/w "The Bells" (from The Amazing James Brown)
Try Me!
1964 "Oh Baby Don't You Weep"—Part 1
b/w Part 2
23 non-album track/Pure Dynamite! Live at the Royal
"Please, Please, Please" (overdubbed)
b/w "In the Wee Wee Hours (Of the Nite)" (from Tour the U.S.A.)
95 Pure Dynamite! Live at the Royal
"Again"
b/w "How Long Darling"
Prisoner of Love
"So Long"
b/w "Dancin' Little Thing" (from The Amazing James Brown)
"Tell Me What You're Gonna Do"
b/w "I Don't Care" (from Tour the U.S.A.)
The Amazing James Brown
"Think"
b/w "Try Me" (from Prisoner of Love)
James Brown Live at the Apollo
"Have Mercy Baby"
b/w "Just Won't Do Right"
92 Good Good Twistin' with James Brown
Smash releases:
1964 "Caldonia"
b/w "Evil"
95 Showtime
"The Things That I Used to Do"
b/w "Out of the Blue"
99
"Out of Sight"
b/w "Maybe the Last Time"
24 23 Out Of Sight
1965 "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf"
b/w "Devil's Hideaway"
James Brown at the Organ
Grits & Soul
"Try Me"
b/w "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag"
Instrumental versions: James Brown at the Organ
63 34 James Brown Plays James Brown - Today & Yesterday
1966 "New Breed" (Part I)
b/w Part II
99 James Brown Plays New Breed
"James Brown's Boo-Ga-Loo"
b/w "Lost in a Mood of Changes"
"Let's Go Get Stoned"
b/w "Our Day Will Come"
Handful Of Soul
1967 "Jimmy Mack"
b/w "What Do You Like"
James Brown at the Organ
James Brown Plays the Real Thing
King releases:
1965 "This Old Heart"
b/w "It Was You" (from Try Me!)
Think!
"Papa's Got a Brand New Bag"—Part 1
b/w Part 2
8 1 6 16 25 non-album track/re-recorded for Soul on Top
"I Got You (I Feel Good)"
b/w "I Can't Help It (I Just Do-Do-Do)"
3 1 35 29 non-album track/I Got You (I Feel Good) (original version on Out of Sight)
"Lost Someone" (Live) / 94 James Brown Live at the Apollo
"I'll Go Crazy" (Live) 73 28
1966 "Ain't That a Groove"—Parts 1 & 2 42 6 46 51[A] It's a Man's Man's Man's World
"Come Over Here"
b/w "Tell Me What You're Gonna Do" (from Good Good Twistin' with James Brown)
The Amazing James Brown
"It's a Man's Man's Man's World"
b/w "Is It Yes or Is It No?"
8 1 14 25 33 13 non-album track/re-recorded for Soul on Top
"How Long Darling"
b/w "This Old Heart" (from Think!)
Prisoner of Love
"Money Won't Change You"—Part 1
b/w Part 2
53 16 52 James Brown Sings Raw Soul
"Don't Be a Drop-Out"
b/w "Tell Me That You Love Me"
50 4 35
"The Christmas Song"—Version 1
b/w Version 2
James Brown Sings Christmas Songs
"Sweet Little Baby Boy"—Part 1
b/w Part 2
"Let's Make This Christmas Mean Something This Year"—Part 1
b/w Part 2
1967 "Bring It Up"
b/w "Nobody Knows"
29 7 47 James Brown Sings Raw Soul
"Kansas City"
b/w "Stone Fox" (from James Brown Sings Raw Soul)
55 21 Live at the Apollo, Volume II
"Think" (with Vicki Anderson)
B-side by Vicki Anderson: "Nobody Cares"
100
"Let Yourself Go"
b/w "Good Rockin' Tonight" (from Cold Sweat)
46 5 James Brown Sings Raw Soul
"I Loves You Porgy"
b/w "Yours and Mine" (from James Brown Sings Raw Soul)
Cold Sweat
"Mona Lisa"
"It Won't Be Me" (from I Got the Feelin')
"Cold Sweat"—Part 1
b/w Part 2
7 1
"Get It Together"—Part 1
b/w Part 2
40 11 I Can't Stand Myself When You Touch Me
"The Soul of J.B."
b/w "Funky Soul #1"
"I Can't Stand Myself (When You Touch Me)" / 28 4
"There Was a Time" 36 3
1968 "You've Got to Change Your Mind" (with Bobby Byrd)
B-side by Bobby Byrd: "I'll Lose My Mind"
47
"I Got the Feelin'"
b/w "If I Ruled the World"
6 1 I Got the Feelin'
"Licking Stick – Licking Stick"—Part 1
b/w Part 2
14 2 31 Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud
"America Is My Home"—Part 1
b/w Part 2
52 13 non-album tracks
"I Guess I'll Have to Cry, Cry, Cry"
b/w "Just Plain Funk" (from I Got the Feelin')
55 15 52 Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud
"Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud"—Part 1
b/w Part 2
10 1 47
"Goodbye My Love"
b/w "Shades of Brown"
31 9 39
"Tit for Tat (Ain't No Taking Back)"
b/w "Believers Shall Enjoy (Non-Believers Shall Suffer)"
86 58 A Soulful Christmas
1969 "Give It Up or Turnit a Loose"
b/w "I'll Lose My Mind" (from Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud)
15 1 45 non-album track

released as an instrumental on Ain't It Funky

"Soul Pride"—Part 1
b/w Part 2
33 100 The Popcorn
"I Don't Want Nobody to Give Me Nothing
(Open Up the Door, I'll Get It Myself)
"—Part 1
b/w Part 2
20 3 51 non-album tracks
"The Popcorn"
b/w "The Chicken"
30 11 46 The Popcorn
"Mother Popcorn (You've Got to Have a Mother for Me)"—Part 1
b/w Part 2
11 1 16 It's a Mother
"Lowdown Popcorn"
b/w "Top of the Stack" (from It's A Mother)
41 16 49 Sex Machine
"World"—Part 1
b/w Part 2
37 8 52 It's a New Day – Let a Man Come In
"Let a Man Come In and Do the Popcorn"—Part 1
b/w "Sometime" (from Super Bad)
21 2 69
"Let a Man Come In and Do the Popcorn"—Part 2
b/w "Gittin' a Little Hipper"—Part 2 (non-album track; instrumental version of "Get It Together")
40 6 55
"Ain't It Funky Now"—Part 1
b/w Part 2
24 3 64 Ain't It Funky
1970 "It's a New Day"—Parts 1 & 2
b/w "Georgia on My Mind"
32 3 51 34 31 76 It's a New Day – Let a Man Come In
"Funky Drummer"—Part 1
b/w Part 2
51 20 41 non-album tracks
"Brother Rapp"—Parts 1 & 2
b/w "Bewildered" (new version; non-album track)
32 2 62 79 Slaughter's Big Rip-Off
"Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine"—Part 1
b/w Part 2
15 2 4 29 7 32 non-album track
"Super Bad"—Parts 1 & 2
b/w Part 3
13 1 48 56 Super Bad
"Santa Claus Is Definitely Here to Stay"
b/w Instrumental Sing-Along version of A-side
- Hey America
"Get Up, Get into It, Get Involved"—Part 1
b/w Part 2
34 4 non-album tracks
1971 "Spinning Wheel"—Part 1 (live)
b/w Part 2 (live)
90 79 89 50 78 10 53 Sex Machine
"Soul Power"—Part 1
b/w Parts 2 & 3
29 3 92 67 47 78[B] non-album tracks
"I Cried"
b/w "World"(from It's A New Day - Let A Man Come In)—Part 2
50 15
"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Note: All singles from (1956) "Please, Please, Please" through to (1968) "I Guess I'll Have to Cry, Cry, Cry" credited as James Brown and The Famous Flames

1971–1981

[edit]
Year Titles (A-side, B-side)
Both sides from same album except where indicated
Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[23]
US
R&B

[24]
BEL
[18]
CAN
[25]
GER
[26]
ITA
[21]
NED
[22]
UK
[7]
Polydor releases:
1971 "Escape-ism"—Part 1
b/w Parts 2 & 3
35 6 Hot Pants
"Hot Pants"—Part 1
b/w Part 2
15 1 17 58 21 15 52[A]
"Make It Funky"—Part 1
b/w Part 2
22 1 79 non-album tracks
"My Part/Make It Funky"—Part 3
b/w Part 4
68 Get On The Good Foot
"I'm a Greedy Man"—Part 1
b/w Part 2
35 7 There It Is
"Hey America"
b/w Instrumental Sing-Along version of A-side
25 47 Hey America
1972 "Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing"
b/w Part 2
27 1 There It Is
"King Heroin"
b/w "Theme from King Heroin" (from Food for Thought)
40 6
"There It Is"—Part 1
b/w Part 2
43 4 22
"Honky Tonk"—Part 1
b/w Part 2
44 7 49 non-album tracks
"Get on the Good Foot"—Part 1
b/w Part 2
18 1 Get on the Good Foot
"I Got a Bag of My Own"
b/w "Public Enemy #1"—Part 1 (from There It Is)
44 3 37
"What My Baby Needs Now Is a Little More Lovin'"
b/w "This Guy-This Girl's In Love" (both tracks with Lyn Collins)
56 17 non-album tracks
1973 "I Got Ants in My Pants"—Part 1
b/w Part 15 And 16
27 4 56[A] non-album tracks
"Down and Out in New York City"
b/2 "Mama's Dead"
50 13 Black Caesar Soundtrack
"Think" (new version)
b/w "Something"
77 15 49 56[A] non-album tracks
"Think" (alternate version)
b/w "Something"
80 37
"Sexy, Sexy, Sexy"
b/w "Slaughter Theme"
50 6 29 Slaughter's Big Rip-Off
"Stoned to the Bone"—Part 1
b/w "Stoned to the Bone (Some More)"
58 4 100 97 The Payback
1974 "The Payback"—Part 1
b/w Part 2
26 1 54 69 93 12 35
"Woman"—Part 1
b/w Part 2
18 8 Hot
"My Thang"
b/w "Public Enemy #1"—Part 1 (from There It Is)
29 1 Hell
"Papa Don't Take No Mess"—Part 1
b/w Part 2
31 1 50
"Funky President (People It's Bad)" / 44 4 59[A] Reality
"Coldblooded" Hell
1975 "Reality"
b/w "I Need Your Love So Bad" (from Messing with the Blues)
80 19 Reality
"Sex Machine"—Part 1
b/w Part 2
61 Sex Machine Today
"Hustle!!! (Dead on It)"
b/w "Dead on It"—Part 2 (from Sex Machine Today)
11 Everybody's Doin' the Hustle & Dead on the Double Bump
"Superbad, Superslick"—Part 1
b/w Part 2
28
"Hot (I Need to Be Loved, Loved, Loved)"
b/w "Superbad, Superslick"—Part 1
31 Hot
1976 "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons"
b/w "Goodnight My Love"
70
"Get Up Offa That Thing"
b/w "Release the Pressure"
45 4 22 Get Up Offa That Thing
"I Refuse to Lose"
b/w "Home Again"
47
"Bodyheat"—Part 1
b/w Part 2
88 13 36 Bodyheat
1977 "Kiss in 77"
b/w "Woman"
35
"Give Me Some Skin"
b/w "People Wake Up and Live"
Both sides with The J.B.'s
20 Mutha's Nature
"If You Don't Give a Doggone About It"
b/w "People Who Criticize"
Both sides with The J.B.'s
45
"Take Me Higher and Groove Me"
b/w "Summertime" (by Martha & James)
8
1978 "Eyesight"
b/w "I Never, Never, Never Will Forget"
38 Jam 1980's
"The Spank"
b/w "Love Me Tender" (Non-album track)
26
1979 "For Goodness Sakes, Look at Those Cakes"—Part 1
b/w Part 2
52 85 Take a Look at Those Cakes
"It's Too Funky in Here"
b/w "Are We Really Dancing" (from People)
15 59 57 The Original Disco Man
"Star Generation"
b/w "Women Are Something Else" (from The Original Disco Man)
63 34
1980 "Regrets"
b/w "Stone Cold Drag"
63 86 People
"Rapp Payback (Where Iz Moses)"
b/w Part 2
46 39 Soul Syndrome
"Stay with Me"
b/w "Smokin' and Drinkin'"
80 75
"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

1983–present

[edit]
Year Titles (A-side, B-side)
Both sides from same album except where indicated
Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[27]
US
R&B

[28]
BEL
[18]
CAN
[29]
GER
[30]
ITA
[21]
NED
[22]
UK
[7]
Other releases including Scotti Brothers Records:
1983 "Night Time Is the Right Time" / 73 70 Bring It On!
"Bring It On...Bring It On" 73 45
1984 "Unity"—Part 1 ("The Third Coming")
b/w Part 2 ("Because It's Coming")
Both sides with Afrika Bambaataa)
87 57 49 Unity
1985 "Froggy Mix" (Medley) -- Part 1
b/w Part 2
23 35 50 Froggy Mix
"Living in America"
B-side by Vince DiCola: "Farewell"
4 10 2 5 12 13 8 5 Gravity
"Sex Machine '85"
b/w "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" (from 16 Greatest Hits)
76 47 Non-album track
1986 "Gravity"
b/w "Gravity" (Dub Mix, non-album track)
93 26 12 79 44 32 31 65 Gravity
"Sex Machine '86"
b/w "Woman" (from Hot)
67 34 91 46 Non-album track
1987 "How Do You Stop"
b/w "House of Rock" (Non-album track)
10 27 28 74 90 Gravity
1988 "She's the One"
b/w "Funky President (People It's Bad)" (from Reality)
12 45 Motherlode
"The Payback Mix"—Part 1
b/w "Give It Up or Turnit a Loose"
38 31 12 Non-album tracks
"I'm Real"
b/w "Tribute"
2 12 88 22 31 I'm Real
"Static"
b/w "Godfather Runnin' the Joint"
5 58 83
1989 "Gimme Your Love" (with Aretha Franklin)
B-side by Aretha Franklin: "Think" (1989)
48 37 79 Through The Storm (Aretha Franklin album)
1991 "(So Tired of Standing Still We Got to) Move On"
b/w "You Are My Everything"
48 91 66 52 Love Over-Due
"Sex Machine '91" / 69 Non-album track
1992 "I Got You (I Feel Good)" 49 72 20 All-Time Greatest Hits!
1993 "Can't Get Any Harder" (Radio mix)
b/w "Can't Get Any Harder" (C&C / Leaders Of The New School Mix) (Non-album track)
76 58 Universal James
1998 "Funk on Ah Roll" 40 I'm Back
2007 "Sex Machine" (remix) 83 Dynamite X
2024 "We Got To Change"[32]
"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Billboard Year-End performances

[edit]
Year Song Year-End
Position
1965 "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" 33
1967 "Cold Sweat" 77
1968 "I Got the Feelin'" 58
"Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud" 90
1969 "Mother Popcorn" 68
1972 "Get on the Good Foot" 99
1986 "Living in America" 65

Home video and film releases

[edit]

Other appearances

[edit]
Year Song Album
2004 "Lela"[34] Lela (Hakim) [35]
2005 "They Don't Want Music (ft. James Brown)" Monkey Business (The Black Eyed Peas)
2011 "Super Bad" (Part 1 & Part 2) (live February 10, 1973) The Best of Soul Train Live[36][37]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e Chart position is from the official UK "Breakers List".
  2. ^ Chart position from 1986.[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Wolk, Douglas. (2004). Live at the Apollo, 114. New York: Continuum.
  2. ^ Bloom, Steve. "Anything Left in Papa's Bag?" Down Beat September 1, 1980. Rpt. in The James Brown Reader: Fifty Years of Writing About the Godfather of Soul. Ed. Nelson George and Alan Leeds. New York: Plume, 2008. 160-170.
  3. ^ US studio album chart peaks:
    • "US albums". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
    • "James Brown Plays James Brown Today & Yesterday". Billboard. 22 January 1966. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
    • "James Brown Sings Raw Soul". Billboard. 3 June 1967. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
    • "I Can't Stand Myself When You Touch Me". Billboard. 4 May 1968. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
    • "Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud". Billboard. 7 June 1969. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  4. ^ US studio album R&B chart peaks:
  5. ^ Canadian studio album chart peaks:
  6. ^ a b "Swiss albums". hitparade.ch. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "UK chart peaks". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  8. ^ a b c d e "US Certification". RIAA. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  9. ^ US compilation album chart peaks:
  10. ^ US compilation album R&B chart peaks:
  11. ^ a b "Dutch albums". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  12. ^ a b c "BPI Certification". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  13. ^ US compilation album chart peaks:
  14. ^ US compilation album R&B chart peaks:
  15. ^ German live album chart peaks:
  16. ^ US Hot 100 singles:
  17. ^ US R&B singles:
  18. ^ a b c "Belgian Singles". ultratop.be. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  19. ^ Canadian singles:
  20. ^ German singles:
  21. ^ a b c "Italian Singles". hitparadeitalia.it. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  22. ^ a b c "Netherlands Singles". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  23. ^ US Hot 100 singles:
  24. ^ US R&B singles:
  25. ^ Canadian singles:
  26. ^ German singles:
  27. ^ US Hot 100 singles:
    • "US Hot 100 singles". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
    • White, Cliff (1991). "Discography". In Star Time (pp. 54–59) [CD booklet]. New York: PolyGram Records.
  28. ^ US R&B singles:
    • "US R&B singles". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
    • White, Cliff (1991). "Discography". In Star Time (pp. 54–59) [CD booklet]. New York: PolyGram Records.
    • "Unity". Billboard. 6 October 1984. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  29. ^ Canadian singles:
  30. ^ German singles:
  31. ^ "Canadian Certification". Music Canada. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  32. ^ Allah, Sha Be (2024-02-01). "New James Brown Track From 1970 "We Got To Change" Slated For Release This Month". The Source. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  33. ^ DVD review: http://www.newsweek.com/id/150461
  34. ^ "Music video 'Lela' on Youtube". YouTube.
  35. ^ "Allmusic, album Lela". AllMusic.
  36. ^ The Best of Soul Train Live at AllMusic
  37. ^ The Best of Soul Train Live (booklet). Time Life. 2011.
[edit]