James Brown BEST OF/20TH CENT.V2

Personnel includes: James Brown, Bobby Byrd (vocals); Phelps "Catfish" Collins (guitar); Maceo Parker (saxophone); Fred Wesley (trombone); Bootsy Collins (bass); Jab'o Starks (drums).
Producer: James Brown.
Compilation producer: Harry Weinger.
Recorded between 1970 and 1976. Includes liner notes by Daddy Cool.
All tracks have been digitally remastered.
This is part of Universal's "20th Century Masters The Millenium Collection" series.
Photographer: Tom Terrell.
Arranger: Fred Wesley.
The first volume of the 20TH CENTURY MASTERS James Brown compilation chronicled Brown's rise from Jackie Wilson-inspired R&B crooner to the godfather of soul. The second volume finds him locking down the trademark funk sound that carried him through the '70s. Outside of Marvin Gaye, you'd be hard pressed to find a harder-grooved expression of sensuality than "Sex Machine," but the story doesn't stop there. The '70s found Brown exploring a more highly politicized sensibility, as exemplified by the street-smart "Talking Loud and Saying Nothing" and "The Payback." Aided by the likes of drummer Clyde Stubblefield (the original "funky drummer") and young bass phenom Bootsy Collins, Brown created a sinuous, distinctive style in the '70s that laid the groundwork for most of the funk that followed, and this concise collection shows how it was done.

• Format: CD
• Genre: R&B