In early 1970, James Brown had a slight problem on his hands – he had no band. The musicians that had served him so loyally in the late 60s – including Maceo Parker, Jimmy Nolan and Clyde Stubblefield – went on strike and threatened to quit if the boss didn’t deal with a variety of issues that they thought needed addressing.
The Godfather, of course, never compromised on anything and immediately sought to find new recruits. He drafted in some Cincinnati teenagers – among them bassist William “Bootsy” Collins and his guitar-playing brother “Catfish” – and christened them the New Breed Band. After a shaky start, the group gelled, morphed into The JB’s and laid down some of the most sinewy and visceral funk grooves of Brown’s career.
This, the seventh instalment in what is undoubtedly a rewarding series, is packed with a raft of funk classics featuring Brown’s young lions; ranging from the seminal Get Up (I Feel Like Being Like) A Sex Machine and Super Bad, to Soul Power and Talking Loud & Saying Nothing. Rare mixes and promo versions are an added bonus, while Alan Leeds’ absorbing sleevenotes fill in the background story.
