James Brown was one of the most influential musicians of all time. He is often called the “Godfather of Soul” or the “Hardest Working Man in Show Business.” He was a pioneer in funk and soul music and inspired countless artists to follow in his footsteps. Brown’s music was a reflection of his life, which included many ups and downs, but it was always marked by passion and intensity.
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Brown had many popular hits over the course of his career, but here are 10 of his most memorable songs:
Top 10 James Brown Pop Hit Songs
James Brown’s discography is huge, so it’s hard to pick the best songs. Here are our top 10 favorites:
10. “I Got You (I Feel Good)” – 1965
This song is a cornerstone of classic soul, and it’s one of the best examples of Brown’s early funk style. It starts with his trademark call-and-response, “Say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud!” Then, Brown launches into a series of declarations that he feels good about himself and his music. He has no doubt in his mind that he’s going to be successful. This song is an important piece of musical history because it shows Brown’s confidence as an artist and how he was able to draw inspiration from his own life experiences to create something new and exciting.
9. “Living In America – 1985
This song marked another turning point in Brown’s career as a musician and performer. It was one of his first songs recorded with The JB’s, his band at the time. In addition to being one of Brown’s most popular tracks ever recorded, it also helped him gain fame outside of the United States after he performed it at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. The song features a heavy instrumental track with organ playing by Bobby Byrd, and saxophone.
8. “I Got the Feelin'” – 1968
James Brown was a musical pioneer, and “I Got the Feelin'” is one of his best-known songs. It’s a great example of his distinctive style, which combined gospel music with funk and R&B. The song was released in 1968 and peaked at No. 3 on Billboard’s pop chart.
7. “Cold Sweat (Part 1)” – 1967
“Cold Sweat” is a song recorded by James Brown and The Famous Flames. Released as a single in 1967, it was one of the first recordings to feature the soul clap drum break. It was included on their album Cold Sweat.
6. “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag (Part 1)” – 1965
Another classic James Brown song that reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1965. This was his first single to feature his backing band The JB’s, which included members such as Bootsy Collins, Maceo Parker and Fred Wesley. The band would go on to play on many more of his hits throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
5. “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” – 1966
This was James Brown’s most successful single, reaching number one on the R&B chart and number three on the pop chart. It also made it to #1 in the UK in September 1966, making it his only single to reach that position there.
The song was written by Brown and recorded live at a show in Pittsburgh, PA on February 18, 1966 (the same show where he performed “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag”).
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4. “Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud” – 1968
This song was James Brown’s first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, spending two weeks at the top of the chart in February 1969. The song was written by Brown, who also produced it. The single was released during a period when Brown’s popularity was rising as a result of his performance at the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963 (the same day Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech).
3. “Mother Popcorn (Part 1)” – 1969
This song was released as a single in 1969, right before the Apollo Theater hosted what many consider to be Brown’s greatest performance ever. The song’s title refers to the nickname that Brown had given his mother. He included some lyrics from this song on his album “SuperBad” (1970), which won the Grammy Award for Best <a href="https://blog.jambox.io/what-is-rhythm-and-blues-music-history-of-rb-music/”>R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
2. “SuperBad (Part 1 & Part 2)” – 1970
This song came from Brown’s groundbreaking album “Gettin’ Down To It,” which featured the hit single “Cold Sweat.” The album introduced a new sound for Brown that would become an integral part of his later recordings. The song also features an early appearance by Maceo Parker on saxophone and Fred Wesley on trombone.
1. “Licking Stick, Licking Stick (Part 1)” – 1968
This song is another one of James Brown’s powerful funk exercises. It has the distinction of being the first stereo single released by King Records. The “lick stick” in words means a stick or “lick” used to inflict corporal punishment.
Who Was James Brown?
James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. A major figure of 20th-century popular music and dance, he is often referred to as the “Godfather of Soul”. In a career that spanned six decades, he influenced the development of several music genres including funk, rock’n’roll, and hip-hop.
Brown began his career as a gospel singer in Toccoa, Georgia. He joined an R&B vocal group, the Gospel Starlighters (also known as the Famous Flames), in which he was the lead singer. First coming to national public attention in the late 1950s as a member of The Famous Flames with the hits “Please, Please, Please” and “Try Me“, Brown built a reputation as a tireless live performer with an energetic stage presence. His success peaked in the 1960s with his signature hit “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag”. During this period Brown pioneered new styles such as funk music while also becoming one of its most celebrated icons.
