MOG 2 Year: All The Kings Men (and Women)
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Artist:
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Album:James Brown's Funky People 3
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Track:Mr.Hot Pants aka Across The Track (Parts 1+2)
Rather than do what I did on my 1 year anniversary, which is thank, Sally Field-style (but with detail), everyone I ever knew. I'm gonna go ahead and make a "regular" post to celebrate my MOG birthday. Suffice it to say, I love the people who made MOG, the people who make MOG, and the people who are no longer on MOG, that made the 2 years of my first online community experience so stellar.
So if I could post about anything and its my party, just for a few minutes, what would I post about? James Brown, of course. Here goes:
Hip Hop folks have entourages,posses,labels,and clothing lines. George Clinton had his P-Funk mob releasing records on multiple labels and touring as a self contained revue filling sheds from coast to coast. Where do these folks get their funk from? Why, in more ways than one, they get it from the Godfather, James Brown.
When JB started in the 50's, R+B artists often appeared in revues, singing their hits only, in short sets, before packing it all into a bus and moving to the next stop on the chitlin' circuit. Early on JB started travelling and appearing on bills where he supplied all the acts. That way he could get all the money.
In the studio James Brown was ultra-prolific, making his own records, records for folks in his revue, records for his bands, and records for just about anyone he heard first. Mr. Hot Pants aka Across the Track from The Believers was released to little acclaim (or sales) on James' BrownStone imprint (a joint venture w/Florida record man Henry Stone). In the ever convoluted world o'Mr. Brown, The Believers = The JB's (1971 version)led by Fred Wesley, doin' a tune originally called Pot of Grass, that was mostly put together in a jam session arranged by Dave Matthews (one of the key folks in the control room for James in the 70's). The tune resurfaced (as many due in JB land) in '74 for Maceo and the Macks, after Mr. Parker returned from one of the biggest mutinies in GFOS band history.
James Brown ran a tough and tight ship. No doubt it was a thrilling gig, but folks in James' employ were on salary, and on call 24-7. Contributions (arranging,writing,reheresing) band members like Maceo made, were not often awarded with credit or cash, and in 1970 Maceo led a whole group of disgruntled folks away from James.
The Godfather was not amused and when Maceo & All The King's Men released their Doin' Their Own Thing record on the miniature House Of Fox label, Mr.Brown pulled every string he could to make it a failure on radio. JB had chits for days with radio folks so his blockade was successful and Maceo's record went nowhere. The funk of Better Half deserved a better fate, but that's the way the worm turned for those in the orbit of James Brown. After one more album the majority of the King's Men returned to the bus in '72. The personnel shuffle was an ongoing thing for JB's bands, but the turnover in the female vocalist department was even more pronounced.
My records show no fewer than 14 women with sides cut under the supervision of The Boss. For awhile there James seemed to use his revue as a personal dating service, as he was often romantically linked with his female employees. Not to mention that its rumored that he fathered kids with his charges more than once. Not an easy job for any aspirant female singer, but there were some excellent records born out of these unions as well. The Queens of the JB revue with the most prolific recording schedules were Marva Whitney, Vicki Anderson, and Lyn Collins. Please see their killer contributions in comments. Vicki Anderson, it should be noted, didn't date the GFOS because she was married to long time JB associate, Bobby Byrd (RIP).
Mr. Byrd's family in Augusta,GA adopted a young James Brown out of reform school, so Bobby and James grew up and started in the music biz together from the early 50's, with Mr. Byrd in the role of big brother to the ever excitable, always motivated, and driven to succeed James Brown . Bobby's records made while in the JB camp were hard, fast, and funky..top flight stuff. Check Sayin' It.. in comments. Despite the long relationship, Bobby Byrd left the revue on a few occasions, including a stint with his wife in the 90's cutting some nice records in Europe, where they fell in with the burgeoning acid jazz/raw funk scene.
Originally a bass player for the JB's in '68, "Sweet" Charles Sherrell, had a deep history in music, including a stint with Aretha Franklin's touring band, tutelage from Curtis Mayfield, as well as,early playing with Billy Cox and a young Jimi Hendrix. When JB needed a bass player he did not mess around and recruited "Sweet" Charlie. A multi-instrumentalist, Sherrell, later went on to play keyboards for James, and voiced an album in 75 (For Sweet People) on JB's People label. (see Outta sight,Outta mind in comments). "Sweet Charles" is still playing today, mostly in Europe.
Throughout the 60's almost all of JB's side projects (and his solo work) were released on Syd Nathan's King Records. In the 70's after switching to Polydor, JB got his own imprint for side projects, called People records. A King studio band (all white BTW), The Dapps, were led by drummer,Beau Dollar. Beau got the credit for Who Knows, but the Dapps were all there for this '70 stormer from the second string.
One of the first album releases on People Records was The JB's Food For Thought. Cut between '70 and '71, it featured the funk and future sample classic Pass The Peas..easily an all time fave of mine. Fred Wesley's trombone solos on Peas, thousands of listens later still transport and when the beat drops after the intro, it never fails to move me and my butt. If this record was cologne it'd be Eau De Funk!
The situation around James Brown was always fluid..folks coming and folks going, but as these tunes show, if the GFOS had his hand in, it was always funky. A cornucopia of cool grooves for crate diggers, funk lovers, and JB-o-philes, that just doesn't seem to end (believe me, this is just a small sample). The King's men and women helped make the funk what it is, whether with James or on their own, and many continue to spread the word today.
Hope you had a good Thanksgiving..Keep on Moggin'
Check for all the above tunes in comments...
Comments (52)
Maceo & All The King's Men - Better Half
Marva Whitney - Unwind Yourself
Lyn Collins - Take Me Just As I Am
Vicki Anderson - The Mesage From The Soul Sisters (Pt.1 +2)
Bobby Byrd - Sayin It and Doin' It Are two Different Things
Sweet Charles - Outta Sight Outta Mind
Beau Dollar - Who Knows
The J.B.'s - Pass The Peas
Happy mogiversary to you Cody B....you are good people.
happy 2 year moggy! stellar post topic, sir.
So that's the big one! Already a toddler...my how time flies. I'll cue these up tonight. It's a great association Mr CodyB sir! All the best!!
Damn Scot, I hadn't even considered the terrible twos.
Food For Thought, Annie..
Wow, look at all those red dots! :)
Congrats Cody, and welcome to the Terrible 2's.
Ah Cody. I used a James Brown and Pavarotti clip to describe a moment I was going through earlier this year. Here you are, with this treasure chest to celebrate your anniversary here. So happy to celebrate with you!
Thanks DRose..I guess I got all shellfish and gave myself a present..Good to be here amongst some serious MOGvets.
Congrats Cody, nice to see some of the old guard still hanging in and thanks for the JB history lesson , I have read his own 1986 bio but apparently there is quite a bit to chew on.
I gotta read that sometime CP..My guess is the GFOS would never let on about all his helpers too much..I read Fred Wesley's book last year and he was pretty twisted around about his feelings on James..Slagging here, lauding there..It was fun to read though.
Thanks, I originally got the book becuse it lists every single and album he released from the beginning. Its a curious read, the ego is there but for some of it I can't blame him. I'll have to read wesleys book thanks again
Cody--happy M-day. And you still have time to take the rest of us to school again. Great info here. I'm new on my JB chops, so this is something I'll be digesting for a while, but I'll be jamming the whole time, eh?
Mostly Fred just seemed amazed how someone who was not trained in music could get so much credit for innovating music..It's sure easy to see why James drove a hard bargain though, considering the hurdles he had to jump to get where he got.
Many grooves here,Groon. Scroll back through JB's MOG page for more than a couple JB posts by myself and others. For the most part the JB orbit tunes were made in the exact same way JB tunes were..band cooks up arrangements, JB comes in, tinkers, adds vocals, decides whose record it's gonna be..He tried to take the good ones for himself, but a few slipped through.
Look at all those useless red dots. I'll have to bookmark this page Cody and comeback in a few months when they figure this one out.
2 years, old man!
It definitely seems longer,Dach. A MOG year is like, what, 12 years?
hey, red dots make for great christmas ornaments!
Stellar can only begin to describe this post - you are the B-arm
Educate the masses!
As is your wont, you once more spoil us, friend. I'm another who's gonna have to come back to this one - still gettin' the five-seconds-on-five-seconds-off thing. But just knowing that I will eventually be able to hear these cuts gives meaning to my drab existence....
Many thanks Ivy,Rummy..if you have an itch you could always listen to 'em on the darkside, they are up there too.
2 years you say, what does a fellow mogger get you for the occasion?
I think you know by now,Rawk...Music! I need more.
We just played Bobby Byrd's version of "Hot Pants" for a packed house the other night, and that tune SLAYS. He was covering GFOS, but it's different somehow. Bobby Byrd is the man, RIP.
I think JB needs to be understood not just in the context of his own outrageous egotism, but in terms of how he almost always got the best out of all of his band members. Like Zappa, he was clearly often a total dick, but to say you were in his band is really saying something...
said like a true addict, kudos on the two years!
I had no idea about the JB clan of musicmakers. Thanks for the history lesson Cody. And happy mogiversary to you too. My two year is just a little over a month away on 1/8/09. Amazing we are all still here!
amazing post. awesome 2 years!!!!
cody b, you are a mog uber god overlord
Well cant top the mog uber god overload comment from the man above... but congrats from a new and addicted MOGGER who is learning more each and every day... because of posts like this.. Thank you from the bottom of my red button... :-)
@mully-Absolutely..Being a good band leader doesn't mean being mr. or ms. congeniality. On the other end of the spectrum, is George Clinton, who got a lot out of his folks in a different way...the chaos theory. At any rate they "use what they got, to get what they want." (GFOS)
I have got to see you guys play sometime..
@A1- Even though we're both young, I wanna stay at the kid's table no matter how old I get.
@david-Wow the MFOS (MOG Father of Site, just MF when folks are mad at ya). Thanks for the new handle (MUGO), I love it. And thank you and your crew for an incredible place to be.
@ZRaven- Ha, thank you ZR. It cool to have some new folks speakin' up ' round the MOG.
Red Buttons + Dean Martin
My dear Cody...this post is as amazing as you are. Those red buttons are gigantic for the simple reason that the music coming out of them is gigantic. Bookmarked.
Happy MOGniversary. It's truly great to have you here. You bring tremendous amounts of soul. Wuve you lots. Here's to many more happy returns.
Thanks Anna..you would definitely fall under the category of folks who make MOG what it is..
Just so I don't get labled JB-ish in my credit giving:
The Believers - Mr. Hot Pants (Dave Matthews)
Recorded May 13,1971 Starday Studios,Nashville: Jerone "Jasaan" Sanford (trumpet),Fred Wesley (trombone),Jimmy Parker (alto),St. Clair Pinckney (tenor), Robert Coleman, Hearlon "Cheese" Martin (guitars),Fred Thomas (bass), John "Jabo" Starks (Drums),Johnny Griggs (conga)
Maceo & All The King's Men - Better Half (Maceo & All The King's Men)
Recorded 1970.Maceo (alto), Bernard Odum (bass), L.D. Williams (tenor), Jimmy Nolen (guitar), Alphonso Kellum (guitar), Richard "Kush" Griffith (trumpet), Joseph Davis (trumpet), Melvin Parker-Maceo's brother(drums)
Marva Whitney - Unwind Yourself (Hank Ballard-Charles Spurling) Salaam Remi remix
Recorded Dec. 11,1967. Marva (vox),Joe Dupars,Waymon Reed (trumpets),Levi Rasbury (trombone), Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis (alto),Maceo (tenor),St. Clair Pinckney (baritone), Jimmy Nolen, Alphoso Kellum (guitars), Bernard Odum (bass), Clyde Stubblefield (drums)
Lyn Collins - Take Me Just As I Am (James Brown)
Recorded Feb. 1973 Rodel Studios,DC and A7R Studios,NYC. Lyn (vox),Maceo (alto), Fred Thomas (bass), St. Clair Pinckney, Eldee Williams (tenor), Jimmy Nolen, Hearlon "Cheese" Martin (guitar), Isiah "Ike" Oakley, Jerone "Jasaan" Sanford, Darryl "Hasaan" Jamison(trumpets), John "Jabo' Starks(drums), John Morgan (percussions), unknown strings
Vicki Anderson - The Mesage From The Soul Sisters (Pt.1 +2) (James Brown)
Recorded September 9,1970 King Studios,Cincinnati. Vicki (vox), Clayton "Chicken" Gunnels, Darryl "Hasaan" Jamison (trumpets), Robert "Chopper" McCollough (tenor), Bobby Byrd (piano),Phelps "Catfish" Collns (guitar), William "Bootsy" Collins (bass), Clyde Stubblefield (drums)
Bobby Byrd - Sayin It and Doin' It Are Two Different Things (James Brown-Bobby Byrd-Hearlon Martin-Fred Wesley) post-'70 folks got some more writing credits)
Recorded August 15,1972 Bobby Smith Studios, Macon,GA. Russell crimes,Ike Oakley, Darryl "Hasaan"Jamison (trumpets),Fred Wesley (trombone), Jimmy Parker (alto), St.Clair Pinckney (tenor),Jimmy Nolen, Hearlon"Cheese" Martin (guitars),Fred Thomas (bass),John Morgan?(drums), Johnny Griggs (conga)
Sweet Charles - Outta Sight Outta Mind (Sherrel-Brown)
Recorded March 18,1975 A&R Studios,NYC. Sweet Charles (vox,clavinet,bass?), Russel Crimes (trumpet), Fred Wesley (trombone, backing vox), Jimmy Parker,Maceo Parker (alto),St. Clair Pinckney (tenor), Jimmy Nolen, Hearlon "Cheese" Martin (guitar), Fed Thomas? (bass), Melvin Parker or John Morgan (drums), Johnny Griggs (percussion), Bob Both (additional vox)
Beau Dollar - Who Knows (james Brown-Bob Hobgood-William Bowman,jr)
Recorded July 5,1968 King Studios Cincinnati,OH. Kenny Tibbets (trumpet), Les Asch,David Parkinson (saxes), Tim Hedding (organ),Eddie Setser (guitar), Charles Summers(bass), William "Beau Dollar" Bowman,jr (drums)
The J.B.'s - Pass The Peas (James Brown-John Starks-Charles Bobbit)
Recorde June 28/29,1971 Bobby Smith Studios,Macon,GA
Jerone "Jasaan" Sanford,Russel Crimes (trumpets),Fred Wesley (trombone),Jimmy Parker (alto),St. Clair Pinckney (tenor), Robert Coleman, Hearlon "Cheese" Martin (guitars),Fred Thomas (bass), John "Jabo" Starks (Drums),Johnny Griggs (conga), James Brown (organ),Bobby Roach Bobby Byrd (spoken intro), entire band (vocals)
Since it's that time of year, I'd like to give thanks to the folks at Universal nee Polygram nee Polydor and cats like Cliff White and Alan Leeds, who have done such a great job at detailing the GFOS legacy and giving it the respect it deserves.
Epic post. Wow. Congrats on your 2nd. Amazing stuff!
omilordy Cody mister B, i've never seen so many red buttons all at once in my life. you've been throwing the best parties of recent memory.
this has been educational in the geekiest-best way possible. your tunes are spinning me right 'round and i'm not even done playing.
well, rather than greet you Hallmark style (but with good cake) on your MOG birthday, i'll go ahead and reprise my "regular" comment in your posts: you're the shiznit and i can't be happier posting in the same webspace as you. happy happy joy joy!
Musicgeekfotainment..my new calling card Ms. Poe..ditto to the happy² joy².
contra-O wise one. Looks like I went red button crazy..now that my 24 hours of fame are over, I don't know what to do with myself.
Wow Cody! You have outdone yourself. This post is absolute perfection!
Two years? Can you believe it? Where does the time go?
We can always count on you to serve us the best sounds!
:=)
Cody, this ultrapost is just another confirmation that you've been one of MOG's heavy hitters, with arresting musical discoveries, pithy insights and impeccable wit.
The above red buttons are all portals to greatness; to choose one, let me say that those Dapps (& Beau Dollar) show once again that those white people sure have a good sense of rhythm!
Truly a legendary post. I know whenever I read one of yours Cody, that I will be schooled in something good. Happy M2 day, MUGO! Lets see how those red dots go now....
Woot! Bring on year 3 man.
Here's to you and everything you bring to the table.
I just don't know what I would have missed if you weren't here to shine the light on the music I love the most.
@The Time Machine-Hey are we related..we were almost born on the same day.
@dchris-Love the New TJ avatar. The power of MUGO compels those dots to work!
@spike-yeah Spike, white is all right..some enterprising person should rustle up all the Dapps sides out there and release 'em..I got money to burn on those.
@I Am-Thank you young man. I guess I'm kinda falling into a megapost pattern, so I prolly won't jojn you all in the one a day plan..but it's a damn good idea. Looking forward to 3.
Checkin' in late, but I have a doctor's note. C.B.! Droppin' some serious soul science on us. Encyclopedic, brother! Thanks for two great years - and I'm sure we're all looking towards many more!
Thanks Knife, get well soon. I'm sure you'll be sharp enough to cut a ripe tomato, after sawing through a wooden hammer handle, in no time.
Fantastic essay, Cody. Happy birthday to ya!
1st of all - HAPPY FRACKIN' 2-YEAR MOGIVERSARY!!!!
Cody B's MOG is the place to be. Such style, such taste, but watch out - CoB is an EMCD!!!
I think 2 years of mogging qualifies for an Associate's Degree - in the evil arts of MusiCrack Dealing, plus a License to ILL!
2nd of all... Marva Whitney and Lyn Collins are babe-A-licious! i wish i had CuRveS like those 2 lovely ladies...
3rd - wouldn't it be INCREDIBLE to roll deep with a P-Funk mob everywhere? I'd probably live a little LARGER if I was surrounded by a posse of funky playas every day...
Hey Cody, Happy 2 Bday! I don't think two year olds are supposed to be so educational on their birthdays but I'm glad you were. You have set a new benchmark!
What a cornucopia of a post! I'm glad MOG allowed me to listen to your excellent mix. I'm sure that JB would have approved. He'd even say along with me:
Miss you Mr. B, thanks.
Darmuzz, long time no..thanks for the regards. It has been a lot of fun hangin' with y'all.
Mollifire..did I ever say I loved your handle? Look at you, practically kickin' verses there. I appreciate it.
You are my favorite kind of Mogger - intelligent, well-spoken, with a deep knowledge of genres that are on the periphery of my tastes and working their way in. And you bring a reasoned voice to MOG (helping to balance out my ravings). I not only like you but am determined to try and emulate you a bit more. Happy Happy Joy Joy!
Thanks Mark..Coming from you, one of the straightest shooting cats in the e-world, that means a lot. Your expertise on all matters pop is a perfect fit for me,too. I like so many of those records, but I don't have the time to really dig the way you do. When you say "a deep knowledge of genres that are on the periphery of my tastes" you identify what makes MOG so great. For MOGs looking to expand beyond our individual comfort zones, folks like you make it the place to be.
I just can't MOG the way I used to, with almost daily posts and extensive comments, so I'm gonna try to pull it all together for one big post a week, while making 5 or so comments a day.
I used to think it wasn't worth being on the site if you couldn't go full ahead, but I'm trying to strike a balance that continues to allow me to be a part of what we've grown here, while not obsessing (as I am wont to do) over it.
Cody, I'm with Mark on this. I mog to share the things I do know, and to learn about the stuff I don't, and folks like you are what keep me coming back. This post is exactly the kind of tour through a genre I'd like to be able to pull off, but, lacking the depth in any one genre, I have difficulty doing without being horribly superficial.
And I have a great deal of empathy for the difficulty of finding time. Indeed, if I had the time, I'd spend more of it empathizing.
Thanks man, that's a good (and funny) way to explain our predicament/obsession/fascination w/ MOG.
2 years at MOG, wow!! I wish I would have joined sooner. Great batch of songs, btw.
Thanks MRoxie..and welcome to the Land O' MOG.
I see Pass The Peas is broken..go to Baudilino's site to check it