Motherlode is a 1988 James Brown compilation album. Created as a follow-up to the successful 1986 compilation In the Jungle Groove, it similarly focuses on Brown's funk recordings of the late 1960s and early 1970s. It includes live performances and remixes as well as studio recordings, most of them previously unissued. Writing in 2007, critic Robert Christgau called it "the finest of the classic [James Brown] comps".[6] Highlights include a live "Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud", the first album release of "I Got Ants in My Pants (and I Want to Dance)", the latter-day UK chart hit "She's the One", and a nine-minute-long remix of "People Get Up and Drive Your Funky Soul" from the Slaughter's Big Rip-Off soundtrack.
| Motherlode | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | 1988 | |||
| Recorded | 1967–73 | |||
| Genre | Funk | |||
| Length | 55:26 | |||
| Label | Polydor | |||
| Producer | James Brown, Tim Rogers, Cliff White | |||
| James Brown chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Robert Christgau | A−[2] |
| eMusic |  [3] |
| Q | [4] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [5] |
In 2003 Motherlode was reissued with remastered sound, an unedited version of the track "Can I Get Some Help", and two bonus tracks, the 1969 song "You've Changed" and an alternate mix of 1976's "Bodyheat".
Track listing
editOriginal 1988 release
edit- Side A
- "There It Is" (Live) – 3:06
- "She's the One" – 2:52
- "Since You Been Gone" (Duet with Bobby Byrd) – 5:33
- "Untitled Instrumental" – 3:22
- "Say It Loud (Say It Live)" – 4:52
- "Can I Get Some Help" – 4:56
- Side B
- "You Got to Have a Mother for Me" – 5:10
- "Funk Bomb" (Instrumental) – 4:12
- "Baby Here I Come" – 4:27
- "People Get Up and Drive Your Funky Soul" (Remix) – 9:04
- Original 1988 CD bonus track
- 11. "I Got Ants in My Pants (and I Want to Dance)" (Remix) – 7:27
Expanded 2003 release
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "There It Is" | James Brown, St. Clair Pinckney | 3:06 |
| 2. | "She's the One" | Hank Ballard, James Brown | 2:52 |
| 3. | "Since You Been Gone" (Duet with Bobby Byrd) | James Brown | 5:33 |
| 4. | "Untitled Instrumental" (Performed by The J.B.'s) | James Brown | 3:22 |
| 5. | "Say It Loud (Say It Live)" | James Brown, Pee Wee Ellis | 4:52 |
| 6. | "Can I Get Some Help" (Unedited) | James Brown | 8:57 |
| 7. | "You Got to Have a Mother for Me" | James Brown, Pee Wee Ellis | 5:10 |
| 8. | "Funk Bomb" (Instrumental) | James Brown | 4:12 |
| 9. | "Baby Here I Come" | James Brown | 4:27 |
| 10. | "People Get Up and Drive Your Funky Soul" (Remix) | Chales Bobbit, James Brown, St. Clair Pinckney, Fred Wesley | 9:04 |
| 11. | "I Got Ants in My Pants (and I Want to Dance)" (Remix) | James Brown | |
| 12. | "You've Changed" (bonus track) | James Brown | 3:18 |
| 13. | "Bodyheat" (Alternate Mix) (bonus track) | Deanna Brown, Deidre Brown, Yamma Brown | 11:53 |
Personnel
edit- Vocals – James Brown (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 7, 9 to 13)
- Alto saxophone, tenor saxophone – Maceo Parker (tracks: 2, 5 to 10)
- Bass – "Sweet" Charles Sherrell (tracks: 2, 5 to 7, 9), William "Bootsy" Collins (tracks: 3 and 4), Fred Thomas (tracks: 1, 10, 11)
- Drums – Clyde Stubblefield (tracks: 3 to 5, 8, 12), John "Jabo" Starks (tracks: 1, 4, 5, 9, 11), Melvin Parker (tracks: 2, 5, 6, 13), Nate Jones (track: 7), John Morgan (track: 10)
- Guitar – Alfonzo Kellum (tracks: 2, 5 to 9), Hearlon "Cheese" Martin (tracks: 1, 4, 11), Jimmy Nolen (tracks: 1, 2, 5 to 10, 12 to 13), Phelps "Catfish" Collins (tracks: 3 and 4)
- Percussion – Johnny Griggs (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 10)
- Tenor saxophone – Eldee Williams (tracks: 2, 5, 9)
- Tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone – St. Clair Pinckney (tracks: 1, 4 to 11)
- Trombone – Fred Wesley (tracks: 1, 2, 5 to 7, 9 to 11)
- Trumpet – Jerone Jasaan Sanford (tracks: 1, 4, 11), Joseph Davis (tracks: 2, 5, 6, 9), Richard Griffith (tracks: 2, 5 to 7, 9)
References
edit- ^ Elias, Jason. "Motherlode – James Brown". Allmusic. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (March 14, 1989). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
- ^ Wolk, Douglas (November 16, 2010). "James Brown, Motherlode". eMusic. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
- ^ "Review: Motherlode". Q. London: 146. August 2001. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
- ^ Considine, J. D.; et al. (November 2, 2004). Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 109, 112. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
motherlode.
- ^ "Robert Christgau: The Genius: James Brown".
External links
edit- Motherlode at Discogs (list of releases)