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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
It would seem impossible to summarise James Brown's contribution to R&B--to American music--in a mere four compact discs, but somehow Star Time does it. This boxed set charts Brown's early rise as a hard-hitting R&B-styled vocalist ("Please Please Please", "Try Me") and shows how his band-leading skills (one can't forget inventive players like saxophonist Maceo Parker, bassist Bootsy Collins, drummer Jabo Starks, and many others) changed the face of soul and invented funk in the 1960s and early '70s with impeccably timed ("Papa's Got a Brand New Bag"), highly rhythmic ("I Can't Stand It"), primal ("Licking Stick Licking Stick") hits. The box also does a definitive programming job on Brown's more spotty later years--another plus. This is where beginners should start, but several extended versions and rarities (such as "Papa", raised an octave on original release, at normal speed) make it a must for completists too. --Don Harrison
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
It was with great anticipation that I first listened to this album. And no! I wasn't disappointed! If you want to sample James Brown don't bother with any of his single disc compilations (no matter how worthy and listenable these are).
Throughout the five hours of music there isn't an unlistenable moment. Disc 1 starts with RnB, such as 'Please, Please, Please', 'Think', 'Night Train', that is as good as any other early soul from the same era, and culminates with the prototype funk of tracks such as 'Out of Sight' and 'Papa's Got a Brand New Bag'. Disc 2 highlights the finished funk of tracks such as 'Cold Sweat' or 'Say It Loud I'm Black and I'm Proud'. On Disc 3, with tracks such as 'Funky Drummer' or 'Superbad' we are presented with funk that is deeper and more danceable (and certainly of higher fidelity) than most music with the deep funk label. The set finishes with a disc that focuses on a period where James Brown was less prolific and critically successful, but has enough of quality, such as 'Get on the Good Foot' or 'Get Offa That Thing', to compare him favourably with other funk artists of the time. On the final track, 'Unity', in collaboration with Afrika Bambaataa James Brown symbolically passes on the groove baton to the new generation.
If you like funk, soul or just pop music in general buy this: you won't regret it.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
James Brown is arguably the most influential figure in Black Music history, given that he was a major innovator in, first, Soul music and then Funk, before he was sampled out of sight (pun intended) by later artists, who needed the groove and couldn't get it on their own.
Early material on disc 1 includes a huge variety of Soul, uptempo dancers to aching Ballads, with the odd instrumental thrown in. Those instrumentals show how the groove would develop, and by disc 2 you get the track which is said to have started the Funk, "Cold Sweat". From there it's all a funk groove, relentless and amazingly inventive.
By the end of Disc 2 we've seen Brown get political on "Say It Loud.." and Bootsie and co have arrived to take the Funk to new heights. Disc 3 stands as a testament to JB and his ability to find and get the best out of his band(s), and you can hear him doing it ("give the drummer some", "keep it right there" etc).
In the mid 70's (Disc 4), JB was enduring something of a commercial low point, but this did not stop him producing great music, and "Payback" and "Stone to the Bone" are the equal of anything he ever did IMHO.
This is a superb chronicle of the man and his music and should be part of the collection of anyone interested in Soul or Funk, or indeed where the music we hear today came from.
Early material on disc 1 includes a huge variety of Soul, uptempo dancers to aching Ballads, with the odd instrumental thrown in. Those instrumentals show how the groove would develop, and by disc 2 you get the track which is said to have started the Funk, "Cold Sweat". From there it's all a funk groove, relentless and amazingly inventive.
By the end of Disc 2 we've seen Brown get political on "Say It Loud.." and Bootsie and co have arrived to take the Funk to new heights. Disc 3 stands as a testament to JB and his ability to find and get the best out of his band(s), and you can hear him doing it ("give the drummer some", "keep it right there" etc).
In the mid 70's (Disc 4), JB was enduring something of a commercial low point, but this did not stop him producing great music, and "Payback" and "Stone to the Bone" are the equal of anything he ever did IMHO.
This is a superb chronicle of the man and his music and should be part of the collection of anyone interested in Soul or Funk, or indeed where the music we hear today came from.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By "hozling"
Format:Audio CD
this set has to be the ultimate james brown collection ever!
there is not one duff track, covering his musical career from the mid 50s to the 1990s, i'm glad living in america is excluded,never mind any other comp cd get this, it may seem pricey but guaranteed if you like J.B you'll love this.
there is also an informative booklet with history of lineups,discography etc,worth the money every penny.
there is not one duff track, covering his musical career from the mid 50s to the 1990s, i'm glad living in america is excluded,never mind any other comp cd get this, it may seem pricey but guaranteed if you like J.B you'll love this.
there is also an informative booklet with history of lineups,discography etc,worth the money every penny.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Star Time - 4 CD Box
This is a box set of a comprehensive collection from the Godfather Of Soul Mr James Brown.
What I found very obvious on these discs is how much James Brown influence Brown... Read more
What I found very obvious on these discs is how much James Brown influence Brown... Read more
Published 6 days ago by Bring_back_the_60s
5.0 out of 5 stars
Can I Take it to the Bridge?
I'm not a James Brown expert but so far as I can tell this has all the good stuff on four CDs and a small book (not booklet!) all for a reasonable price-bargain! Read more
Published 11 months ago by Juniorboogie
5.0 out of 5 stars
stunning box set
i'm not the biggest jb fan ,so after reading the reviews i took the plunge and bought this epic box set i knew a lot of the tracks and a lot i didn't which were a pleasent surprise... Read more
Published 18 months ago by I. Milne
5.0 out of 5 stars
First Rate JB Box Set
This is a great box set with the funk/soul comin at ya. I am listening to it through Goldring headphones as I write and would suggest the tracks are well sequenced, great sleeve... Read more
Published 22 months ago by thestylusgeneration
5.0 out of 5 stars
Star Time: James Brown - The King of Funk shows he has everlasting...
This excellent 4 disc set does a great job of collecting all the best work of James Brown into one easy package. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Victor
5.0 out of 5 stars
Part of any music education...essential listening
What would we be listening to if it wasn't for Sir James Brown.....it's a terrible thought. To the hardest working man in show business........I thank you.
Published on 1 Sep 2009 by D. Cutts
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great value
As far as box sets go this has to be up there with the better ones. A great package of classic funk tracks documenting the career of JB. Read more
Published on 25 Feb 2009 by Mr. P. D. Sidwell
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Hardest Working Man in Show Business
Listen to any pop radio station, and you will hear James Brown's influence within minutes. It grieves me that people raised on all that good 80s and 90s dance music, could listen... Read more
Published on 24 July 2008 by David R. Bishop
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