The James Brown traditional stage intro:
Ladies and Gentlemen,
There are seven acknowledged wonders of the world;
you are about to witness the eighth.
Standing in the spotlight, on showcase, twelve young men, who have given you such tunes as [drum roll] “The Grunt”,
[drum roll] “ Pass The Peas”, [drum roll] “Gimme Some More”.
Ladies and Gentlemen, without no doubt, theeese are the J.B.’s !
Without being all weepy about
the spins, the toe-shuffles, the knee-drops, the full splits, that jaw dropping footage of The Godfather of Soul dancing on one foot for 12 full freaking minutes, eventually touching earth again with both feet only to split, spring right up (gravity could not compete with him), spin around, and begin a shoulder hustle, …
… what is the take-away from a brush with the hardest working man in show business?
James Brown said:
” I taught them everything they know, but not everything I know, you know?!”
“I changed from the upbeat to the downbeat, simple as that, really .”
click for more: lyrics, photos, and
his dramatic routine at the end of a performance ->
His trademark routine at the end of a performance involved collapsing center stage.
A caring member of the entourage would rush forward to his side with a cape to minister to the star, apparently fully spent and near death from exhaustion. The cape is thrown over James Brown as he struggled to his feet. The aid would signal, “no more, he’s done too much already, he’s only human” while the star signaled, “I must go on, the fans are calling for more”.
Eventually – after an instrumental session by Maceo Parker (sax), Fred Wesley (trombone), Bootsy Collins (bass), and others – James Brown would toss off his cape and Soul Brother #1 would have one more reprise in him, hitting it again and again.
Everyone in the audience shouted for more. Always and all the time.
Look up at the sun and you squint, see James Brown perform and you go bug-eyed and get on up.
Here are a few photos taken in Augusta, Georgia,
the hometown of James Brown:
These last two images are thanks to our local studiobonton correspondent:
butterfly77tea
More of her work, live on the scene:
James Brown RIP
Selected lyrics of note:
…………………………………………………………….
E E E E E
Baby give it up or turn it a-loose
– Give It Up Or Turn It a-Loose
…………………………………………………………….
Ha!
I don’t care (ha) about your past
I just want our our love to last-tuh
I don’t care darlin’ about your faults-huh
I just want to satisfy your pulse
Oh
When you kiss me
When you mess me
Hold my hand
Make me understand
I break out
in a cold sweat
– Cold Sweat
…………………………………………………………….
Heeeeeyow
Think about the sacrifices that I made for you.
Think about the good things I done for you.
Now think of all the bad things I tried not to do
baby baby.
Think of all the wrong things you did to me too.
Come on
THINK~about the good things baby.
THINK~about the wrong things maybe.
THINK~baby about the right things.
THINK~about the outta sight things.
Lady before you leave me realize I’m the one who loves you.
– Think
…………………………………………………………….
One, two, three, four!
Get up, (get on up)
Get up, (get on up)
Stay on the scene, (get on up), like a sex machine, (get on up)
Shake your arm, and then use your form
Stay on the scene like a sex machine
You got to have the feeling sure as you’re born
Get it together, right on, right on.
– Sex Machine
…………………………………………………………….
Mama, come here quick,
bring me that lickin’ stick.
People standin’,
standin’ in a trance.
Sister out in the backyard
doin’ the outside dance.
Come’n tell me you love me,
she didn’t wanna be a drag.
I don’t know what she’s doin’,
I think she’s got a brand new bag.
– Lickin’ Stick
…………………………………………………………….
Benediction:
Elvis & James Brown.
Elvis & James Brown.
Southern American originals that nearly didn’t get a break since they didn’t fit the mold.
“Hey, Elvis, who do you sing like?”
“Uh, I don’t sing like nobody.”
Thank God for Southern nobodies that break out.
