James Brown - Soul on Top

​Today Marks The 56th Anniversary of James Brown’s 28th Studio Album “Soul on Top” Originally Released on April 1, 1970.

“Soul on Top” is the 28th studio album by Soul, Funk musician James Brown released in 1970 on King Records.

The album debuted at #125 on the U.S. Billboard Top LPs chart.

Standout Tracks: 

"Papa's Got a Brand New Bag", "It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World", "September Song", and "The Man in the Glass".

Critics and long-time fans often emphasize that this wasn't just a gimmick but a serious artistic statement.

The album was reissued in 2004 with one previously unreleased bonus track, a big band version of Brown's 1967 hit "There Was a Time", and new liner notes by jazz critic Will Friedwald.

Track-listing:

1. That's My Desire 

2. Your Cheatin' Heart 

3. What Kind of Fool Am I? 

4. It's a Man's, Man's, Man's, Man's World 

5. The Man In the Glass 

6. It's Magic 

7. September Song 

8. For Once In My Life 

9. Every Day I Have the Blues 

10. I Need Your Key (to Turn Me On)

11. Papa's Got A Brand New Bag 12. There Was a Time.

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology. ©

James Brown - Nonstop!

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Today Marks The 41st Anniversary of James Brown’s 51st Studio Album “Nonstop!” Originally Released April 1. 1981.

Nonstop! is a studio album by American Soul, Funk musician James Brown.

The album was released in April 1981 and was released on Polydor Records.

The album was compiled of outtakes from his previous album, “Soul Syndrome”; The album was created to fulfilled his contract obligations with T.K. Records

Track-listing:

All tracks composed by James Brown; except where indicated

1. "Popcorn 80's"

2. "Give That Bass Player Some" (Susaye Brown)

3. "You're My Only Love" (James Brown, St. Clair Pinckney)

4. "World Cycle Inc." (L. Rhodes )

5. "Super Bull / Super Bad" 

6. "Love 80's" (James Brown, Susaye Brown)

7. "I Go Crazy" 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology. ©

James Brown - Sho Is Funky Down Here

​Today Marks The 55th Anniversary of James Brown’s 31st Studio Album “Sho Is Funky Down Here” Originally Released April 1, 1971.

“Sho Is Funky Down Here” is the 31st studio album by American Soul, Funk musician James Brown, released in 1971 on King Records.

The album peaked at #26 on the Billboard R&B Albums chart and #137 on The Billboard 200 in 1971.

The album is an entirely instrumental album, it's full of heavy fuzzed-out guitars in a jazzy psychedelic rock style, resembling the first records by Funkadelic. 

Track-listing

All tracks composed by James Brown and David Matthews

1. "Sho Is Funky Down Here"

2. "Don’t Mind"

3. "Bob Scoward

4. "Just Enough Room For Storage"

5. "You Mother You"

6. "Can Mind"

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology. ©

Isley-Jasper-Isley - Different Drummer

​Today Marks The 39th Anniversary of Isley-Jasper-Isley’s 3rd Studio Album “Different Drummer” Originally Released on April 1, 1987

“Different Drummer” is the third and final studio album by Isley-Jasper-Isley, released in 1987 on CBS Records.

The album reached #40 on the U.S. Billboard Top Black Albums charts.

Two songs were released as singles from the album "8th Wonder of the World" and "Givin' You Back the Love".

"8th Wonder of the World" reached #18 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles chart.

"Givin' You Back the Love" reached #15 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles chart.

Upon its release the group members would go its separate ways as brothers Ernie Isley and Marvin Isley would reunited with older siblings The Isley Brothers while Jasper would embark on a solo career marking an end of an era for the trio.

Tracklisting 

1. Different Drummer

2. 8th Wonder of the World

3. Blue Rose

4. Do It Right

5. Givin' You Back the Love

6. A Once in a Lifetime Lady

7. For the Sake of Love

8. Brother to Brother

9. I Wanna Be Yours

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology. ©

Hamilton Bohannon - Stop & Go

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Today Marks The 53rd Anniversary of Hamilton Bohannon’s Debut Studio Album “Stop & Go” Originally Released on April 1, 1973.

 

“Stop & Go” is the debut studio album by drummer/percussionist Hamilton Bohannon released in 1973 on Dakar/Brunswick Records.

 

The album consists of eight tracks, primarily instrumental with occasional soulful chorus vocals.

 

Tracklisting:

 

1. The Pimp Walk

2. Run It On Down Mr. DJ

3. Save Their Souls

4. Singing a Song for My Mother

5. It's Time for Peace

6. Happiness

7. The Stop and Go

8. Getting to the Other Side

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology. ©

Graham Central Station- Now Do U Wanta Dance

​Today Marks The 49th Anniversary of Graham Central Station’s 5th Studio Album “Now Do U Wanta Dance” Originally Released on April 1, 1977.

 

The album peaked at #12 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and at #67 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart.

 

The album released the hit single and album’s title track “Now Do-U-Wanta Dance"

 

The song peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot R&B  Songs charts.

 

Track-listing

 

All songs written by Larry Graham except where indicated.

 

1. "Happ-E-2-C-U-A-Ginn"

2. "Now Do-U-Wanta Dance"

3. "Last Train"

4. "Love and Happiness" (Al Green, Mabon Hodges)

5. "Earthquake"

6. "Crazy Chicken"

7. "Stomped Beat-Up and Whooped"

8. "Lead Me On" (Deadric Malone)

9. "Saving My Love For You"

10. "Have Faith in Me"

 

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology.©

Donald Byrd - Ethiopian Knights

​Today Marks The 54th Anniversary of Donald Byrd’s Studio Album “Ethiopian Knights” Originally Released on April 1, 1972.

“Ethiopian Knights” is an album by Jazz/Funk trumpeter Donald Byrd released in 1972 on Blue Note Records.

The album features performances by Donald Byrd with Thurman Green, Harold Land, Bobby Hutcherson, Joe Sample, and others, It’s widely regarded as a pivotal transitional album in his career. It marks his final departure from hard bop toward the heavy jazz-funk and fusion sound that would define his commercial peak with his next release, Black Byrd.

Standout Tracks:

The Emperor (15:14): A deep, "on-the-one" groove driven by electric bassist Wilton Felder and keyboardists Joe Sample and Bill Henderson III.

The Little Rasti (17:41): A psychedelic funk epic that begins with a shamanistic drum solo and develops into a loose, high-intensity jam.

Jamie (3:38): A shorter, more melodic ballad that serves as a transitional "cleanser" between the two long workouts.

Tracklisting:

A1 The Emperor 15:40

A2 Jamie 4:00

B1 The Little Rasti 17:44

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology ©