James Brown: Please, Please, Please (180g, bonus track) [WAX TIME]

Why you'll love it

This limited 180g edition adds "This Old Heart" as a bonus track. The album gathers the group's first two hits, the title track and "Try Me," which went to No. 1 on the R&B chart.

This edition

• 180g vinyl
• Bonus track
• Limited edition

About the album

Long before anyone called him the Godfather of Soul, James Brown was the raw, pleading lead voice of a vocal group called the Famous Flames. With Bobby Byrd, Johnny Terry and the rest of the group he cut "Please, Please, Please" for King Records in 1956, and the single made them stars on the R&B circuit.

King's album, out in December 1958, rounds up those early singles and their B-sides. "Try Me" is a smooth, aching ballad, "Chonnie-On-Chon" rocks, "I Feel That Old Feeling Coming On" shows the gospel roots, and "Begging, Begging" and "No, No, No, No" are pure early Brown, every cry answered by the Flames' harmonies, with Byrd adding piano as well as vocals and a sax section punching up the faster numbers. Kenny Burrell is among the guitarists on the sessions.

The title track became the centrepiece of his stage show, with Brown sinking to his knees and being helped away, cape and all, before staggering back for one more chorus. Should you feel moved to do the same in the living room, we recommend a rug.

Also at Kops: more James Brown on vinyl · browse Classic Soul

Tracklist

Listen

On Wax Time (cat# 772331), a reissue of the 1958 album.