"Dig me now.... don't worry 'bout later".

and he was gone, but while he was here he was , ment, is, sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much.

"If Elvis is the King, what does that make James?, Mfing God?"
M'Shell Ndegeocello 2003

for any musician to influence not only their chosen art but to then transform their very society is the template for greatness.
This means James isn't "Just great" he is in a panethon of a very , very few.

"Don't open up the door... I'll get it myself".

He offered work , he made business, he lent a hand. Accusations would and will be made that his own ego allowed him to be hi-jacked for others agenda, the very agenda that cause so many of Jame's brothers plight, the point I make is that James mattered so much it was he who was asked.

"James Brown is the root and everybody else just a branch from his tree"
Nelson George Jan 1991

how far an influence? Is there another who even comes close?
Seriousley only 4 names come close in the last 75 years, which considering our 5 minute, disposable society says a staggering amount about the man.

The Godfather of Soul
the Bringer of the Heavy Funk
the Hardest Working Man in Showbusiness
Soul Brother #1
Mr Dynamite

how many have no names? how many are so owed by contempory society that any of 5 nicknames will bring recognition?

"What you gonna play now?"

well , what are you going too play? something that James played first I bet... Stubblefield, Nolen, Collins W., Collins P., Parker, Wesley, Pinckey, Starks, Kellum, Byrd. thats one hell of a collection of players, and with Miles Davis 'sand Prince's Alumni, you knew they had to be the very best to even get in the same town , let alone on the stage.

"Its all about the ONE"

Please Please Please
Try Me
Night Train
It's a Mans World
Papa's got a Brand New Bag
Funky Drummer
Don't be a dropout
Give it up or a turn it a loose
Mother Popcorn
Get Up (I feel like being a sex machine)
Hot pants
King Heroin
Make it Funky
There was a time
Too Funky in Here
Unity
Living in America
Say it Loud, (I'm Black and I'm Proud)
Soul Power
Brother Rapp
Aint it Funky
I got a bag of my own
Cold Sweat
I Got You (I Feel Good)

and then there were the songs. Call 'em vamps, call 'em jams just recognise 'em as the best body o' work side of .... whoever.

"When I count too 4 I want everybody to lay out and let the drummer go".

" Don't turn it loose, 'cos it's a Mother".

"Hit It"

"Fella's I'm ready to get up and do my thing!".

"The music out there is only as good as my last record"
James in 1989

thing is , he just might be right. and anyway who is man enough to argue?

"Can I take 'em to the bridge?"

If you scream us in , then yeah... fuck no-one gave it that yelp.

"Get Up , Get into It, and Get Involved"
and thats it really , it's what he asked (demanded?)So dust off that vinyl or get down the record shop first thing tommorrow if you need an education, he's gone now but truly, every day his sound, his feel, his very esscence of SOUL of FUNK , it's in every groove of every beat of every 16th note being played, being heard and being written

"I got a Bag of my OWN!"

and it just might be the best bag ever.
gone, but it's still on, Mr James Brown we salute you.