James Brown Godfather: The Very Best Of... CD

This collection of music by soul and funk originator James Brown features 20 remastered classics, including "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," "I Got You (I Feel Good)," "Funky Drummer," "Living in America."

There are so many James Brown compilations out there that it can be tough to pick which one is the most suitable for a particular listener's budget or pleasure. This set from Polydor in the U.K. is -- for a single disc -- quite solid if bare in places. Containing 20 tracks and presented for a very attractive price point, it contains all major hits -- albeit edited single versions of some of them like "Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine." Of course, there is plenty missing, but it would be easy to come up with what is -- tracks like "Mother Popcorn," "Hot Pants," and "Ain't It Funky Now" are all very conspicuously absent. But it's difficult to argue with what is here, even of the later 1970s material. There is no single compilation of James Brown's music that can really be considered complete, but this one, containing all original recording sources and stellar material, stands with the best of them despite lacking some cuts. ~ Thom Jurek

James Brown was and will always remain The Godfather. His influence on Funk and Soul music is undeniable and will be felt for decades and generations to come. This 20 track compilation is the perfect reminder of the impact he had on music but also serves as a great introduction for the uninitiated. The sweat that drips from the speakers when this CD plays is The Godfather's passion and power coming through loud and clear. Includes 'Papa's Got A Brand New Bag', 'I Got You (I Feel Good)', 'Cold Sweat', 'Funky Drummer', 'Please Please Please' and many more. Universal. 2007.