| | James Brown In The Jungle Groove CD James Brown Discography of CDs
 (5 Customer Reviews)
IN THE JUNGLE GROOVE documents one of the most important periods in the development of James Brown's music. In 1970, Brown's bandleader/sax player Maceo Parker departed to form his own band, taking much of Brown's group with him. This event heralded the arrival of the JB's, which included monster bassist Bootsy Collins, whose hyperkinetic style made Brown's funk harder, leaner, and meaner. This album gives listeners a bird's-eye view of the change, featuring the final sessions of the Maceo-led band as well as the first recordings of Bootsy and the JB's.
Maceo and company were at their hardest and funkiest at this point, as seen on "The Funky Drummer," where Clyde Stubblefield lays down the drum break that would launch a thousand hip-hop samples. Stubblefield stuck around long enough to be part of the first JB's, whose tracks here are full of frenetic, barely controlled energy. The sense of joy and revelation in the groove is audible in these orgasmically polyrhythmic sessions. Collins and Stubblefield lay down some of the heaviest grooves in the history of recorded music. As Brown himself observes on the aforementioned Maceo-era "Funky Drummer," "it's a mutha!"
This reissue of In the Jungle Groove is a further obfuscation of the original masters, though a welcome one. The album is not so much an album but a 1986 collection of James Brown singles and apocrypha from recordings of the period 1969-1971; it sounds as defining and current today as it did when it was first issued on LP. While the tracks here featured some new sidemen, a good portion of what's here is played by the original J.B.'s. For starters, there's "It's a New Day," a two-part single issued as King 45-6292 and then placed on the album It's a New Day -- So Let a Man Come In. Next is the classic "Funky Drummer," appearing on album for the first time although it was a Top 20 single in 1969. Also included here are remixed versions of tracks that appeared on the original In the Jungle Groove, such as "Give It Up or Turni
Principally recorded at King Studios, Cincinnati, Ohio; Criteria, Miami, Florida; Bobby Smith Studios, Macon, Georgia; A & R Studios, New York, New York between 1969 & 1972. Includes liner notes by Cliff White.
Additional Tracks
Personnel: James Brown (vocals); Bobby Byrd (vocals, organ); Alphonso "Country" Kellum, Jimmy Noeln, Robert Coleman , Bobby Roach, Hearlon "Cheese" Martin, Jimmy Nolen, Phelps "Catfish" Collins (guitar); Jimmy Parker (alto saxophone); Eldee Williams, Robert McCollough, Maceo Parker (tenor saxophone); Louis Tilford, St. Clair Pinckney (baritone saxophone); Russell Crimes, Jerome "Jasaan" Sanford, Richard "Kush" Griffeth, Isiah "Ike" Oakley, Clayton "Chicken" Gunnells, Darryl "Hasaan" Jamison (trumpet); Fred Wesley (trombone); David Matthews (electric piano); Clyde Stubblefield, Melvin Parker, John Starks (drums); Art Lopez, Johnny Griggs (congas); John Russell Morgan (percussion).
Audio Mixers: Ron Lenhoff; Tim Rogers; Bob Both.
Liner Note Author: Clifford White.
Recording information: A&R Studios, New York, NY (09/03/1969-12/05/1972); Bobby Smith Studios, Macon, GA (09/03/1969-12/05/1972); Criteria Studios, Miami, FL (09/03/1969-12/05/1972); King Studios, Cincinnati, OH (09/03/1969-12/05/1972); Rodel Studios, Washington DC (09/03/1969-12/05/1972).
Editor: Danny Krivit.
Personnel: James Brown, Bobby Byrd (vocals, organ); Jimmy "Chank" Nolen, Alphonso "Country" Kellum, Phelps "Catfish" Collins, Hearlon "Cheese" Martin, Robert Coleman, Bobby Roach (guitar); Jimmy Parker (alto saxophone); Maceo Parker, L.D. "Eldee" Williams, Robert McCulloch (tenor saxophone); St. Clair Pinckney, Louis Tifford (baritone saxophone); Richard "Kush" Griffeth, Joe Davis, Darryl "Hasaan" Jamison, Clayton "Chicken" Gunnels, Jerone "Jasaan" Melson (trumpet); Fred Wesley (trombone); "Sweet Charles" Sherrell, William "Bootsy" Collins, Fred Thomas (bass); Melvin Parker, Charles Stubblefield, John "Jabo" Starks (drums); John Morgan, Art Lopez, JohnVibe (12/99, p.158) - Included in Vibe's 100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century - "He was already Soul Brother No.1 when he and his band were inventing funk, which makes early-'70s tracks like 'Give It Up or Turn It Loose' so amazing..."
Mojo (Publisher) (9/03, p.118) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...The remastered and remixed tracks on JUNGLE GROOVE revealed the infinite variety he and his band discovered in funk work-outs..." In The Jungle Groove Music James Brown In The Jungle Groove Songs In The Jungle Groove Music In The Jungle Groove Music Review Average Rating: (4.6 out of 5 stars)   Funk at it's best
The real funky drummer Clyde Stubblefield Kicks every body's ass!
Submitted by a reviewer (Madison Wisc) 
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 "One Of JB's Funkiest Comps"
If you were to ask, a room full of FUNK enthusiasts, about the funkiest James Brown compilation ever released, I have no doubt that the majority would say that "In The Jungle Groove" is the ultimate single disc JB comp. And I will agree, that ITJG does have the best tracklist (although, "Sex Machine" was excluded and most definitely a much bigger hit than the lead track "It's A New Day") I find it hard to understand why "Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved" and "Soul Power" are presented in Mono rather than the Stereo versions. Some may think that this is a minor complaint (and you may be right) but why not stay consistent in the production? "In The Jungle Groove" is most certainly an essential James Brown collection (If it were not, I wouldn't find it necessary to write this review) but my point is, it would have taken very little to make "In The Jungle Groove" a PERFECT JB compilation!
Submitted by dnl-brly (Los Angeles, Calif.)
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Great but could have been greater
This CD is alive with pervasive funk - some of that primal *Soul* is missing, as we have no ballads and the uptempo here seems more on impulse. The remixed, undubbed Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose remake is the highlight: the "G" might not signify "General Audience" - it's all about adult passions, but the drums by Stubblefield and organ by Byrd are a brilliant counterpart to possibly the most intense vocal on record by JB.
A real chunk of funk gold is the semi-recut of There Was A Time, entitled There Was A Time (I Got To Move), another must-hear; medium, low-down and badd.
There's alot of space taken up with long versions where "Part One" could have conceivably made way for some still-unearthed live Apollo versions.
A great bonus on this reissue is a number from a film soundtrack which has moved from instrumental status to instrumental with rapp, as the long version of Blind Man Can See It features the voice of James Brown.
Submitted by Philip (Red Bank, New Jersey, USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No oooooowwwwwwww hit me
Defo one of james browns best!soul power hot pants, give it up turn it loose,new day. and probably the best example of drumming/break beat ever recored! clyde stubberfield at his best FUNKY DRUMMER. which ive heard is the most sampled break ever, and its ovious why!
Submitted by mrbaron168 (east end of london)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No DEVILS SON IN-LAW
This is stone cold funk at it's best, i had an earlier version of this album, didnt have the unreleased track "Blind man cant see", this is just a class all the player for me. Put it on, relax, kick back yer hat, wanna mop the floor.There is not one track that you have to forward like on most albums these days. Some great lyrics on this album too.
Submitted by rick_james (London UK)
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