| | James Brown Soul On Top CD James Brown Discography of CDs
 (2 Customer Reviews)
SOUL ON TOP is one of the more unusual entries in the James Brown catalog. On this 1969 album, the Godfather of Soul is backed by jazz drummer Louie Bellson's big band, with arrangements by famed jazz orchestrator Oliver Nelson, for a program including numerous jazz standards, a country tune, and jazzy reworkings of classic Brown songs. Brown was a jazz fan and admirer of Bellson, and finally approached him to do an album, at which point Bellson suggested bringing Nelson aboard as arranger.
The results ostensibly take Brown out of his comfort zone. However, he sounds no less assured on a jazz boogaloo version of Hank Williams's "Your Cheatin' Heart" and a funked-up, horn-heavy take on Kurt Weill's "September Song" than he does on reinterpretations of his own "It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World" and "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag." Brown brought longtime saxman Maceo Parker along for company, so there's a bit of JB's flavor here, but for the most part it's a strange-but-happy marriage of Brown's gritty R&B voice, Bellson's hard-charging big band, and Nelson's harmonically rich horn arrangements. If you never thought you'd hear a soulful version of the Anthony Newley tune "What Kind of Fool Am I?," SOUL ON TOP will change your mind.
1969 Jazz Record Feat.Louie Bellson,Oliver Nelson.
Arranger: Oliver Nelson.
Personnel: James Brown (vocals); Bill Pitman, Louis Shelton (guitar); Ernie Watts, Joe Romano (alto saxophone); Maceo Parker, Pete Christlieb, Buddy Collette (tenor saxophone); Jimmy Mulidore (baritone saxophone); Al Aarons, John Audino, Chuck Finley, Tommy Porello (trumpet); Jimmy Cleveland, Nick Dimaio, Kenny Shroyer, Bill Tole (trombone); Frank Vincent (piano); Ray Brown (bass guitar); Louie Bellson (drums); Jack Arnold (percussion).
Liner Note Authors: Francis Davis; Leonard Feather.
Q (p.126) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[A] long-forgotten jazz excursion into big-band covers and reworkings of Brown originals....An unearthed treasure."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.110) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[A] truly coruscating marriage of dynamic big band jazz and searing funk power....Brown is in irresistible form....SOUL ON TOP is undoubtedly a lost masterpiece." James Brown Soul On Top Songs Soul On Top Music Review Average Rating: (4.5 out of 5 stars)   don't miss this one !!!!
When JAzz meets the brother of the Soul Music, that gives this magic album : Soul on Top!!!!!! With Oliver Nelson (cond.), Maceo Parker, Jimmy Cleveland, Ray Brown, Louie Bellson... No violin, don't worry; Extravagant, turmoil... A music that Quentin Tarantino would not skip.
Don't miss it !
Submitted by freddiefreejazz (Bordeaux, France)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
 Great arrangements, great material
My headline leaves out one "great" - Soul Brother Number One himself - his voice is simply not up for the occasion, and at times the shouts, screeches, and moans are almost embarrassingly incongruous. This kind of excess almost ruins a sensitive social statement "The Man In The Glass" (the new extended version); "Papa's..Bag" (with Mr. Parker!) similarly needed some post-production edits. But overall, there is much brilliance: "What Kind Of Fool Am I?", "It's Magic", "I Need Your Key" and others are *together* and ofcourse transcend any radio station format designations.
Submitted by Phil (Red Bank, NJ, USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 0 of 1 found this helpful.
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