The J.B.'s
Encyclopedia
The J.B.'s were James Brown
's band during the first half of the 1970s. On record the J.B.'s were sometimes billed under various alternate names such as The James Brown Soul Train, Maceo and the Macks, A.A.B.B., The First Family and The Last Word. In addition to backing Brown the J.B.'s played behind Bobby Byrd
, Lyn Collins
and other singers associated with the James Brown Revue, as well as performing as a self-contained group.
and his guitarist brother Phelps "Catfish" Collins
, formerly of the obscure funk
band The Pacemakers
; Bobby Byrd (organ) and John "Jabo" Starks (drums), both holdovers from Brown's 60s band; three inexperienced horn players, Clayton "Chicken" Gunnells, Darryl "Hasaan" Jamison, and Robert McCollough; and conga
player Johnny Griggs. This version of the J.B.'s played on some of Brown's most intense funk
recordings, including "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine
", "Super Bad
", "Soul Power
", and "Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing
". They also accompanied Brown on a European tour (during which they recorded the long-delayed live album
Love Power Peace), performed on the Sex Machine
double LP, and released two instrumental
singles
, the much-sampled
"The Grunt
" and "These Are the J.B.'s".
Fred Wesley
rejoined James Brown's organization to lead the J.B.'s. Other former Brown sidemen including Maceo Parker
and St. Clair Pinckney
eventually followed his lead, while the Collins brothers and most of the rest of the "original" J.B.'s left Brown to join George Clinton
's Parliament-Funkadelic
collective. The J.B.'s lineup shifted frequently thereafter, and the group that had been the J.B.'s essentially disbanded following the departures of Wesley and Parker in 1976
.
and singles
on their own, sometimes with Brown performing on organ
or synthesizer
. Their albums were generally a mixture of heavy funk tracks and some more jazz
-oriented pieces. They scored a number of chart hits in the early 1970s, including "Pass the Peas," "Gimme Some More," and the #1 R&B hit, "Doing It to Death
". Credited to "Fred Wesley & the J.B.'s", "Doing It to Death" sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc
by the R.I.A.A. in July 1973.
The 1974 album "Breakin' Bread" is unique, in that most of the songs have a Fred Wesley spoken reminiscence dubbed onto the beginning of the song, each time over a canned backing track. This is in sharp contrast to James Brown's real-time dominance of the proceedings on the classic "Doing It to Death" LP. A similar oddity is encountered on the other 1974 album, "Damn Right I Am Somebody", where 20-second extensions of that album's track-2 jam (each including James Brown's trademark shriek) have been spliced onto the beginnings of most of the other songs. Nearly all of the J.B.'s recordings were produced
by Brown, and most were released on his own label, People Records. As the short-lived style of funk music gave way in popularity to disco music in the 1970's, the group's material and arrangements changed accordingly. 1999's "Bring the Funk on Down" was (mostly) a return to the early 1970's form.
Under the name A.A.B.B., the group released a single, "Pick up the Pieces One By One", which reached #108 on the U.S. charts in 1975. The name was a reference to the then-popular funk group Average White Band and stood for "Above Average Black Band".
Like most of James Brown's music, the J.B.'s recorded output has been heavily mined for samples
by hip hop
DJs and record producers.
d by Rhino Records
. They also recorded an album under this name with producers Jeff McCray and Richard Mazda
called I Like It Like That.
assembled to record the 1999 "reunion" album Bring the Funk on Down, dedicated to the memory of St. Clair Pinckney. The album was released in Japan by P-Vine Records
, and in 2002 it was reissued in the U.S. by Instinct Records.
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
's band during the first half of the 1970s. On record the J.B.'s were sometimes billed under various alternate names such as The James Brown Soul Train, Maceo and the Macks, A.A.B.B., The First Family and The Last Word. In addition to backing Brown the J.B.'s played behind Bobby Byrd
Bobby Byrd
Bobby Byrd born Robert Howard Byrd was an American funk/soul/R&B/gospel musician, songwriter and record producer. He was born in Toccoa, Georgia, and is a 1998 winner of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation's prestigious Pioneer Award...
, Lyn Collins
Lyn Collins
Lyn Collins was an African American soul singer best known for working with James Brown in the 1970s. Contrary to some reports, she is not related to Bootsy Collins, nor Catfish Collins....
and other singers associated with the James Brown Revue, as well as performing as a self-contained group.
The "original" J.B.'s
The J.B.'s were formed in March 1970 after most of the members of Brown's previous band walked out on him over a pay dispute. (Brown's previous bands of the 1950's and 1960's had been known as The James Brown Band and The James Brown Orchestra.) The J.B.'s initial lineup included bassist William "Bootsy" CollinsBootsy Collins
William Earl "Bootsy" Collins is an American funk bassist, singer, and songwriter.Rising to prominence with James Brown in the late 1960s, and with Parliament-Funkadelic in the '70s, Collins's driving bass guitar and humorous vocals established him as one of the leading names in funk...
and his guitarist brother Phelps "Catfish" Collins
Catfish Collins
Phelps "Catfish" Collins was a rhythm guitarist known mostly for his work in the P-Funk collective. Although frequently overshadowed by his younger brother, Bootsy Collins, Catfish played on many important and influential records by Parliament, Funkadelic, and Bootsy's Rubber Band.In 1968, the...
, formerly of the obscure funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
band The Pacemakers
The Pacemakers (funk band)
The Pacemakers were a late-1960s American funk group that consisted of bassist William "Bootsy" Collins, his older brother Phelps "Catfish" Collins on guitar, Philippé Wynne on vocals, and drummer Will Jackson ....
; Bobby Byrd (organ) and John "Jabo" Starks (drums), both holdovers from Brown's 60s band; three inexperienced horn players, Clayton "Chicken" Gunnells, Darryl "Hasaan" Jamison, and Robert McCollough; and conga
Conga
The conga, or more properly the tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed Cuban drum with African antecedents. It is thought to be derived from the Makuta drums or similar drums associated with Afro-Cubans of Central African descent. A person who plays conga is called a conguero...
player Johnny Griggs. This version of the J.B.'s played on some of Brown's most intense funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
recordings, including "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine
Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine
"Get Up Sex Machine" is a funk song recorded by James Brown in 1970 and released as a two-part single on King Records....
", "Super Bad
Super Bad (song)
"Super Bad" is a 1970 James Brown song. Originally released as a three-part single, it went to number one on the soul singles chart and number 13 on the Hot 100....
", "Soul Power
Soul Power
"Soul Power" is a song by James Brown. Recorded in 1971 with the original J.B.'s and released as a three-part single, it was a Top Ten R&B hit. The song also appeared on the 1972 album Soul Classics...
", and "Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing
Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing
"Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing" is a funk song by James Brown and Bobby Byrd. Recorded on October 1, 1970, at Bobby Smith Studios in Macon, Georgia, it was first released as an edited two-part single on King Records that same year, but was quickly withdrawn. The single received a full release on...
". They also accompanied Brown on a European tour (during which they recorded the long-delayed live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
Love Power Peace), performed on the Sex Machine
Sex Machine (album)
Sex Machine is a 1970 double album by James Brown. It showcases the playing of the original J.B.'s lineup featuring Bootsy and Catfish Collins, and includes an 11-minute rendition of the album's title song. This rendition is different from the original recording of the title song, which was...
double LP, and released two instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, the much-sampled
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
"The Grunt
The Grunt
"The Grunt" is a funk instrumental recorded in 1970 by James Brown's band The J.B.'s. It was released as a two-part single on King. Part 1 of the recording was included on The J.B.'s 1972 album Food for Thought. It was one of only two instrumental singles recorded by the original J.B.'s lineup with...
" and "These Are the J.B.'s".
Other lineups
In December 1970 trombonistTrombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
Fred Wesley
Fred Wesley
Fred Wesley is an American jazz and funk trombonist, best known for his work with James Brown in the 1960s and 1970s.-Biography:...
rejoined James Brown's organization to lead the J.B.'s. Other former Brown sidemen including Maceo Parker
Maceo Parker
Maceo Parker is an American funk and soul jazz saxophonist, best known for his work with James Brown in the 1960s, as well as Parliament-Funkadelic in the 1970s. Parker was a prominent soloist on many of Brown's hit recordings, and a key part of his band, playing alto, tenor and baritone saxophones...
and St. Clair Pinckney
St. Clair Pinckney
St. Clair Pinckney was a saxophonist who performed with James Brown as a member of the James Brown Orchestra and The J.B.'s. He played tenor and baritone saxophone.-External links:*...
eventually followed his lead, while the Collins brothers and most of the rest of the "original" J.B.'s left Brown to join George Clinton
George Clinton (funk musician)
George Clinton is an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and music producer and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and launched a solo career in 1981. He has been cited as one of the foremost...
's Parliament-Funkadelic
Parliament-Funkadelic
Parliament-Funkadelic is a funk, soul and rock music collective headed by George Clinton. Their style has been dubbed P-Funk. Collectively the group has existed under various names since the 1960s and has been known for top-notch musicianship, politically charged lyrics, outlandish concept albums...
collective. The J.B.'s lineup shifted frequently thereafter, and the group that had been the J.B.'s essentially disbanded following the departures of Wesley and Parker in 1976
1976 in music
-January–February:*January 5 – Former Beatles road manager Mal Evans is shot dead by Los Angeles police after refusing to drop what police only later determine is an air rifle....
.
Recordings
In addition to backing Brown on stage and on record during this era, the J.B.'s also recorded albumsAlbum
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
and singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
on their own, sometimes with Brown performing on organ
Electronic organ
An electronic organ is an electronic keyboard instrument which was derived from the harmonium, pipe organ and theatre organ. Originally, it was designed to imitate the sound of pipe organs, theatre organs, band sounds, or orchestral sounds....
or synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
. Their albums were generally a mixture of heavy funk tracks and some more jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
-oriented pieces. They scored a number of chart hits in the early 1970s, including "Pass the Peas," "Gimme Some More," and the #1 R&B hit, "Doing It to Death
Doing It to Death
"Doing It to Death" is a funk song recorded by The J.B.'s featuring James Brown. It was released as a single in 1973 and peaked at number one on the soul singles chart and number twenty-two on the Hot 100...
". Credited to "Fred Wesley & the J.B.'s", "Doing It to Death" sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
by the R.I.A.A. in July 1973.
The 1974 album "Breakin' Bread" is unique, in that most of the songs have a Fred Wesley spoken reminiscence dubbed onto the beginning of the song, each time over a canned backing track. This is in sharp contrast to James Brown's real-time dominance of the proceedings on the classic "Doing It to Death" LP. A similar oddity is encountered on the other 1974 album, "Damn Right I Am Somebody", where 20-second extensions of that album's track-2 jam (each including James Brown's trademark shriek) have been spliced onto the beginnings of most of the other songs. Nearly all of the J.B.'s recordings were produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
by Brown, and most were released on his own label, People Records. As the short-lived style of funk music gave way in popularity to disco music in the 1970's, the group's material and arrangements changed accordingly. 1999's "Bring the Funk on Down" was (mostly) a return to the early 1970's form.
Under the name A.A.B.B., the group released a single, "Pick up the Pieces One By One", which reached #108 on the U.S. charts in 1975. The name was a reference to the then-popular funk group Average White Band and stood for "Above Average Black Band".
Like most of James Brown's music, the J.B.'s recorded output has been heavily mined for samples
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
by hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
DJs and record producers.
The JB Horns
During the 1980's and 1990's, Maceo Parker and Fred Wesley intermittently toured under the name The JB Horns, sometimes with other former Brown sidemen such as Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis in tow. The JB Horns recorded several albums for the Gramavision label which were later reissueReissue
A reissue is the repeated issue of a published work. In common usage, it refers to an album which has been released at least once before and is released again, sometimes with alterations or additions....
d by Rhino Records
Rhino Entertainment
Rhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty record label and production company. It is owned by Warner Music Group.-History:Rhino was originally a novelty song and reissue company during the 1970s and 1980s, releasing compilation albums of pop, rock & roll, and rhythm & blues successes...
. They also recorded an album under this name with producers Jeff McCray and Richard Mazda
Richard Mazda
Richard Mazda is a record producer, writer and musician. In later life he also became an actor and director.-Music career:Mazda was one of the co-founders of Poole punk/mod band Tours, singing and playing lead guitar. They signed to Virgin Records in 1979 after selling large quantities of their...
called I Like It Like That.
Reunion
A version of the J.B.'s including Fred Wesley, Bootsy Collins, Pee Wee Ellis, Bobby Byrd and Clyde StubblefieldClyde Stubblefield
Clyde Stubblefield is a drummer best known for his work with James Brown.Stubblefield's recordings with James Brown are considered to be some of the standard-bearers for funk drumming, including the singles "Cold Sweat", "There Was A Time", "I Got The Feelin'", "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm...
assembled to record the 1999 "reunion" album Bring the Funk on Down, dedicated to the memory of St. Clair Pinckney. The album was released in Japan by P-Vine Records
P-Vine Records
P-Vine Records is a record label started by Blues Interactions, Inc., a firm in Tokyo, Japan established in 1975 by Yasufumi Higurashi and Akira Kochi...
, and in 2002 it was reissued in the U.S. by Instinct Records.
Albums
- Food For Thought (1972)
- Doing It to DeathDoing It to Death (album)Doing It to Death is an album by The J.B.'s, released in 1973 by People Records. The album includes a ten-minute version of the #1 R&B hit "Doing It to Death", which is led by Danny Ray's introduction to simulate his MC in concerts.-Track listing:...
(1973) - Damn Right I Am Somebody (1974) - (as "Fred Wesley & the J.B.'s")
- Breakin' Bread (1974) - (as "Fred & the New J.B.'s")
- Hustle with Speed (1975)
- Jam II Disco Fever (1978)
- Groove Machine (1979)
- Bring the Funk On Down (1999)
as The JB Horns
- Pee Wee, Fred and Maceo (1989)
- Funky Good Time / Live (1993)
- I Like It Like That (1994)
Singles
- 1970
- "The GruntThe Grunt"The Grunt" is a funk instrumental recorded in 1970 by James Brown's band The J.B.'s. It was released as a two-part single on King. Part 1 of the recording was included on The J.B.'s 1972 album Food for Thought. It was one of only two instrumental singles recorded by the original J.B.'s lineup with...
, Pt 1" / "Pt2" - "These Are the J.B.'s, Pt 1" / "Pt 2"
- "The Grunt
- 1971
- "My Brother, Pt 1" / "Pt 2"
- "Gimme Some More" / "The Rabbit Got The Gun"
- 1972
- "Pass the Peas" / "Hot Pants Road"
- "Givin' Up Food For Funk, Pt 1" / "Pt 2"
- "Back StabbersBack StabbersBack Stabbers is a studio album by Philadelphia soul group The O'Jays, released in August 1972 on Philadelphia International Records. Recording sessions for the album took place at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1972.-Reception:...
" / "J.B. Shout"
- 1973
- "Watermelon Man" / "Alone Again, Naturally"
- "Sportin' Life" / "Dirty Harry"
- "Doing It to DeathDoing It to Death"Doing It to Death" is a funk song recorded by The J.B.'s featuring James Brown. It was released as a single in 1973 and peaked at number one on the soul singles chart and number twenty-two on the Hot 100...
" / "Everybody Got Soul" - "You Can Have Watergate" / "If You Don't Get It The First Time..."
- "Same Beat, Pt 1" / "Pt 2"
- 1974
- "Damn Right I Am Somebody, Pt 1" / "Pt 2"
- "Rockin' Funky Watergate, Pt 1" / "Pt 2"
- "Little Boy Black" / "Ronkin' Funky Watergate"
- "Breakin' Bread" / "Funky Music is My Style"
- 1975
- "Makin' Love" / "Rice 'n' Ribs"
- "(It's Not the Express) It's the J.B.'s Monaurail, Pt 1" / "Pt 2"
- "Thank You for Lettin' Me Be Myself and You Be Yours Pt 1" / "Pt 2"
- 1976
- "All Aboard The Soul Funky Train" / "Thank You for Lettin'... Pt 1"
- "Everybody Wanna Get Funky One More Time, Pt 1" / "Pt 2"
- 1977
- "Music For The People" / "Crossover" - (as the J.B.'s International)
- "Nature, Pt 1" / "Pt 2" - (as the J.B.'s International)
- 1978
- "Disco Fever, Pt 1" / "Pt 2" - (as the J.B.'s International)
CD compilations
- Funky Good Time: The Anthology (2 CD) (1995)
- Food for Funk (1997)
- Pass the Peas: The Best of the J.B.'s (2000)
See also
- The Funk BrothersThe Funk BrothersThe Funk Brothers was the nickname of Detroit, Michigan, session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown Records recordings from 1959 until the company moved to Los Angeles in 1972...
- Booker T and the M.G.'s
- The Wrecking Crew (music)The Wrecking Crew (music)The Wrecking Crew was a nickname coined by the drummer Hal Blaine after the fact for a group of session musicians in Los Angeles, California, who earned wide acclaim in the 1960s. They backed dozens of popular singers, and were one of the most successful "groups" of studio musicians in music history...
- MFSBMFSBMFSB was a pool of more than thirty studio musicians based at Philadelphia’s famed Sigma Sound Studios. They worked closely with the production team of Gamble and Huff and producer/arranger Thom Bell, and backed up such groups as Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, the O’Jays, the Stylistics, the...
- Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony OrchestraAbnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony OrchestraThe Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra was a group of Hollywood session musicians organized by Frank Zappa in 1967 to record music for his first solo album Lumpy Gravy. Some of these musicians are thought to have worked together in various combinations under the leadership of Ken...
External links
- [ Allmusic page on the J.B.'s]