The Godfather's R&B: James Brown's Productions 1962-67 (CD)

2008 release. This compilation collects many of James Brown's pre Funk productions onto one CD for the very first time. These highlight the godfather of soul's intuitive feel for putting together great records with the members of his revue. It also gives US an insight into a period when, because of contractual disputes, Brown was not making his own recordings. Instead, he was influencing others, changing the sound of records and creating a change of unprecedented importance on how we listen to music. Many of the records are now sought-after club classics: Dizzy Jones' 'I Don't Care', Elsie Mae's 'Do You Really Want to Rescue Me' and Bobby Byrd's 'I'm Lonely' are long-time club favorites but more importantly are cracking records. The compilation contains 11 tracks that are being made available for the first time since they were issued on 45. Rare early versions of later James Brown classics such as 'If You Don't Work' and 'I Got You' (later 'I Feel Good') are all present and correct, alongside some amazing and much overlooked recordings such as the beautiful Anna King ballad 'That's When I Cry' (from her rare LP on Smash), Vicki Anderson's sensational 'Wide Awake in a Dream' and the Rev Willingham's gospel stormer 'That's the Spirit' Ace.