Search - James Brown :: Payback

Brown's best?

Matt Calvert | Gt Missenden, Bucks United Kingdom | 11/04/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"James Brown's 1973 album 'The Payback' is arguably his most cohesive set, this is perhaps due to the fact that it was originally scored as the soundtrack for the sequel to "Hell Up In Harlem". When the film deal fell through at the 11th hour, Brown decided to release the new material as a double LP, the results going on to become a defining moment in funk and soul history. Not only is the material excellent, but the soulful performances of not only Brown, (check out the emotional ballad "Doing The Best I Can", which is considerably heart-wrenching when placed in context with the events surrounding son Teddy's death during the making of the album), but also from JBs Fred Wesley and Maceo Parker (trombone and alto sax respectively, both featured on the up-tempo "Shoot Your Shot" and the tense funk jam "Time Is Running Out Fast") help shape the album's overall dynamic. Brown even gets funky on Hammond Organ for a few cuts.From ultra-soulful ballads ("Doing the best.." and "Forever Suffering") to strident funk tracks ("The Payback" and "Take Some, Leave Some), "The Payback" covers it all. In my opinion this was Brown's last great Long-Playing effort, it's follow up "Hell" failed to reproduce the success of the varied-yet-cohesive formula with an over-eclectic mix. "Mind Power" is perhaps a let down track to an otherwise must-have."

Funkiest grooves around

Joe Craig | London UK | 10/26/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of the James Brown classics that I really could just listen to end to end non-stop for hours. Start in the morning to get the day off to a groovy start, have lunch to it so the steady funk helps your digestion, chill in the afternoon hearing them sit on the one, and then in the evening get everybody dancing, coz don't forget this is damn funky.
The sound here is very controlled, very tight, and sparse, but that's just what you want from JB at his peak (and I do consider this to be his peak). Maceo's playing here shines too - the rhythm, the motifs, the interplay with the rest of the band. In short, top stuff, and essential for anyone who thinks they ever might consider owning any James Brown (which really ought to cover everybody in the world)."

Ain't None Better

Joe Craig | 07/18/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Do you own a James Brown Greatest Hits album? Are you looking to get deeper into the JB groove? Buy this album, you won't be disappointed, this is James brown at his peak, the title track is great, but once you are inside, on tracks like 'Take Some, Leave Some', 'Stone to the Bone' and 'Mind Power' you start to experience pure funk...the musicians Jam on these tracks for almost 10 minutes, and each track is so good, that you're disappointed when they come to an end. I think I'm going to go and listen to it now..."