Search - James Brown :: School Is in

67 and still kickin' it

curtis martin | Redmond, WA, USA | 11/06/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Despite what the labeling says, there are actually 4 tracks on the CD: 3 mixes of "School is In" and a song called "Let the Sun Shine (Peace)". Most CDs have a sticker on the outer wrapping announcing "Sun" as a "bonus track."The biggest news here is that James is reunited with the great Bobby Byrd for all mixes of "School." And I don't mean Bobby is sampled--I mean they are really doing the real back and forth call and response thing just like the old days of "Sex Machine" and "Soul Power".
JB: "Killing it out, school is in!"
BB: "I don't think they heard you, brother, say it again!"
The track is listed as "words and music by James Brown, Charles
Bobbit, Bobby Byrd and Derrik Monk."Even though it is not the first track, I'll start with the "James
Brown Original Mix", track 2.
It's a good, solid track, along the lines of JB's recent Derrick Monk co-productions. Maybe a little better, a bit funkier. Well,
definately better with Byrd's participation. The improv interplay between Brown and Byrd is most evident on this version. Sounds like they were actually in the studio together. Actually, this track reminds me most of "Let Him Out", the Maceo/Bootsy/Byrd track from more than a decade ago. JB's original version stands up well with any of his new product from the last 15 years (of course none of that material holds a candle to his 60s-70s heyday, but it is funkier than his Dan Hartman/Charlie Midnight tracks and there's less sampling than with his Full Force hits).Track 3, "The Radio Mix", mix by Robert D. Palmer, is a streamlined version with a big disco-ish beat and extra-heavy bassline. The real revelation is the opening track, "The Triangle Mix".
This one, by Allen Savory and Ralph Churchwell IV, dithes most of the original musical track, which uses a drum machine i beleive, and replaces it entirely with a kickin' live band: guitar, Morris O'Conner; Bass, Doug Grisby; Drums, Otis Hayes.
I mean this is FUNKY! Oddly enough, however, it is very similar to the backing Byrd had on his great 90's album with Soulciety, "Back From the Dead" (i think that's what it was called). Savory and Churchwell have even added "Black and Proud" type children on the chorus.
This version of the track would fit in with any comprehensive JB "best of" compilation. I mean it.
It is odd that someone else knows how to get the classic Brown sound better than jb himself these days. THe "flip side", or bonus track as they call it these days, is a fine mid-tempo track lamenting the culture of hate we seem to live in.
Sounds like it would have fit in well on either "Love Over-due"
or "Back Again." Maybe its a little better than that. It's a
heartfelt track with JB screaming, "I never dreamed in all my life, that it would be like this! The good old days are truly missed; when it didn't hurt to lend a helping hand! Let's pray!"In any case, if you're a fan, this is a must have. If you're only casually interested,it's still worth your 3 or 4 dollars to go out and buy this single, just to bump in your car."

James brown&bobby byrd funk this new word,schools is in.!!

rene oudenhoven | THE NETHERLANDS | 12/11/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"the godfather of soul&bobby byrd back on track,their first record together since 2 decade,s..!! mr.byrd sounded here as 30 years ago,also mr.brown strong here 3 mixes real great,live.!&funky..the old funky way!!&also the bonus is great,what can i say ..strongly recommended..!!by RENE OUDENHOVEN JB FAN,... HOLLAND"

"Don't Be A Dropout" for the Milennium!

plsilverman | USA | 11/24/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Even today, many fans think of James Brown as mostly flambouyance, funk, and fire, not realizing that one of his many sides comes in the form of a socially conscious composer of songs like "Don't Be A Dropout" from 1966, "I'm Not Demanding" from '69, "King Heroin" from '72, and on and on. He reasserts this stance with "School Is In" and even brings back Bobby Byrd, the man who thought it would be of mutual benefit to include a certain troubled youth in his musical group around 1952.
It's the call and response thing revisited (recalling "Soul Power", "Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved, and so many others from over 30 years ago) and it appears that this is the first time the two have recorded together since 1971! ("Revolution of the Mind", cut at the Apollo that year, heavily features Byrd).
The Brown "call" [incorporating the song title itself] and the Byrd "response" are powerful, but the verse is somewhat unintelligible, beside being slightly insufficient - quite unlike the aforementioned "Get Up, Get Into It...".
The fourth track, listed on the sticker and on the disc itself, is called "Let The Sunshine In (Peace)" and conveys the message of be-constructive-not-destructive even better than the lead track. It's a mid-tempo inspirational tune, sounding very much like a song (possibly) recorded for the excellent "The Merry Christmas Album" from '99."