"Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" is a song written and recorded by James Brown.[2] Released as a two-part single in 1965, it was Brown's first song to reach the Billboard Hot 100 Top Ten, peaking at number eight, and was a number-one R&B hit, topping the charts for eight weeks.[3][4] It won Brown his first Grammy Award, for Best Rhythm & Blues Recording.[5]
Quick Facts B-side, Released ...
"Papa's Got a Brand New Bag Part I" |
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B-side | "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag Part II" |
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Released | June 1965 (1965-06) |
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Recorded | February 1965 |
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Studio | Arthur Smith Studios, Charlotte, North Carolina |
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Genre | Soul, funk[1] |
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Length |
length mentioned on single; actual playing time was 2:03
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Label | King (5999) |
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Songwriter(s) | James Brown |
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Producer(s) | James Brown |
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Consolidating the rhythmic innovations of earlier James Brown recordings such as "I've Got Money" and "Out of Sight", "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" is considered seminal in the emergence of funk music as a distinct style. As Brown sings the praises of an old man brave enough to get out on the dance floor of a nightclub ("brand new bag" meaning new interest, taste, or way of doing something[6]), his band provides a horn-heavy backdrop with a prominent rhythm and an electric guitar riff for a hook. Both singer and musicians place overwhelming emphasis on the first beat of each measure ("on the One"). The song is Brown's first recording to feature Jimmy Nolen on guitar.
The taped recording of "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" was edited and sped up for its single release, increasing the tempo and raising the pitch by a half step. In 1991, the recording was released in unedited form at its original speed on the box set Star Time.[7] The track includes lead-in studio chatter, with Brown throatily (and presciently) shouting "This is a hit!" just before the drum and horn intro.
- In 1965, The Fabulous Echoes covered the song on their album Lovin' Feeling.
- In 1965, Buddy Guy played the song participating in the European tour American Folk Blues Festival. The song is not on the record but in the movie that was made of the tour.
- In 1965, The McCoys released a version of the song on their debut album, Hang on Sloopy.[10]
- In 1968, Atco Records released a single by Otis Redding, from the posthumously released LP In Person at the Whisky a Go Go.
- In 1968, The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band released a version of the song on their album, Together.[11]
- In 1971, Fadoul, a Moroccan musician, covered the song in Arabic.[12]
- In 1974, The Residents recorded a German version of the song for their Third Reich N Roll album.
- In 1987, Roger Troutman covered the song on his album Unlimited!.
- In 1995, Jimmy Smith recorded an instrumental version on his album Damn!
- In 1999, The Sugarman 3 covered the song on Sugar's Boogaloo.
- In 2006, Bebi Dol covered the song on her album Čovek rado izvan sebe živi.[13]
- In 2007, Ubisoft remake this song for the game Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 covered by Franck Chapelat.[citation needed]
- In 2018, fourteen year-old Courtney Hadwin covered the song in a broadcast performance on NBC's primetime TV show America's Got Talent.[14]
- James Brown – lead vocals
with the James Brown Band:
- Joe Dupars – trumpet
- Ron Tooley – trumpet
- Levi Rasbury – trombone
- Wilmer Milton – trombone
- Nat Jones – alto saxophone
- Maceo Parker – tenor and baritone saxophones
- St. Clair Pinckney – tenor saxophone
- Eldee Williams – tenor saxophone
- Al "Brisco" Clark – tenor saxophone
- Nat Jones – organ
- Jimmy Nolen – guitar
- Sam Thomas or Bernard Odum – bass
- Melvin Parker – drums
Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 84. White, Cliff (1991). "Discography". In Star Time (pp. 54–59) [CD booklet]. New York: PolyGram Records.
Leeds, Alan, and Harry Weinger (1991). "Star Time: Song by Song". In Star Time (pp. 46–53) [CD booklet]. New York: PolyGram Records.