I Got You (I Feel Good)

Infobox Single
Name = I Got You (I Feel Good)


Caption =
Artist = James Brown
from Album = I Got You (I Feel Good)
A-side =
B-side = "I Can't Help It (I Just Do-Do-Do)"
Released = October 1965
Format = 7" single
Recorded = 1965
Genre = Soul/Funk
Length = 2:47
Label = King
K6015
Writer = James Brown
Producer = James Brown
Certification =
Chart position = * #1 (US R&B)
* #3 (US Pop Singles)
Last single = "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" (Pt. 1)
(1965)
This single = "I Got You (I Feel Good)" (1965)
Next single = "Ain't That a Groove" Pts. 1 & 2
(1966)
Misc =

"I Got You (I Feel Good)" (commonly known as "I Feel Good") is a hit song by James Brown. Released as a single in 1965, it is one of Brown's signature songs, and is arguably his most widely-known recording.

Description

On the record, Brown revels in how "good" he feels ("nice, like sugar and spice"), now that he has the one he loves. Brown's vocal performance features his trademark soul shouting vocals and screams. The song's form is a twelve bar blues. Its brass-heavy instrumental arrangement is similar to that of Brown's previous hit "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag", including the trademark emphasis "on the one" (i.e. the first beat of the measure) that characterizes Brown's then-new funk style. The song also features a prominent alto sax solo by Maceo Parker.

Although Brown's vocal group, The Famous Flames, received label credit for this song, they don't actually sing on it. However, they do perform the song with Brown in a cameo appearance in the 1965 film, "Ski Party".

The song, with almost identical tune and words, had first been recorded and released in 1962 by Yvonne Fair, as "I Found You" (King 5594). Fair was one of Brown's back-up singers, and released several singles in her own right produced by him, none of which were hits. Brown then reworked the song three years later as "I Got You (I Feel Good)". [Rob Finnis and Tony Rounce, "Booklet with CD "You Heard It Here First", Ace Records CDCHD1204, 2008]

Reception

Of Brown's 99 hits to reach the "Billboard" Hot 100 (a total second only to Elvis Presley) "I Got You (I Feel Good)" is Brown's highest charting song, peaking at number three. The song remained at the top of the "Billboard" R&B singles chart for six weeks, after his previous single, "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag", held the number-one spot for eight weeks. Brown's screams at the beginning and end of the song have been sampled a number of times for hip hop and dance songs. The song has also been covered many times by other performers, and is frequently played at sporting events.

In 2000, "I Got You (I Feel Good)" reached #21 on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs in Rock and Roll" and #75 on VH1's "100 Greatest Rock and Roll Dance Songs," one of only seven songs to make both lists. (The others were Aretha Franklin's "Respect", Ray Charles' "What'd I Say", The Kingsmen's "Louie, Louie", Ritchie Valens' "La Bamba", The Bee Gees' "Staying Alive", and Chubby Checker's "The Twist".)

In 2004, "I Got You (I Feel Good)" was ranked number 78 on "Rolling Stone" magazine's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.

Appearances in film and television

"I Got You (I Feel Good)" has appeared in numerous film soundtracks, including "The Nutty Professor", "Good Morning Vietnam", "Home Alone 4", "Dr. Dolittle", "Boat Trip", ', "K9", ', and "Transformers".

It was in the movie "It Takes Two" staring Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen as well as "Full House" episode, "The Return of Grandma".

The song's television appearances include "Tour of Duty" episode "The Road to Long Binh", the "Simpsons" episode "Bart's Inner Child", and the "Lost" episode "The Greater Good".

Sky Sports' Jeff Stelling uses a singing & dancing James Brown doll which belts out "I Got You (I Feel Good)" whenever Hartlepool United's striker James Brown (footballer) scores a goal.

This song is played on ntv7, a Malaysian television channel, as soon as the channel goes on air everyday. It reflects the slogan of the channel, that is "Your Feel Good Channel".

Personnel

* James Brown - lead vocal

"with the James Brown Orchestra:"
* Ron Tooley - trumpet
* Joe Dupars - trumpet
* Levi Rasbury - trumpet
* Unknown - trumpet
* Nat Jones - alto saxophone, organ
* St. Clair Pinckney - tenor saxophone
* Eldee Williams - tenor saxophone
* Al "Brisco" Clark - tenor saxophone
* Maceo Parker - tenor saxophone
* Jimmy Nolen - guitar
* Alphonso "Country" Kellum - guitar
* Bernard Odum - bass
* Melvin Parker - drums

mash Records version

Brown recorded an early version of "I Got You (I Feel Good)" with a different arrangement (including a prominent baritone sax part) under the title "I Got You" in 1964. This version of the song, the composition of which was credited to Ted Wright, appeared on the album "Out of Sight", released by Smash Records. The recording was also intended for release as a single on Smash, but was withdrawn due to a court order from King Records, Brown's primary label at the time, with which he was involved in a contract dispute.

Brown performs this arrangement of the song in the movie "Ski Party".

Other versions

Live recordings

Brown performs the song on the live albums "Live at the Apollo, Vol. II" (1968) and "Live at the Apollo 1995".

1975 remake

Brown re-recorded the song for his 1975 album "Sex Machine Today". This version was featured in the movie White Men Can't Jump.

Cover versions

"I Got You (I Feel Good)" has been covered in a variety of styles by performers including James Cotton, Joshua Redman, The Jam, James Chance and the Contortions and Bobby McFerrin. The "" episode "Videolympics" also featured a cover version of the song (due to legal issues, it is not included on the DVD release).

Mookie Morris performed this on Canadian Idol 6 in 2008 on "Rock and Roll Heaven" night.

References

* Leeds, Alan M., and Harry Weinger (1991). Star Time: Song by Song. In "Star Time" (pp. 46-53) [CD liner notes] . London: Polydor Records.
* White, Cliff (1991). Discography. In "Star Time" (pp. 54-59) [CD liner notes] . London: Polydor Records.

External links

* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:ojdovwn4a9yk Song review] at Allmusic