Papa's Got a Brand New Bag

Infobox Single
Name = Papa's Got a Brand New Bag


Caption =
Artist = James Brown
from Album = Papa's Got a Brand New Bag
A-side = "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag - Pt. 1"
B-side = "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag - Pt. 2"
Released = June 1965
Format = vinyl record (7" 45 RPM)
Recorded = February 1965 at Arthur Smith Studios, Charlotte, North Carolina
Genre = Funk, soul
Length = 2:07 (Pt. 1)
Label = King
5999
Writer = James Brown
Producer = James Brown
Certification =
Last single = "Have Mercy Baby"
(1965)
This single = "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" (Pt. 1)
(1965)
Next single = I Got You (I Feel Good)"
(1965)

"Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" is a song written and recorded by James Brown. 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 seven. It was also a number-one R&B hit, topping the charts for eight weeks.

"Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" is widely considered the first recording to showcase what later became Brown's signature musical style, and marks the beginning of the development of the musical genre of funk. As Brown sings the praises of an old man brave enough to get out on the dance floor of a nightclub, Brown's band provides a horn-heavy backdrop with a prominent rhythm and an electric guitar riff for a hook. It is considered one of Brown's signature songs, and has been covered by many artists, both within the R&B genre and outside of it.

In 2004, "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" was ranked number 72 on "Rolling Stone" magazine's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.

Brown recorded a big band jazz arrangement of "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" with the Louie Bellson Orchestra for his 1970 LP "Soul on Top".

Personnel

* James Brown - lead vocal

"with the James Brown Band:"
* Joe Dupars - trumpet
* Ron Tooley - trumpet
* Levi Rasbury - trumpet
* 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

imilarly named songs

* A song recorded by the band Pigbag, "Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag", was a worldwide hit in 1979.
* In 1995 Paul Oakenfold's Perfecto Allstarz project recorded "Reach Up (Papa's Got A Brand New Bag)", which peaked at #6 in the UK Singles Chart.
* The Capitol Steps recorded the parody "Papa's Got A Brand New Baghdad" for their 2004 album of the same name.

Cultural references

* The title of "The Simpsons" episode "Papa's Got a Brand New Badge" is a play on the name of the song.
* British comedy duo Peter Cook and Dudley Moore performed a satirical skit "Mama's Got a Brand New Bag" deconstructing the lyrics of contemporary black popular music.
* An episode of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" is titled "Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse". The story revolves around Will Smith's father coming back into his life after fourteen years and walking out on him again.
*The Videogame "Rayman Raving Rabbids 2" features this song as a Guitar-Hero style minigame

ample

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.