Soul Power

Infobox Single
Name = Soul Power


Caption =
Artist = James Brown
from Album = Soul Classics
A-side = "Soul Power - Pt. 1"
B-side = "Soul Power - Pts. 2 & 3"
Released =
Format = 7" (mono)
Recorded = January 26, 1971, at Rodel Studios, Washington, D.C.
Genre = Funk, Soul
Length =
Label = King
6368
Writer = James Brown
Producer = James Brown
Certification =
Chart position =
* #3 R&B
* #29 Pop
Last single =
This single =
Next single =
Misc =:"Soul Power is also the name of a fictional fighting style used by Street Fighter character Rose, and a super hero from the cartoon Static Shock (see Soul Power and Sparky)."Soul Power" is a song by James Brown. Recorded in 1971 with the original J.B.'s (plus Fred Wesley) and released as a three-part single, it was a Top Ten R&B hit. The song also appeared on the 1972 album "Soul Classics". Like "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine" and other hits from this period it features backing vocals by Bobby Byrd, the original leader and founder of Brown's singing group, The Famous Flames.

Personnel

* James Brown - lead vocal

"with The J.B.'s:"
* Bobby Byrd - organ, vocals
* Darryl "Hasaan" Jamison - trumpet
* Clayton "Chicken" Gunnells - trumpet
* Fred Wesley - trombone
* St. Clair Pinckney - tenor saxophone
* Phelps "Catfish" Collins - guitar
* Bobby Roach - guitar
* William "Bootsy" Collins - bass
* John "Jabo" Starks - drums
* Johnny Griggs - congas

Other versions

Brown performs "Soul Power" on the live albums "Revolution of the Mind: Recorded Live at the Apollo, Vol. III" (1971) and "Love Power Peace" (1992; recorded 1971).

An instrumental version of "Soul Power" was created in 1974 by adding new overdubbed horn parts by Maceo Parker and Fred Wesley to the rhythm track of the original recording. Sound engineer Bob Both added random sound effects at several points to conceal where the horn track from the original recording had bled through into the rhythm parts. Titled "Soul Power '74" and credited to "Maceo & the Macks", the new version was released as a single on People Records and reached #20 on the R&B charts. It also appeared on the album "Us!".

A re-edit of "Soul Power" was included on the 1986 compilation album "In the Jungle Groove".

Both the original recording of "Soul Power" and "Soul Power '74" have been extensively sampled by hip hop producers. "Soul Power '74" was also sampled on Jennifer Lopez's 2005 song "Get Right".

"Soul Power" was covered by the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins on their 2000 album "Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music".

References

* Leeds, Alan (1995). Discography. In "Funky Good Time: The Anthology" [CD liner notes] . London: Polydor Records.
* 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:wpfoxqqrldje Song Review] at Allmusic
* [http://www.the-breaks.com/search.php?term=Soul+Power&type=4 List of songs that sample "Soul Power"]