“Say It Loud, I’m Black And I’m Proud” by James Brown - album review

features in: (B-list) Album Chart of 1969(B-list) Album Chart of the 1960s

TJR says

Generally deemed to be a proper new album, but has that old annoying 60s bad habit where 4 of the 12 repeat from previous LPs, hence the “b” status. The 8 originals are supplemented by 2 covers - Don Cherry’s “Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye” (1962) and Little Willie John’s “Let Them Talk” (1959). Future bandleader of The J.B.’s. joins the party for the first time - his opening contribution is “Say It Loud - I’m Black And I’m Proud”. HELLO FRED! What an anthem. One of those great moments when music joins history. Brown didn’t just speak to the Afro-American. He spoke to the World. In the song, Brown addresses the prejudice towards blacks in America, and the need for black empowerment. He proclaims that “we demands a chance to do thangs for ourself/we’re tired of beating our head against the wall/and workin’ for someone else”. The song’s call-and-response chorus is performed by a group of young children, who respond to Brown’s command of “Say it loud” with “I’m black and I’m proud!” The song was recorded in a Los Angeles area suburb with about 30 young people from the Watts and Compton areas. Tragically, Brown lost white fans in their thousands, as the songs core message was mis-interpreted for militancy. Doh! Wake up America. Smell them goddamn coffee beans…

The Jukebox Rebel
22–Apr–2012

Tracklist
A1 [04:46] 8.6.png James Brown and The Famous Flames - Say It Loud - I’m Black And I’m Proud, parts 1 & 2 (James Brown, Alfred Ellis) Soul
A2 [03:33] 6.9.png James Brown and The Famous Flames - I Guess I’ll Have To Cry, Cry, Cry (James Brown) Soul Ballad
A3 [05:31] 7.6.png James Brown - Goodbye My Love, parts 1 & 2 (James Brown) Soul Ballad
A4 [02:45] 5.4.png James Brown - Shades Of Brown (Bud Hobgood) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
B1 [02:52] 8.3.png James Brown and The Famous Flames - Licking Stick-Licking Stick (James Brown, Bobby Byrd, Alfred Ellis) Disco / Funk
B2 [03:33] 5.8.png James Brown - I Love You (James Brown, Clyde Stubblefield, Alfonzo Kellum) Soul
B3 [03:52] 5.2.png James Brown - Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye (John Dee Loudermilk) Soul Ballad
B4 [04:01] 6.7.png James Brown - Let Them Talk (Sonny Thompson) Soul Ballad
B5 [03:17] 6.1.png James Brown - Maybe I’ll Understand, part 1 (James Brown, Bud Hobgood, Ron Lenhoff) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
B6 [02:44] 5.4.png James Brown - I’ll Lose My Mind (James Brown, Bobby Byrd, Bud Hobgood) Blues / Rhythm n Blues

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