Make It Funky Explained

Make It Funky (Part 1)
Cover:	MakeItFunky.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	James Brown
Album:	Star Time
B-Side:	Make It Funky (Part 2)
Recorded:	July 13, 1971, Rodel Studios, Washington, D.C.
Genre:	Funk
Length:	(Part 1) (Part 2)
Label:	Polydor 14088
Producer:	James Brown
Chronology:	James Brown charting
Prev Title:	Hot Pants Pt. 1 (She Got to Use What She Got to Get What She Wants)
Prev Year:	1971
Next Title:	My Part/Make It Funky - Part 3
Next Year:	1971

My Part/Make It Funky - Part 3
Type:	single
Artist:	James Brown
Album:	Get on the Good Foot
B-Side:	My Part/Make It Funky - Part 4
Genre:	Funk
Length:	2:39 and 2:48 (Part 3) (Part 4)
Label:	Polydor
Producer:	James Brown
Chronology:	James Brown charting
Prev Title:	Make It Funky (Part 1)
Prev Year:	1971
Next Title:	I'm a Greedy Man - Part I
Next Year:	1971

"Make It Funky" is a jam session recorded by James Brown with The J.B.'s. It was released as a two-part single in 1971, which reached No. 1 on the U.S. R&B chart and No. 22 on the U.S. Pop chart.^{[1] [2] [3]}

Publication

This was his first song to be submitted solely to Polydor Records. The original master is very slow and steadily formed in tempo, compared to how it is performed live. It features the band members chanting the song's title and a prominent organ part played by Brown himself. Bobby Byrd also contributes vocals and a spoken intro. Brown released the next 6 minutes of the recording as another two-part single, titled "My Part/Make It Funky", which charted #68 R&B. Parts 3 and 4 appeared on the album Get on the Good Foot.

Live versions of "Make It Funky" appear on the albums Revolution of the Mind and Live at the Apollo 1995. Brown also remade the song for his 1992 album Universal James under the title "Make It Funky 2000".

The full version, running 12:50, was released on the compilation in 1996.

Sample used

• Audio Two - Make It Funky
• Ice-T - Make It Funky (1987)
• Marley Marl - Droppin' Science
• Slum Village - I Don't Know
• Kingdom - Every Beat of My Heart

Recognition

In 2005, the bassline to all four parts was ranked at number 2 in Stylus Magazines list of the "Top 50 Basslines of All Time".^[4]

Personnel

• James Brown - lead vocal, organ

with The J.B.'s:

• Jerone "Jasaan" Sanford - trumpet, vocals
• Russell Crimes - trumpet, vocals
• Fred Wesley - trombone, vocals
• St. Clair Pinckney - tenor saxophone, vocals
• Hearlon "Cheese" Martin - guitar, vocals
• Robert Lee Coleman - guitar, vocals
• Fred Thomas - bass, vocals
• John "Jabo" Starks - drums, vocals
• Bobby Byrd - vocals
• Martha Harvin - vocals

External links

• [{{Allmusic|class=song|id=t922293|pure_url=yes}} Song Review] from Allmusic

Notes and References

1. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research . 85.
2. White, Cliff (1991). "Discography". In Star Time (pp. 54–59) [CD booklet]. New York: PolyGram Records.
3. Leeds, Alan, and Harry Weinger (1991). "Star Time: Song by Song". In Star Time (pp. 46–53) [CD booklet]. New York: PolyGram Records.
4. Web site: Stylus Magazine's Top 50 Basslines Of All Time - Article . Stylus Magazine . 2008-10-04 . 2016-10-04.