James Brown...The Super Bad, Mr. Dynamite of All Legacies, Pt. 1 (1956-65)

In which the Curmudgeons get on the good foot and launch a three-part look at the career of a man who may just be rock 'n' roll's truest genius. From jail time in his rough-and-tumble youth to showtime at the Apollo and the chart heights of "I Got You (I Feel Good), we trace the ascension of James Brown as he croons and shuffles his way to superstardom. By 1965, he was ready to unleash a musical gift that changed everything. Let us guide you as Mr. Dynamite finds his inner funk.

 

Check out two great books that helped inform this episode:

 

R.J. Smith's "The One" - bit.ly/3CjdBLl

 

Douglas Wolk's "Live at the Apollo" - bit.ly/43tHNiN

 

Here's a handy navigation companion for this episode:

(0:54 - 5:40) - Arturo Andrade sets the parameters for this episode

(07:39 - 18:40) - The Parallel Universe - Reviews of new albums by Lael Neale and Durand Jones

(19:39 - 33:46) - James Brown's origin story, which has to be heard to be believed

(35:05 - 01:06:45) - We analyze a slew of early James Brown triumphs -- "Please Please, Please," "Try Me," "(Do The) Mashed Potatoes," "Think," "Baby, You're Right," "Night Train," "Out of Sight," "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," "(I Got You) I Feel Good," and the amazing 192 live album Live at the Apollo

  

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Recorded using Zencastr! zencastr.com 

 

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