Search - Jb's, The J.B.'s :: Bring the Funk On Down

You Aren't a Singer, So Don't Sing

Chad A. Timm | Morristown, NJ United States | 06/18/2003

(1 out of 5 stars)

"This album is a disaster. It shows what the JB's CAN'T do without James Brown. Why they try to write and then sing lyrics when they are solid jazz musicians and pioneers of the instrumental sounds of funk is beyond me. Buy the "Funky Good Time Anthology.""

Great musicians, mixed results

TheBandit | SEA-TAC | 07/16/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"When I first heard about the release of this album, I practically started salivating. Together on an all-new album: Fred Wesley, Clyde Stubblefield, Jabo Starks, Ron Tooley, Pee Wee Ellis, Maceo Parker, Bootsy Collins, Fred Wesley, Bobby Byrd... the list goes on. So many legendary musicians, all of whom at some point or another played in one of James Brown's bands. If you're not familiar with the JB's sound, buy one of the compilations of their classic '70s funk (the preferred choice being the two-disc "JB's Anthology: Funky Good Time", but there is a more economical single disc configuration available). There you will find some of the funkiest grooves ever committed to tape.This album is good. Not in the league of the classic JB's work, but still solid. I wish there wasn't so much singing. In the old days, these guys let their instruments do most of the talking. Most of the cuts on this record have lyrics, and more often than not the singing isn't very good (the big exception being Bobby Byrd on his ballad). Also, I was a bit dissapointed that Maceo and Bootsy are only featured on one track-- the so-called 'bonus track' "Mistakes and All". Don't get me wrong, its one of the funkiest tracks on the record (and doesn't have any annoying singing). But I really would've liked a bit more participation from those guys.If you like old-school funk, you should find much to like on this CD. I hope these guys keep making records, because I'll keep buying them."