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LP
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HOF 001LP
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Exact repro reissue, originally released in 1970. James Brown's backing band rebelliously 'doing their own thing' and the results, though perhaps notoriously overlooked (if the story about Brown paying radio stations not to play these songs is true), are essential. "Fittingly, the album begins with 'Maceo,' a slow, churning piece of hard funk. It's basically an excuse to have this band's leader blow a few choruses of his patented razor-sharp vamp-jazz. He sticks to tenor here (Maceo didn't switch to alto until 1973), but there's no mistaking his tone and style for anyone else's. The tune features only the barest of melodies, and in fact, was probably the kind of thing that would've been stretched out to lather up a crowd in concert. 'Got to Get 'Cha' is more classic groove, and is actually still in the touring book of Maceo's band today. This one actually features the sax man's distinctive vocals, owing much to Brown's guttural pounce. Brother Melvin lays down a tight, mid-tempo beat, and the horns (including L.D. Williams on tenor and trumpeters Richard Griffith and Joseph Davis) nail the punches harder than Kool's Gang or a Tower of Power ever dreamed possible." -- Pitchfork (8.0)
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