| Black Caesar | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Soundtrack album by James Brown | ||||
| Released | February 1973 | |||
| Genre | Funk | |||
| Length | 36:17 | |||
| Label | Polydor | |||
| Producer | James Brown | |||
| James Brown chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Black Caesar | ||||
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Black Caesar is a soundtrack album recorded by James Brown for the film of the same name and released in 1973. The album also features The J.B.'s and Lyn Collins.
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    |
| Robert Christgau | D+ |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
In a 1980 consumer guide to James Brown's albums following the dissolution of King Records, Robert Christgau of The Village Voice gave Black Caesar a "D+" and stated, "You listen to Brown for music, not songs, but that's no reason to expect good soundtrack albums from him. He should never be allowed near a vibraphone again."
However, other critics wrote more positively about the album. In a later retrospective review, Mark Deming of AllMusic gives the album three-and-a-half out of five stars and feels that, "like most soundtrack albums of the period, Black Caesar sounds rather scattershot, especially when the music is divorced from the film's narrative," but observed "several top-notch tracks", including "The Boss", "Make It Good to Yourself", and "Mama's Dead". Deming adds that "Fred Wesley's superb horn charts, Jimmy Nolen's percussive guitar, and Jabo Starks' dead-on-the-one drumming make even the weaker instrumental cuts worth a quick listen". Dave Thompson calls it a "kick-ass soundtrack" and "nothing short of a full frontal funk assault."
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Down and Out in New York City" | Bodie Chandler, Barry De Vorzon | 4:43 |
| 2. | "Blind Man Can See It" | James Brown, Charles Bobbit, Fred Wesley | 2:18 |
| 3. | "Sportin' Life" | James Brown, Bobbit, Wesley | 3:50 |
| 4. | "Dirty Harri" | James Brown | 1:29 |
| 5. | "The Boss" | James Brown, Bobbit, Wesley | 3:14 |
| 6. | "Make It Good to Yourself" | James Brown, Bobbit, Wesley | 3:18 |
| 7. | "Mama Feelgood" (Performed by Lyn Collins) | James Brown, Lyn Collins | 3:29 |
| 8. | "Mama's Dead" | James Brown, Wesley | 4:47 |
| 9. | "White Lightning (I Mean Moonshine)" | James Brown, Bobbit, Wesley | 2:40 |
| 10. | "Chase" | James Brown, Bobbit, Wesley, Jan Hammer | 2:38 |
| 11. | "Like It Is, Like It Was" | James Brown | 3:51 |
Personnel
Credits for Black Caesar adapted from Allmusic.
- James Brown – arranger, conductor, producer, vocals
- Jimmy Nolen, guitar
- St. Clair Pinckney
- Jabo Starks, drums
- Steve Gadd, drums
- Fred Thomas, bass
- Lyn Collins – vocals
- Joe Farrell, Buster Williams, Marvin Stamm, Randy Brecker, David Spinozza
- Jeff Faville – redesign
- Joseph M. Palmaccio – digital remastering
- Harry Weinger – liner notes
- Fred Wesley – trombone, arranger
- Bob Both – audio mixing, production supervisor
Charts
| Chart (1973) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top LPs & Tapes | 31 |
| U.S. Best Selling Soul LPs | 2 |
References
- ^ Thompson, Dave (August 1, 2001). Funk. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 210. ISBN 0879306297.
- "James Brown – Black Caesar". discogs.com. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
- ^ Deming, Mark. "James Brown: Black Caesar Review" at AllMusic. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (June 9, 1980). "A Consumer Guide to James Brown". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
- Cross, Charles R. (2004). "James Brown". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 109. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- "Black Caesar - James Brown : Credits". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
- "Top LP's & Tape". Billboard. April 14, 1973. p. 58. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
- "Best Selling Soul Singles & LP's". Billboard. April 28, 1973. p. 23. Retrieved January 19, 2013.