THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

270-James Brown-I Got You (I Feel Good)

1965-Number 29 single.

Best Bit-At 0.01. There is probably no other song that is known instantly by two different titles, some call it ‘I Feel Good,’ and some call it ‘I Got You.’

James Joseph Brown was born on May 3rd, 1933, in Barnwell, South Carolina, United States, he died on Christmas Day 2006, from congestive heart failure at the age of 73. His honorific nicknames include,’Godfather of Soul,’ Mr Dynamite, and ‘Soul Brother No 1,’ he was also referred to as ‘The hardest working man in show business,’ due to his very active stage shows, and for performing over 300 times each year.

James Brown (see also best songs 880-349 and 88) wrote what was later to become ‘I Got You (I Feel Good’) in 1962, calling the song ‘I Found You,’ and releasing it as a single for Yvonne Fair (1942-1994) (see also best songs 480) who was a member of his live backing band, at that time, the song failed to chart. In 1964 Brown recorded a version of ‘I Got You (I Feel Good’) with a different arrangement, and that recording appears on ‘Out of Sight’ his ninth studio Album. The songs writing is credited to ‘Ted Wright,’ which is James Brown using a pseudonym, the reason for this will probably have been for either tax reasons concerning royalties, or a contractual dispute with his record label. The song had been planned for release as a single, but was withdrawn due to a court order from ‘King Records’ with whom Brown was involved in a contractual dispute with at the time. The ‘Out of Sight’ Album had been released on the Smash Records’ label, which was a subsidiary of ‘Mercury Records’ because of the legal problems. This version of the song is also the one James Brown lip syncs when performing with ‘The Famous Flames’ in the 1965 American musical comedy film ‘Ski Party.’

‘I Got You (I Feel Good’) was written and produced by James Brown, with this defining version being released in October 1965, with many now calling it Brown’s signature tune. The song became James Brown’s highest charting single on the Billboard Hot 100 when reaching Number 3 in 1965. In total Brown achieved 91 Hot 100 hits, the most by any artist to never make the Number 1 spot. ‘I Got You (I Feel Good’) was also the opening track from Brown’s 1966 Album of the same name, which was mainly a compilation Album made up of ‘B’ sides, and alternate takes. The song has also appeared on four of Brown’s live Album releases, the first being in 1967, on ‘Live at the Garden,’ in New Jersey, United States.

‘When I hold you in my arms I know that I can do no wrong, and when I hold you in my arms my love can’t do me no harm.’