THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

270-James Brown and the Famous Flames-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, ‘Minister of New Super Heavy Funk, ‘King of Soul,’ 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) originally 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 on the ‘King’ record label by 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. Yvonne Fair and James Brown would later have a daughter together, Venisha Brown (1965-2018.) In 1964 James 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 The song had been planned for release as a single, but was withdrawn due to a court order from ‘King Records’ with whom Brown was involved in a contractual dispute with at the time.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’) can also be found on four of James Brown’s live Albums recorded between 1967-1995. In 1975 he re-recorded the song for his 1975 40th studio Album ‘Sex Machine Today,’ that version featured in the 1992 American sports comedy film ‘White Men Can’t Jump.’

‘I Got You (I Feel Good’) is also the title track of James Brown’s second compilation Album, released in January 1966, (there have been 49 in total to date) the Album consists of songs released on previous studio Albums, including ‘B’ sides, and alternate takes. and also an alternate take of the title track, as well as songs released previously as singles. ‘I Got You (I Feel Good’) was written and produced by James Brown, with this defining version being released as a single 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 James Brown achieved 91 Billboard Hot 100 hits, the most by any artist to never make the Number 1 spot. For the discography of James Brown see best songs 349.

‘I Got You (I Feel Good’) can boast 13 different musicians playing on the track. Although the song was officially issued as ‘James Brown and the Famous Flames,’ in the studio the collective of musicians were known as the ‘James Brown Orchestra.’ The impressive collective of artists playing on the track included St. Clair Pinckney, (1930-1999) (saxophone) Jimmy Nolen, (1934-1983) (guitar) Bernard Odum, (1932-2004) (bass guitar) and the Parker Brothers Maceo, (baritone saxophone) and Melvin Parker (1944-2021) (drums.)

Maceo Parker (see also best songs 850-612-143 and 88) was born on February 14th, 1943, in Kinston, North Carolina, United States, he is best known for his work with James Brown in the 1960’s, Parliament-Funkadelic in the 1970’s and Prince in the 2000’s. Parker and his brother Melvin first joined James Brown in 1963, in his autobiography Brown claims that he originally wanted Melvin as his drummer, but agreed to additionally take Maceo under his wing as part of the deal. In March 1970, Parker, his brother Melvin, and a few of Brown’s band members left to establish the band ‘Maceo & All the King’s Men,’ which toured for two years. In January 1973, Maceo Parker rejoined James Brown’s group, but then in 1975 Parker and some of Brown’s band members, including Fred Wesley, (see also best songs 850-612 and 88) left to join George Clinton’s band Parliament-Funkadelic. Maceo Parker once again re-joined James Brown from 1984 to 1988. In the 1990’s Maceo Parker started a solo career, he has currently released 16 Albums under his own name between 1970-2012, and appeared as ‘sideman’ on numerous Albums between 1964-2009. In 2013, Maceo Parker published his autobiography, ‘98% Funky Stuff: My Life in Music.’

Melvin Parker (see also best songs 880 and 88) was born on June 7th, 1944, also in Kinston, North Carolina, United States, he died on December 3rd, 2021, at the age of 77. His drumming style was a major ingredient in James Brown’s ‘Funk’ music innovations in the 1960’s. In 2004 James Brown said, ‘The greatest drummer I ever had in my life was Melvin Parker, nobody ever did that. Nobody. And they can’t do it now. And if I was getting ready to cut a record that was right, I would go get Melvin today, because he’s just like a metronome.’ In 1970, Melvin Parker left James Brown’s group and joined his brother Maceo’s band, ‘Maceo & All the King’s Men.’ He rejoined James Brown in 1976 for the recording of the ‘Get Up Offa That Thing’ Album.

‘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.’