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James Brown - Black Caesar (Original Soundtrack)
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| James Brown - 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
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."
In a 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" | Brown, Bobbit, Wesley | 3:50 |
| 4. | "Dirty Harri" | Brown | 1:29 |
| 5. | "The Boss" | Brown, Bobbit, Wesley | 3:14 |
| 6. | "Make It Good to Yourself" | Brown, Bobbit, Wesley | 3:18 |
| 7. | "Mama Feelgood" (Performed by Lyn Collins) | Brown, Lyn Collins | 3:29 |
| 8. | "Mama's Dead" | Brown, Wesley | 4:47 |
| 9. | "White Lightning (I Mean Moonshine)" | Brown, Bobbit, Wesley | 2:40 |
| 10. | "Chase" | Brown, Bobbit, Wesley, Jan Hammer | 2:38 |
| 11. | "Like It Is, Like It Was" | Brown | 3:51 |
Personnel
Credits for Black Caesar adapted from Allmusic.
- Charles Bobbit – Composer
- Bob Both – Mixing, Production Supervisor
- James Brown – Arranger, Composer, Conductor, Primary Artist, Producer, Vocals
- Bodie Chandler – Composer
- Lyn Collins – Composer, Primary Artist
- Barry De Vorzon – Composer
- Jeff Faville – Redesign
- Jan Hammer – Composer
- Joseph M. Palmaccio – Digital Remastering
- Harry Weinger – Liner Notes
- Fred Wesley – Arranger, Composer
Charts
| Chart (1973) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 31 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Soul Albums | 2 |
James Brown - Black Caesar
U.S. Polydor PD 6014 stereo (1973).
Album produced by James Brown.
This record for sale is a modern repress of the soundtrack album first released in 1973.
The vinyl record attains a Mint- grading, suggesting very few plays.
Audio quality is very clear and strong throughout.
Both record centre labels are clean, unmarked, and free from tears, stains or stickers.
The album cover is in excellent condition, displaying only minimal signs of wear.
The album cover has a strong, undamaged spine, displaying very clear, printed script.