A bit of a comeback for James Brown – a mid 80s outing recorded with Dan Hartman, who gives the record a "contemporary" sound that's definitely a great way to slide James in with the younger crowd at the time! The style's still funky, but has more street soul elements too – and the record sports guest appearances by Alison Moyet, Steve Winwood, and Stevie Ray Vaughan – and although the production is a bit stiff at points, there's some undeniable quality in James that still makes some nice moments shine through! Titles include "Gravity", "Let's Get Personal", "How Do You Stop", "Living In America", "Goliath", "Repeat The Beat", and "Return To Me". CD

James Brown gets a new injection of life at the end of the 80s – thanks to a collaboration here with Full Force, who wrote, arranged, and produced the album! The groove here is often more in a Full Force mode than you might expect from James – a full-on 80s urban sound, filled with plenty of beats at the bottom, yet still allowing The Godfather plenty of space to do his thing vocally! In a way, the format's almost a bit like some of the James Brown remix work that was showing up around the same time – except that the tunes are all new, and somewhat different territory for James. Titles include "I'm Real", "Static (parts 1 & 2)", "You & Me", "Time To Get Busy", "She Looks All Types A Good", "Keep Keepin", and "Can't Git Enuf". CD

Full Force and James Brown – stepping out in a groove that's almost early New Jack Swing! 12-inch, Vinyl record

From the Rocky IV soundtrack. 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Colonel Abrams, Greg Franks with the Quiet Boys, Blaq N Wyte, Stone Cold Boners, Snowboy & the Latin Section, Rose Windross, the Vibrophonics & Ace Of Clubs. CD

James Brown going strong into the 90s – and almost hitting a mode that's a bit like some of his first few records of the 80s! James is firmly at the helm here – producing, arranging, and writing most numbers – and while the sound is definitely more contemporary than on his classics, there's also still a definite Godfather-ness that always shines through. Most of the upbeat numbers have that peppy, bouncy sort of vibe that James was laying down on his bigger post-disco groovers – and a few other tracks hit a mellower, bluesier mode that's in keeping with his image on the cover. Titles include "Dance Dance Dance To The Funk", "Teardrops On Your Letter", "Later For Dancing", "Standing On Higher Ground", "Show Me", "Move On", and "It's Time To Love". LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

... CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

A bit of a comeback for James Brown – a mid 80s outing recorded with Dan Hartman, who gives the record a "contemporary" sound that's definitely a great way to slide James in with the younger crowd at the time! The style's still funky, but has more street soul elements too – and the record sports guest appearances by Alison Moyet, Steve Winwood, and Stevie Ray Vaughan – and although the production is a bit stiff at points, there's some undeniable quality in James that still makes some nice moments shine through! Titles include "Gravity", "Let's Get Personal", "How Do You Stop", "Living In America", "Goliath", "Repeat The Beat", and "Return To Me". Lots of bonus tracks too – including "Living In America (12" R&B dance)", "Living In America (inst)", "Living In America (soundtrack version)", "Gravity (12" ext)", "Goliath (12" message house mix)", "Gravity (single)", and "How Do You Stop (12" ext)". CD

James Brown makes a big nod to the younger generation here – by letting Jazzie B and C&C produce some of the tracks on the record – all with the expected contemporary funk vibe you might expect! The best numbers here are really those done by Jazzie B – as they've often got a Soul II Soul approach to funk – one that's certainly early 90s, but which also has more of a respect for the best older elements in James' vocals, and never tries to overpower them too much. Jazzie sets up some rhythms that are often spare and simple, but quite effective – and with a warmth that's missing from most other James Brown albums of the time. JB also produced a few tracks himself, and titles include "Mine All Mine", "Just Do It", "Can't Get Any Harder", "Watch Me", "Show Me Your Friends", "Everybody's Got A Thing", "How Long", and "Moments". CD