Noch eine kleine Ergänzung zu Beau Dollar… die Band, in der Dollar trommelte und die auf den beiden Tracks von „Funky People (Part 3)“ zu hören ist (den Tracks von Beau Dollar und Hank Ballard), The Dapps, waren eine Gruppe weisser Protégées von JB. Und auch Arrangeur Dave Matthews war weiss.
Zur von Matthews geschriebenen und arrangierten Single „Mr. Hot Pants (aka Across the Track) (Pts. 1 & 2)“ erzählt Cliff White in den Liner Notes zur CD die Story:
In May, 1971, before „Pass the Peas,“ „Gimme Some More“ or „Hot Pants Road,“ they [The J.B.’s] are The Believers.
Their cut, „Mr. Hot Pants“ a.k.a. „Across the Track,“ is the Great Missing J.B.’s Single. It is the result of a funk cutting contest between „Friendly Fred“ and arranger Dave Mathews, called by Brown when he is late for the session where he eventually cuts „Hot Pants,“ „I’m a Greedy Man“ and the instrumental single, „To My Brother“.
Fred goes with the pleasant but forgettable „Texas Green“ recalls our eyewitness Alan Leeds. Matthews sits behind the organ, teaches the rhythm section a basic outline and gives the horn players some ideas. A greezy jam is born. Matthews names it „A Pot of Grass.“
When Brown arrives he first hears, and approves of, „Texas Green.“ But as Matthews‘ track spills from the studio speakers, JB gets up and starts dancing. His craggy face splits into a huge grin that turns into uncontrollable laughter. „Mr. Wesley, son, I don’t believe it,“ he roars. „You sure let Dave beat you out this time. Mannnn, this groove is a mutha!“
Brown discards the „Pot of Grass“ title, as well as the temporary name for the band – „Dave Mathews [sic] & His People.“ In the wake off Brown’s hit „Hot Pants,“ the tune becomes „Mr. Hot Pants“ by The Believers, then in the midst of its brief release it’s switched to „Across the Track“ to avoid confusion with the boss‘ 45. The single lauchnes BrownStone Records, a label James creates with his long-time ally in Florida, Henry Stone. This has been an enduring friendship/affiliation, from when Stone’s distribution company did a lot for the southern success of „Please, Please, Please“ in 1956, to James‘ most recent international success, „Funk on ah Roll,“ which started live as a BrownStone release.
~ Cliff White, Liner Notes zu: „James Brown’s Funky People (Part 3)“, Polydor/Universal CD, 2000.
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"Don't play what the public want. You play what you want and let the public pick up on what you doin' -- even if it take them fifteen, twenty years." (Thelonious Monk) | Meine Sendungen auf Radio StoneFM: gypsy goes jazz, #158 – Piano Jazz 2024 - 19.12.2024 – 20:00 | Slow Drive to South Africa, #8: tba | No Problem Saloon, #30: tba