Black Caesar (album)

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.[2]

Black Caesar
Soundtrack album by
James Brown
ReleasedFebruary 1973
GenreFunk[1]
Length36:17
LabelPolydor
ProducerJames Brown
James Brown chronology
Get on the Good Foot
(1972)		 Black Caesar
(1973)		 Slaughter's Big Rip-Off
(1973)
Singles from Black Caesar
  1. "Down and Out in New York City"
    Released: 1973
  2. "Mama Feelgood"
    Released: 1973

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Robert ChristgauD+[4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[5]

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."[4]

However, other critics wrote more positively about the album. In a later 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".[3] Dave Thompson calls it a "kick-ass soundtrack" and "nothing short of a full frontal funk assault."[1]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Down and Out in New York City"Bodie Chandler, Barry De Vorzon4:43
2."Blind Man Can See It"James Brown, Charles Bobbit, Fred Wesley2:18
3."Sportin' Life"James Brown, Bobbit, Wesley3:50
4."Dirty Harri"James Brown1:29
5."The Boss"James Brown, Bobbit, Wesley3:14
6."Make It Good to Yourself"James Brown, Bobbit, Wesley3:18
7."Mama Feelgood" (Performed by Lyn Collins)James Brown, Lyn Collins3:29
8."Mama's Dead"James Brown, Wesley4:47
9."White Lightning (I Mean Moonshine)"James Brown, Bobbit, Wesley2:40
10."Chase"James Brown, Bobbit, Wesley, Jan Hammer2:38
11."Like It Is, Like It Was"James Brown3:51

Personnel

Credits for Black Caesar adapted from Allmusic.[6]

  • James Brown – arranger, conductor, producer, vocals
  • Bob Both – mixing, production supervisor
  • Lyn Collins – vocals
  • Jeff Faville – redesign
  • Joseph M. Palmaccio – digital remastering
  • Harry Weinger – liner notes
  • Fred Wesley – arranger

Charts
Chart (1973) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Top LPs & Tapes[7] 31
U.S. Best Selling Soul LPs[8] 2

References
  1. Thompson, Dave (August 1, 2001). Funk. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 210. ISBN 0879306297.
  2. "James Brown – Black Caesar". discogs.com. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  3. Deming, Mark. "James Brown: Black Caesar Review" at AllMusic. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  4. Christgau, Robert (June 9, 1980). "A Consumer Guide to James Brown". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  5. Cross, Charles R. (2004). "James Brown". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 109. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  6. "Black Caesar - James Brown : Credits". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  7. "Top LP's & Tape". Billboard. April 14, 1973. p. 58. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  8. "Best Selling Soul Singles & LP's". Billboard. April 28, 1973. p. 23. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
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