James Brown – Thinking About Little Willie John 1968

James Brown – Thinking About Little Willie John (1968 album review, tracklist & history)

 

KING RECORDS 1968                                  KS-1038 

notes:

In 1968, James Brown released one of the most unusual records 

of his career: Thinking About Little Willie John and a Few Nice Things.

Unlike his high-energy funk classics, this album is a deeply personal

 tribute to Little Willie John, an influential R&B singer whose 

life and career ended tragically.

Blending soul, instrumental arrangements, and reinterpretations, 

the record stands apart as one of the most emotional and 

reflective projects in James Brown’s discography.

credits:

James Brown – lead vocals

Johnny Grimes – trumpet

Waymon Reed – trumpet

Les Asch – tenor saxophone

David Parkinson – alto saxophone, baritone saxophone

Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis – organ

Wallace Richardson – guitar

Al Lucas – bass

Bernard “Pretty” Purdie – drums

Recorded

June 27, 1968 (side one)[1]

August 17, 1967 – October 18, 1968 (side two)[2]

Studio

Bell Sound Studios (New York City, New York) (side one)[1]

King Studios (Cincinnati, Ohio) (side two)[2]

Design  – W. Hughes

Engineer – Ron Lenhoff

Photography – E. Speedy Brown

Producer – James Brown

Production Manager – Bud Hobgood

tracklist:

A1 Talk To Me, Talk To Me

Written-By – Joe Seneca

A2 Suffering With The Blues

Written-By – Pemberton*, Conyers*

A3 Cottage For Sale

Written-By – Larry Conley, Willard Robison

A4 Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home

Written-By – Traditional

A5 Home At Last

Written-By – Toombs*

A6 Heart Break (It's Hurtin' Me)

Written By – J. Thomas - C. Hoyle

B1 What Kind Of Man

Written-By – B. Hobgood*, Eddie Setser, J. Brown*, Seals*

B2 A Note Or Two (Part 1)

B3 I'll Lose My Mind

Written-By – B. Byrd*, B. Hobgood*, J. Brown*

B4 Fat Eddie

Written-By – Hobgood*, Brown*, Lenhoff*

B5 You Gave My Heart A Song To Sing

Written-By – B. Byrd*, B. Hobgood*, J. Brown*

B6 A Note Or Two (Part 2)

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