notes:
Released in 1969 on King Records, Say It Loud I'm Black And I'm Proud
stands
among the most important recordings in the career of
James Brown. Arriving
during a period of profound social and
cultural change in America, the album
combined powerful
messages of Black empowerment with Brown's
revolutionary
approach to rhythm, groove, and performance. Featuring
the iconic
title track alongside energetic soul and funk recordings, this LP
remains
an essential document of both musical innovation and social history.
At
the end of the 1960s, James Brown was already recognized as one of the
most
influential figures in American popular music. With Say It
Loud I'm Black And I'm Proud,
he delivered more than just
another successful album; he created a cultural milestone.
The
title song became an anthem of self-determination and pride, resonating
deeply
with audiences during the Civil Rights era. Musically,
the album showcases Brown's
evolving funk style, driven by
tight horn arrangements, dynamic rhythms, and the
disciplined
precision of his backing musicians. Decades after its release, the
record
continues to inspire artists across soul, funk, hip-hop,
and contemporary R&B.
credits:
Complete Album Personnel
Main Artists
James Brown –
vocals, organ
Bobby Byrd – co-vocals on “Licking Stick”
Horn
Section
Waymon Reed
Richard "Kush" Griffin
Dud Bascomb
Johnny
Grimes
Joe DuPars – trumpets
Fred Wesley
Richard Harris –
trombones
Levi Rasbury – valve trombone
Pee Wee Ellis – alto
saxophone, organ
Maceo Parker – tenor saxophone
St. Clair
Pinckney, Haywood Henry – baritone saxophones
Rhythm Section
Jimmy
Nolen
Wallace Richardson
Carl Lynch – guitars
Al Lucas
Alfonzo
Kellum
Bernard Odum
Sweet Charles Sherrell – bass
Clyde
Stubblefield
Bernard Purdie
Jabo Starks – drums
Rafael
Rivera – timbales
Julian Cabeza – congas
Edward Williams –
percussion
Strings (selected tracks)
Charles Libove
Harry
Katzman
Sam Ram
Matt Raimondi
Selwart Clarke
Winston
Collymore
and others
Producer: James Brown
Arrangements/Direction
(selected tracks): Sammy Lowe
Engineer: Dave Harrison
The
album compiles sessions recorded between August
1967 and
October 1968 at several studios used by Brown while touring.
Principal
Recording Studios
King Studios – Cincinnati, Ohio
Mastersound
Studios – Atlanta, Georgia
Fine Studios – New York City
Bell
Sound Studios – New York City
Vox Studios – Los Angeles,
California
Collector's Note
The original U.S.
pressing was issued by King Records as 5-1047 in
March 1969.
The title track became one of Brown's most influential
recordings,
reaching No. 1 on the R&B chart and becoming an
anthem of
the Black Power era.
Tracklist :
A1 Say It Loud - I'm Black And I'm Proud (Pt. 1)
Bass –
'Sweet' Charles Sherrell Drums – Clyde Stubblefield
Guitar – Jimmy Nolen
Saxophone – Maceo Parker, Pee Wee Ellis,
St-Clair Pinckney
Trombone – Fred WesleyTrumpet – Richard Griffith,
Waymon Reed
A2 Say It Loud - I'm Black
And I'm Proud (Pt. 2)
Bass – 'Sweet' Charles Sherrell Drums –
Clyde Stubblefield
Guitar – Jimmy Nolen
Saxophone – Maceo Parker, Pee Wee Ellis,
St-Clair Pinckney
Trombone – Fred WesleyTrumpet – Richard Griffith,
Waymon Reed
A3 I Guess I'll Have To
Cry, Cry, Cry
Arranged By, Conductor – Sammy Lowe Bass – Al
Lucas
Drums – Bernard Purdie
Guitar – Carl Lynch, Wally Richardson
Piano – Ernie Hayes
Saxophone – Heywood Henry
Strings
– Charles Libeve, Harry Katzman, Harry Malnikoff, Marion Cuabo,
Matt
Raimondi, Nick Hardone, Sam Ram, Selwart Clarke,
Sid Ewards, Winston Collymore
Trombone – Richard Harris
Trumpet – Dud Nascomb, Johnny Grimes
A4
Goodbye My Love (Pt. 1) & (Pt. 2)
Bass – Bernard Odum Drums
– John Jabo Starks
Guitar – Alfonzo Kellum, Jimmy Nolen
Organ – Pee Wee
Ellis
Saxophone – Eldee Williams, Maceo Parker, St-Clair Pinckney
Trombone
– Levi RasburyTrumpet – Joe Dupars, Waymon Reed
A6 Shades Of Brown
Bass – Ken Tibbetts Drums
– William Beau Dollar Bowman
Guitar – Eddie Setser
Organ – James Brown Producer – Bud
Hobgood
Saxophone – David Parkinson , Les Asch, Pee Wee
Ellis
B1 Licking Stick
Bass
– Tim Drummond Drums – John Jabo Starks
Guitar – Jimmy NolenOrgan, Vocals – Bobby Byrd
Saxophone – Maceo Parker, Pee Wee Ellis, St-Clair Pinckney
B2 I Love You
Bass – Alfonzo Kellum, Tim
Drummond
Drums – Clyde Stubblefield Guitar – Jimmy Nolen
Saxophone
– Maceo Parker, Pee Wee Ellis, St-Clair Pinckney
Trumpet – Richard
Griffith, Waymon Reed
B3 Then You Can
Tell Me Goodbye
Bass – Ken Tibbetts Drums – William Beau Dollar
Bowman
Guitar – Eddie Setser Piano – Tim Hedding
Saxophone – David Parkinson , Les Asch
Trumpet – Ron Geisman
B4 Let Them
Talk
Arranged By, Conductor – Sammy Lowe
Bass – Al
Lucas Drums – Bernard Purdie Organ – Pee Wee Ellis
Saxophone – David
Parkinson , Les Asch
Trumpet – Johnny Grimes, Waymon Reed
B5
Maybe I'll Understand
Drums – William Beau Dollar Bowman Guitar
– Eddie Setser
Piano – Tim Hedding
Producer – Bud Hobgood
B6 I'll Lose My Mind
Bass – Tim Drummond
Drums – William Beau Dollar Bowman
Guitar – Eddie Setser, Troy Seals
Organ – James Brown Piano –
Tim Hedding
Saxophone – David Parkinson , Les Asch