Star Time
Star Time is a box set by James Brown. It contains 71 songs that were originally recorded 1956-1984. The first published by Polydor in 1991 to four CD compilation puts the focus on the greatest hits from four decades. In addition to the singles and alternative versions and live recordings are considered. The songs are primarily attributable to the genres of soul, R & B and funk. The title refers to the album Live at the Apollo. There, the announcer asks the audience before the performance of Brown: "Are you ready for Star Time? "
Composers and Musicians
With most of the compositions contained on Star Time James Brown is named as author, but there are also included some foreign compositions. There are also songs that Brown's former sideman are named as co-authors.
Since Startime contains songs from several decades, the number of musicians who accompanied Brown, very large. Famous Sidemen on the original recordings were: the saxophonist Maceo Parker, trombonist Fred Wesley and the bassist Bootsy Collins. The included on the compilation Begleitbands, which included partially also a session musician, operating under the various names, such as The Famous Flames and The JB's. The song Unity, Pt. 1, an approximation to the Hip- Hop, Brown took on together with the DJ Afrika Bambaataa.
Selection of songs
The producers of the compilation, Harry Weinger, Cliff White, Oscar A. Yong and Bill Levenson, focused in the selection of the songs, especially on the 60s and 70s. The 50s, the 80s were less, almost not taken into account. This weighting is partly due to the fact that the 60s and 70s were the most productive time of James Brown. On the other falls into these two decades, a period of his career, which is commonly considered to be his most creative. So Papa 's Got a Brand New Bag applies from the year 1965 as the blueprint of funk.
Although Startime the hits of Brown expressly recognizes, missing his second most successful single ( # 4 on the singles charts of Billboard ) - the pop song Living in America. His most successful single (sleeps 3) I Got You (I Feel Good ), however, is included on Star Time. With I Do not Mind also a song from Live at the Apollo, his most successful album was ( # 2 on the album charts of Billboard ), in the compilation included with.
Formats and versions
Star World was released on CD, cassette and as a download, on record, it was not published. In 2007, Star Time was reissued by Polydor and published with a different cover. The tracklists of both versions are identical.
Polydor released in 1991, parallel to the first edition of Star Time, as well as 20 All- Time Greatest Hits!, A compilation that can apply in their exclusive focus on James Brown's biggest hits as the essence of Star Time and hence a classic best-of album is. All 20 All- Time Greatest Hits! Songs included are also represented on Star Time; partly in longer versions.
Reception
Star Time received since its first appearance almost exclusively positive reviews - if only because it is the first really carefully compiled compilation of the music of James Brown. In the music database Allmusic, it is listed with five out of five stars. The music magazine Rolling Stone put it in their list of the 500 best albums of all time at number 75, and the music critic Robert Christgau called Star Time as "finest box set ever released".
The highest placement of Time Star into the R & B charts of Billboard was ranked 89 in 1991.
At the Grammy Awards 1992, the author of the liner notes - which include Brown himself belonged - won a Grammy. Brown also received a Grammy for Lifetime Achievement at this ceremony.