SATURDAY'S SINGLES : AFRIKA BAMBAATAA, JAMES BROWN and JAMES BROWN

[maggot]

Good morning gang and welcome to the return of Saturday's Singles. I had originally thought we'd be wishing Bronx born  disc jockey, rapper, songwriter and producer, Afrika Bambaataa, a very Happy 64th Birthday, but as it turns out, next Saturday is his Birthday. We're still going to feature his song because it fits the overall general theme of today's post. "Unity" is a funk/hip-hop duet released in 1984 on the Tommy Boy label by Afrika Bambaataa and the Godfather Of Soul, James Brown. It was supposed to symbolize a unity between the funk/soul genres and rap/hip-hop. The tune peaked at #87 on the R&B charts and #49 in the UK. The cover features a picture of Bambaataa and Brown holding hands in a show of unity. Our copy is a 12" with the "Unity" song in six parts, that we got the last time I perused the remaining stock of the now Legendary J.R.'s Junk Trunk.

Unity (Part 1: The Third Coming) - 3:20
Unity (Part 2: Because It's Coming) - 3:20
Unity (Part 3: Nuclear Wildstyle) - 3:29
Unity (Part 4: Can You See It) - 6:47
Unity (Part 5: The Light) - 4:15
Unity (Part 6: World War 3) - 2:44

James Brown - co-lead vocal
Afrika Bambaataa - co-lead vocal
"Chops" - horns
Brian Banks- keyboards
Anthony Marinelli - keyboards
Robin Halpin - keyboards
Skip McDonald - guitar
Doug Wimbish - bass
Keith LeBlanc - drums

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Speaking of James Brown, it was on this day in 2002, South Carolina Governor James Hodges declared James Brown the state's "Godfather Of Soul." We build on that by featuring this cassette single of "Hooked On Brown, Part 1 (The Platinum Hits Medley)", released in 1996 on the Scotti Bros. label. Side A features Radio Edit 1 and Side 2 follows with Radio Edit 2. The medley features fan favorites such as

"I Got You (I Feel Good),
Cold Sweat,
Hot Pants (She Got To Use What She Got To Get What She Wants),
Get Up Offa That Thing,
Papa's Got A Brand New Bag,
Living in America,
Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine, and
Please, Please, Please.".

As far as I can tell, this medley did not chart.

James Brown - vocals composer, producer

Mixed By – Richie Wise
Beats And Research – Haji B

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