1970 James Brown – Soul On Top
Soul On Top is the 28th studio album by American musician James Brown. The album was released in April 1970, by King. Brown and saxophonist Maceo Parker worked with arranger/conductor Oliver Nelson to record a big band, funk and jazz vocal album. It was recorded with Louie Bellson and his 18-piece jazz orchestra at United Western Recorders in Hollywood, California in November 1969, and features jazz standards, show tunes, and middle of the road hits, as well as a new arrangement of Brown’s funk hit “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag”.
The album was reissued in 2004 with one previously unreleased bonus track, a big band version of Brown’s 1967 hit “There Was a Time”, and new liner notes by jazz critic Will Friedwald.
Tracks
1 That’s My Desire (Carroll Loveday; Helmy Kresa) 04:07
2 Your Cheatin’ Heart (Hank Williams) 02:56
3 What Kind Of Fool Am I? (Anthony Newley; Leslie Bricusse) 03:02
4 It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World (James Brown; Betty Jean Newsome) 06:36
5 The Man In The Glass (Bud Hobgood) 05:52
6 It’s Magic (Jule Styne; Sammy Cahn) 03:10
7 September Song (Kurt Weil; Maxwell Anderson) 04:59
8 For Once In My Life (Orlando Murden; Ronald Miller) 04:40
9 Every Day I Have The Blues (Peter Chatman) 04:25
10 I Need Your Key (To Turn Me On) (Louis Bellson) 03:42
11 Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag (James Brown) 04:37
12 There Was A Time (Bud Hobgood; James Brown) 03:04
Musicians
| Bass | Ray Brown |
| Drums | Louis Bellson |
| Guitar | Bill Pitman |
| Guitar | Louie Shelton |
| Piano | Frank Vincent |
| Sax | Ernie Watts |
| Sax | Joe Romano |
| Horns | Buddy Collette |
| Sax | Maceo Parker |
| Sax | Pete Christlieb |
| Trombone | Bill Tole |
| Trombone | Jimmy Cleveland |
| Trombone | Kenny Shroyer |
| Trombone | Nick Dimaio |
| Trumpet | Al Aarons |
| Trumpet | Chuck Findley |
| Trumpet | John Audino |
| Trumpet | Tom Porrello |
| Percussion | Jack Arnold |
| Vocals | James Brown |
Other Musicians
Orchestra – Louis Bellson Orchestra
Liner Notes
Producer – James Brown
Arranged By – Oliver Nelson
Conductor – Oliver Nelson
Edited By – Bud Hobgood, Ron Lenhoff
Mastered By – RG
Recorded By – Eddie Brackett
Design – Dan Quest Art Studio
Photography – Dan Quest
Recorded At United Recorders