# Essential James Brown

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/essential-james-brown/376536>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [October 15, 2006, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/essential-james-brown/376536 "2006-10-15T16:08:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![yastobaal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/258eb7/32.png) [@yastobaal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yastobaal)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2006, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/essential-james-brown/376536/1 "2006-10-15T16:08:04Z")

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I’m going to see James Brown in [concert](http://www.bbc.co.uk/electricproms/jamesbrown/) at the end of October but I only have two songs in my collection by him (“Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag” and “The Payback”).

So I was wondering what you dopers feel are the essential songs and albums by James Brown.

Thanks guys

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**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2006, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/essential-james-brown/376536/2 "2006-10-15T16:13:38Z")

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You should run out IMMEDIATELY and get **James Brown - 20 All Time Greatest Hits** - you will LOVE it.

This is the short version. There is also **Star Time** a 4 CD collection.

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**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2006, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/essential-james-brown/376536/3 "2006-10-15T16:13:49Z")

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I highly recommend the 4 disc box set called “Star Time”.