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. Chart performance
The album debuted on Billboard magazine's Top LP's chart in the issue dated May 16, 1970, peaking at No. 125 during a ten-week run on the chart. Critical reception
Reviewing the Verve reissue for The Village Voice in September 2004, Tom Hull said, "This extends Ray Charles's omnivorous big-band soul, with Brown reinventing standards—'That's My Desire,' 'September Song,' 'Every Day I Have the Blues,' 'Papa's Got a Brand New Bag'—in front of Louie Bellson's orchestra, which arranger-conductor Oliver Nelson barely manages to discipline, so caught up is the band in the singer's excitement. In Brown's discography, just a curio. But in the whole history of big band jazz, there's never been a singer like him."
Track listing Original release
CD reissue
Personnel James Brown – vocals Ernie Watts, Joe Romano – alto saxophone Maceo Parker, Buddy Collette, Pete Christlieb – tenor saxophone James Mulidore – baritone saxophone Al Aarons, Chuck Findley, John Audino, Tom Porello – trumpet Jimmy Cleveland, Nick DiMaio, Kenny Shroyer, Bill Tole – trombone Frank Vincent – piano Bill Pitman, Louis Shelton – guitar Ray Brown – double bass Jack Arnold – percussion Louie Bellson – drums, bandleader Oliver Nelson – arranger and conductor
Notes Terrel, Tom (October 5, 2004). "James Brown's 'Soul on Top' Reissued". National Public Radio. Retrieved on April 27, 2007. Charts
Chart (1970) Peakposition US Billboard Top LPs125 References
Further reading Christian McBride (2015). "Mr. Soul on Top". Retrieved July 5, 2022. Christian McBride's recollections about convincing James Brown to join him for a 2006 revival performance of "Soul On Top" at the Hollywood Bowl.