"Papa Don't Take No Mess" is a funk song performed by James Brown. An edited version of the song released as a two-part single in 1974 was Brown's 17th and final number one R&B hit and peaked at number thirty-one on the Hot 100.White, Cliff (1991). "Discography". In Star Time (pp. 54–59) [CD booklet]. New York: PolyGram Records. The full-length version, nearly 14 minutes long, appeared on the double album Hell.
Like "The Payback," "Papa Don't Take No Mess" was originally recorded for a rejected soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Hell Up in Harlem.
Record World said that the song is "carefully fashioned from disco and pure black leather funk."
Personnel James Brown - lead vocal
with Fred Wesley and The J.B.'s: Fred Wesley - trombone Ike Oakley - trumpet Maceo Parker - alto saxophone St. Clair Pinckney - tenor saxophone Jimmy Nolen - guitar Hearlon "Cheese" Martin - guitar Fred Thomas - bass John "Jabo" Starks - drums John Morgan or Johnny Griggs - percussionLeeds, Alan, and Harry Weinger (1991). "Star Time: Song by Song". In Star Time (pp. 46–53) [CD booklet]. New York: PolyGram Records.
A piano solo, performed by Brown, is included in the longer edit that appears on the Hell album.
Covers and samples Steely Dan covered this song in the band introduction segment of their "Rarities night" concerts in September 2011.
The song, like much of Brown's catalogue, was sampled into many other compositions, most notably in Janet Jackson's 1993 hit song "That's the Way Love Goes" from her album Janet. Biz Markie also used the song in his 1988 music "Vapors" from his debut album Goin' Off.
References
External links
List of songs that sample "Papa Don't Take No Mess"