Sho Is Funky Down Here is the 31st studio album by American musician James Brown, released in 1971 on King Records, his last album on the label after having been on the label since 1956.
Overview An entirely instrumental album, it's full of heavy fuzzed-out guitars in a jazzy psychedelic rock style, resembling the first records by Funkadelic. All songs are by James Brown and David Matthews and the record is somewhat a second album by Matthews' Grodeck Whipperjenny group. David Matthews worked as the band leader for James Brown at the time.
Chart performance Sho Is Funky Down Here peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard Best Selling Soul LP's chart and No. 137 on the Top LP's chart in May 1971. The album reached No. 122 on Cashbox magazine's Top 100 Albums chart a three-week run on it.
Critical reception
Kurt Edwards reviewed the album for AllMusic, writing, "Even within that narrow subsection, Sho Is Funky Down Here stands out: an almost completely unsoulful album — at least as close as James Brown will ever come, even in his later years — full of fuzzed-out guitars, poorly recorded drums, and not much else."
Track listing All tracks composed by James Brown and David Matthews
Personnel James Brown – harpsichord, organ, vocals David Matthews – organ, piano Kenny Poole – guitar Michael Moore – bass Jimmy Madison – drums
Charts
+Chart peaks for Sho Is Funky Down Here Chart (1971) Peakposition US Billboard Top LP's137 US Billboard Best Selling Soul LP's26 US Cashbox Top 100 Albums 122
References