Damn Right I Am Somebody cover

Damn Right I Am Somebody

Released

Of the many projects that came out of James Brown’s People Records label in the early 70s, trombone player Fred Wesley’s ‘Damn Right I’m Somebody’ is one of the strongest. Peppered with vocal and Moog noodling contributions from the Godfather, Wesley and the JBs deliver a set of stone-cold funk classics including the acid-funk of ‘Blow Your Head’ and the frantic, dark, psychedelic epic ‘I’m Payin’ Taxes But What Am I Buyin’?’, its acapella breakdowns one of the strangest moments in James Brown’s catalogue and indeed in soul music. Funky and futurist at the same time. 

Harold Heath

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