James Brown - Payback (The Final Mixdown)
- Artist James Brown
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James Brown – Payback (The Final Mixdown) (1988)
A brilliant slice of late-'80s breakbeat culture, bringing together the raw funk of James Brown's extensive back catalogue in a cleverly constructed megamix by Norman Cook (later better known as Fatboy Slim) and DJ Streets Ahead. Released on the UK Urban label in May 1988, this 12-inch takes a selection of Brown's most recognisable grooves, breaks and vocal snippets and weaves them into a continuous, dancefloor-ready workout built around Clyde Stubblefield's legendary "Funky Drummer" beat.
Clocking in at just under six minutes, the mix draws on an impressive selection of material, including "The Payback", "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine", "Soul Power", "Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose", "Get On The Good Foot", "Think (About It)" by Lyn Collins and "The Grunt" by The J.B.'s. The result is a relentless succession of familiar hooks, horn stabs and drum breaks, seamlessly stitched together into one infectious groove.
The original UK 12-inch (Urban URBA 17) also includes a remix of "Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose", the "Funky Drummer Remix" of "She's The One" and "Cold Sweat", making it an especially useful package for DJs and breakbeat enthusiasts.
An excellent example of the late-'80s megamix phenomenon, and an important early production credit for Norman Cook, showcasing the creative possibilities of sampling and cut-and-paste mixing just before the arrival of the big beat era.