James Brown & The Famous Flames - I Guess I'll Have To Cry Cry Cry / Just Plain Funk

Year Released: 1968
Genre: Soul / Funk

Description:

Released on King Records in 1968, “I Guess I’ll Have to Cry Cry Cry” reveals James Brown’s deep soul sensibility beneath his hard-edged funk persona. Anchored by a steady backbeat and lush horns, the song finds Brown in heartbreak mode, his vocal performance alternating between vulnerability and gospel power.

The flip, “Just Plain Funk,” lives up to its title — a rhythm-driven instrumental workout with tight horn charts and punchy drums, showcasing the Famous Flames’ evolving command of the groove. Together, the two sides reflect Brown’s versatility at a time when he was defining the modern soul spectrum — equal parts emotion and rhythm.