James Brown & The Famous Flames - Kansas City / Stone Fox

Year Released: 1967
Genre: R&B / Soul

Description:

Brown’s 1967 rendition of the Leiber & Stoller classic “Kansas City” brings the song’s rhythm-and-blues roots into his own electrified universe. Backed by the Famous Flames and his blistering horn section, Brown injects a fiery tempo and raw drive, turning a well-worn standard into a horn-punctuated dance storm.

The flip, “Stone Fox,” is a swaggering instrumental that spotlights the band’s precision — stabbing horns, syncopated drums, and that unmistakable JB groove. The single offers a perfect snapshot of the Famous Flames’ live-band energy, right before Brown’s transition into the leaner J.B.’s era.