The Popcorn
| "The Popcorn" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by James Brown | ||||
| from the album The Popcorn | ||||
| B-side | "The Chicken" | |||
| Released | May 1969[1][2] | |||
| Recorded | August 26, 1968[1][2] | |||
| Venue | Dallas Memorial Auditorium[1][2] | |||
| Genre | Soul, funk | |||
| Length | 2:55 | |||
| Label | King 6240 SK-13028[1] | |||
| Songwriter | James Brown | |||
| Producer | James Brown | |||
| James Brown singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Audio video | ||||
| "The Popcorn" on YouTube | ||||
"The Popcorn" is a 1969 instrumental written and recorded by James Brown. It was the first of several records Brown made inspired by the popular dance of the same name. Released as a single on King Records, it charted #11 R&B and #30 Pop.[1][2] It also appeared as the title track of an album released the same year. The full 4 minute and 32 second recording of the song was released in 1996 as part of the Foundations of Funk – A Brand New Bag: 1964–1969 compilation album.
Like most other songs on The Popcorn album, The Popcorn was recorded after a concert in Dallas at the empty Dallas Memorial Auditorium on August 26, 1968.[2] The live performance that preceded this recording was released on the album Say It Live and Loud: Live in Dallas 08.26.68 in 1998 and featured a previously unheard performance of the song during the show.
Background
[edit | edit source]The Popcorn was the road arrangement of an earlier single entitled "Bringing Up the Guitar" by Alfred Ellis and The Dapps, featuring many of the same band members.[1]
Personnel
[edit | edit source]- Waymon Reed — trumpet
- Richard "Kush" Griffin — trumpet
- Fred Wesley — trombone
- Maceo Parker — tenor saxophone
- St. Clair Pinckney — baritone saxophone
- Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis — organ
- Jimmy Nolen — guitar
- Alfonzo Kellum — bass
- Clyde Stubblefield — drums
Chart performance
[edit | edit source]| Chart (1969) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100[3] | 30 |
| US Best Selling Rhythm & Blues Singles (Billboard) | 11 |
"The Chicken"
[edit | edit source]- The single's B-side, "The Chicken", written by Brown's saxophonist and bandleader Alfred Ellis, was prominently covered by jazz bassist Jaco Pastorius on his live albums Invitation and The Birthday Concert.
External links
[edit | edit source]- "Popcorn Unlimited", an article by Douglas Wolk about James Brown's "Popcorn" records
References
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