The Payback is the 37th studio album by the American musician James Brown. Originally slated to serve as the soundtrack for the 1973 blaxploitation film Hell Up in Harlem, it was ultimately not used for that film and instead released as a separate album in December 1973 by Polydor Records.
The Payback is considered a high point in Brown's recording career, and is regarded by critics as a landmark funk album. Its revenge-themed title track, a #1 Billboard R&B hit, is one of Brown's most famous songs, and has been frequently sampled.
Background A widely repeated story—including by James Brown himself—that Hell Up in Harlem director Larry Cohen rejected the album as "not funky enough" for the film is denied by Cohen.Smith, RJ. The One: The Life and Music of James Brown, 290. New York: Gotham Books, 2012. On the DVD commentary track for Cohen's Black Caesar (to which Hell Up in Harlem is a sequel), Cohen states that executives at American International Pictures were already unhappy with Brown for delivering songs much longer than expected on his Black Caesar and Slaughter's Big Rip-Off soundtracks and opted for a deal with Edwin Starr and Motown Records instead. Cohen said the absence of Brown's music from Harlem still "breaks [his] heart."
The Payback was a success, topping the Billboard Soul Albums chart for two weeks and peaking at number 34 on the Billboard 200 album chart. It was Brown's only studio album to be certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
The Payback largely features cyclic funk grooves and extensive instrumental jamming, but it also contains the softer soul-based ballads "Doing the Best I Can" and "Forever Suffering".
The album was reissued on CD in 1992 with liner notes by Alan Leeds.
Track listing
Personnel James Brown – lead vocals, electric piano, electric organ Martha High – backing vocals Isiah "Ike" Oakley – trumpet Darryl "Hasaan" Jamison – trumpet Jerone "Jasaan" Sanford – trumpet Maceo Parker – alto saxophone, flute St. Clair Pinckney – tenor saxophone, flute Fred Wesley – trombone Jimmy Nolen – electric guitar Hearlon "Cheese" Martin – electric guitar Fred Thomas – bass guitar "Sweet" Charles Sherrell – bass guitar John Morgan – cabasa, tambourine, rainstick Johnny Griggs – congas John "Jabo" Starks – drums
Charts Album – Billboard (North America) YearChartPosition1974Billboard Pop Albums34
Certifications
See also List of number-one R&B albums of 1974 (U.S.)
References
External links Detailed Review of the album