COMPOSERS: James Brown
LABELS: Arthaus
ALBUM TITLE: James Brown
CATALOGUE NO: 100 186
The JAMES BROWN portrait from Arthaus is a by-the-book biography enlivened by classic film of the godfather of soul's outrageous dance moves and some eloquent contributions from Jesse Jackson.
But Brown's own pieces to camera cry out for subtitling and a brief reference to the 1988 rampage in Augusta (and subsequent interstate police chase) that landed Brown his second prison term sits uncomfortably amid eulogies to his civil rights work and his role as self-appointed guru to black youth.