People Records

After several disputes with his record label over distribution James Brown set up People records in the spring of 1971.The label spanned 5 years and released 65 singles and 10 albums, many of which are now regarded as iconic of the genre.

Brown used the label as an outlet to showcase his own self titled “James Brown Productions” featuring up and coming artists such as child hood friend Lee ‘Leon’ Austin who taught James Brown to play the piano and Martha High ,as well as already established singers such as Hank Ballard ,whose 50's group The Midnighters were cited as one of Browns biggest influences.



Hank Ballard

The majority of the singles that were released were original compositions generally written by Brown himself and always included hand picked members of his musical “family" But several were covers often featuring himself performing under an pseudonym, e.g. the Devils with “Hip Hug-Her” a Booker T and The M.G’s hit, and also The Insiders version of Wilson Picket’s classic “In the Midnight Hour.



1972 to 1975 proved to be the most productive hit wise for the label with many releases topping the billboard charts at the time, leaving us with arguably some of the biggest dance floor fillers such as Lyn Collins “ Think(about it)” and Maceo and the Macks “Cross the tracks(we better go back)”



The label eventually finished its run in June 1976 with The JB’s aptly titled “Every body wanna get funky one more time?” largely due to the growing popularity of disco affecting the sales of funk and soul cuts.

The majority of the singles on the label are fairly easy to find with a bit of leg work but one or two of the lesser hits still prove fairly elusive amongst collectors and can command higher prices from dealers. The last few years have seen several re-issues appearing on the market including "escape-ism" and "mindpower" by James Brown.

Below are a few clips of my favourite releases from the label.

Lyn Collins - think(about it)

The JB's - breakin bread

The JB's- hot pants road

maceo & the macks - cross the road(we better go back)

James Brown - escape-ism

Discography

------------------------------1971-----------------------------

JAMES BROWN - ESCAPE-ISM b/w PART 2 P2500

JAMES BROWN - HOT PANTS b/w PART 2 P2501

THE JB'S - MY BROTHER b/w PART 2 P2502

LYN COLLINS - WHEELS OF LIFE P2503 b/w JUST WON'T DO RIGHT

GLORIA WALKER - PAPA'S GOT THE WAGON P2504 b/w MY PRECIOUS LOVE

VICKI ANDERSON - IM TOO TOUGH FOR MR.BIG STUFF P2505 b/w IN THE LAND OF MILK & HONEY

THE FLAMES - STAND UP AND BE COUNTED PE600 b/w MY LONELY HOUR

SHIRLEY JEAN & RELATIONS - PEOPLE MAKE THE WORLD PE601 -A BETTER PLACE b'/w IF I'D OFF HAD A MAN LIKE YOU

THE JB'S - GIMME SOME MORE PE602 THE RABBIT GOT THE GUN

HANK BALLARD - ANNIE HAD A BABY PE604 b/w TEARDROPS ON YOUR LETTER

---------------------------1972-------------------------

HANK BALLARD - FINGER POPPIN' TIME PE606 b/w WITH YOUR SWEET LOVIN SELF

THE JB'S - HOT PANTS ROAD PE607 b/w PASS THE PEAS

LYN COLLINS - THINK ABOUT IT PE608 b/w AIN'T NO SUNSHINE

LEE AUSTIN - GIMME YOUR HAND PE609 b/w MOONLIGHT

THE JB'S - GIVIN' UP FOOD FOR FUNK PE610

MARTHA HIGH - TRY ME PE611 b/w GEORGY GIRL

LEE AUSTIN - REAL WOMAN PE612 b/w GIMME YOUR HAND

FRED WESLEY & THE JB'S - BACK STABBERS PE614 b/w JB SHOUT

LYN COLLINS - ME AND MY BABY GOT OUR OWN THING GOING PE615 b/w I'LL NEVER LET YOU BREAK MY HEART AGAIN

FRED WESLEY & THE JB'S - EVERYBODY PLAYS THE FOOL PE616 b/w USE ME

--------------------1973-------------

FRED WESLEY & THE JB'S - WATERMELON MAN PE617 b/w ALONE AGAIN, NATURALLY

LYN COLLINS - MAMA FEELGOOD PE618 b/w FLY ME TO THE MOON

FRED WESLEY & THE JB'S - SPORTIN' LIFE PE619 b/w DIRTY HARRY

LEE AUSTIN - THE TRUTH PE620 b/w MOONLIGHT (promo: THE TRUTH (mono) as b-side)

FRED WESLEY & THE JB'S - DOING IT TO DEATH PE621 b/w EVERYBODY GOT SOUL (part 2 of a-side) (promo had:Same (mono)

LYN COLLINS - HOW LONG CAN I KEEP IT UP PE623

MACEO & THE MACKS - PARRTY PE624

SLY, SLICK & WICKED - SHO' NUFF PE625 b/w READY FOR YOU

LYN COLLINS - TAKE ME JUST AS I AM PE626 b/w MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE

FRED WESLEY & THE JB'S - IF YOU DON'T GET IT THE FIRST TIME PE627 b/w YOU CAN HAVE WATERGATE

LYN COLLINS - WE WANT TO PARRTY, PARRTY, PARRTY PE630 b/w YOU CAN'T BEAT TWO PEOPLE IN LOVE

MACEO & THE MACKS - SOUL POWER'74 b/w PART 2 PE631

FRED WESLEY & TH JB'S - SAME BEAT b/w PART 2 PE632

-------------------1974-----------------------

LYN COLLINS - DON'T MAKE ME OVER PE633 b/w TAKE ME JUST AS I AM

MACEO & THE MACKS - I CAN PLAY FOR (JUST YOU AND ME) PE634 b/w DOING IT TO DEATH

LEE AUSTIN - IM IN LOVE PE635 b/w MOONLIGHT

LYN COLLINS - GIVE IT UP OR TURN IT A LOOSE PE636 b/w WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS LOVE

THE DEVILS - THE X-SORCIST PE637 b/w HIP HUG-HER

FRED WESLEY & THE JB'S - DAMN RIGHT I AM SOMEBODY b/w PART 2 PE638

SWEET CHARLES - SOUL MAN PE639 b/w WHY CAN'T I BE TREATED LIKE A MAN

MACEO - DROWNING IN THE SEA OF LOVE PE640 b/w SHOW & TELL

LYN COLLINS - ROCK ME AGAIN & AGAIN.... PE641 b/w WIDE AWAKE IN A DREAM

THE PROGRESSORS - THE BROTHER'S UNDER PRESSURE PE642 b/w I'M SO LONELY

FRED WESLEY & THE JB'S - ROCKIN' FUNKY WATERGATE b/w PART 2 PE643

THE INSIDERS - IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR PE644 b/w LONELY TEARDROPS

SWEET CHARLES - DEDICATED TO THE ONE I LOVE PE645 b/w GIVE THE WOMAN A CHANCE

FRED WESLEY & THE JB'S - LITTLE BOY BLACK PE646 b/w ROCKING FUNKY WATERGATE (PART 2)

MACEO & THE MACKS - CROSS THE TRACKS (WE BETTER GO BACK) PE647 b/w THE SOUL OF A BLACK MAN

FRED WESLEY & THE NEW JB'S - BREAKIN' BREAD PE648 b/w FUNKY MUSIC IS MY STYLE

JOHNNY SCOTTON - YOU DON'T WANNA DO NOTHIN', DO YOU? PE649 b/w WITH YOU LOVE FOR ME

LYN COLLINS - YOU CAN'T LOVE ME IF YOU DON'T RESPECT ME PE650 b/w ROCK ME AGAIN & AGAIN.....

-------------------1975-------------------

FRED WESLEY & THE NEW JB'S - MAKIN' LOVE PE651 b/w RIBS'N'RICE

SWEET CHARLES - I WON'T LAST A DAY PE653 b/w I NEVER...(?)

FRED & THE NEW JB'S - JB'S MONAURAIL b/w PART 2 PE655

SWEET CHARLES - HANG OUT & HUSTLE PE656 b/w TOGETHER

LYN COLLINS - HOW LONG CAN I KEEP IT UP PE657 b/w BABY DON'T DO IT

THE HUSTLERS - HUSTLING PE658 b/w SOFT HUSTLE (there 's also an alt.version with 'DISCO BABY as A-side)

LYN COLLINS - IF YOU DON'T KNOW ME BY NOW PE659 b/w BABY DON'T DO IT

THE JB'S - THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE MYSELF b/w PART 2 PE660

MACEO - FUTURE SHOCK b/w PART 2 PE661

-----------------------1976------------------

LYN COLLINS - MR.BIG STUFF PE662 b/w ROCK ME AGAIN & AGAIN....(again)

THE JB'S - ALL ABOARD THE SOUL FUNKY TRAIN PE663 b/w THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE MYSELF (PART 1)

THE JB'S WITH JAMES BROWN - EVERYBODY WANNA GET FUNKY ONE MORE TIME b/w PART 2 PE664

LP'S

PS3000: THE GRODECK WHIPPERJENNY - SAME (1970?)

PE5601: THE JB'S - FOOD FOR THOUGHT (1972)

PE5602: LYN COLLINS - THINK ABOUT IT (1972)

PE5603: FRED WESLEY & THE JB'S - DOING IT TO DEATH (1973?)

PE6601: MACEO - US! (1973)

PE6602: FRED WESLEY & THE JB'S - DAMN RIGHT I AM SOMEBODY (1974)

PE6603: SWEET CHARLES - FOR SWEET PEOPLE (1974)

PE6604: FRED & THE NEW JB'S - BREAKIN' BREAD (1974)

PE6605: LYN COLLINS - CHECK ME OUT IF YOU DON'T KNOW ME BY NOW (1975)

PE6606: THE JB'S - HUSTLE WITH SPEED (1975)

(discography uses some information supplied by mr kidney from fryer-mantis)