James Brown: It's a Man's Man's World 12"

"The Godfather of Soul." "The Hardest Working Man in Show Business." "Mr. Dynamite." "Soul Brother Number One." These and other honorifics have been used to describe American music icon James Brown for approaching half a century. And then there's the music which backs up all those claims and then some. The excellent 1966 set It's a Man's Man's Man's World bridges the gap between James' earlier styles and funk period, pairing more contemporary cuts like the R&B No. 1/pop Top 10 hit title track, its B-side "Is It Yes or Is It No?," and two-part single "Ain't That a Groove (Part 1 and Part 2)," with earlier fare like the 1961 singles "Bewildered" and "I Don't Mind."