Marva Whitney "It's My Thing" (1969)

James Brown dubbed her “Soul Sister #1.” Like any disc produced by James Brown and featuring the mighty JB's as a backing group, It's My Thing is a stone-cold funky record. Marva Whitney sang in the James Brown Revue from 1967 to 1969, and in 1969 she released this record. Not only did Brown produce but he wrote or co-wrote most of the tracks and it basically sounds like a James Brown record with a female singer. A tough, aggressive female singer. Marva sounds like she could take any comers and leave them shaking in their go-go boots. From the opening blast of "It's My Thing, Pt. 1 and "Pt. 2," a rewrite of the Isley Brothers' "It's Your Thing, she shouts, exhorts, wails, and basically lets it all hang out as the band lays down groove after groove. Thankfully after four exhausting tracks, Marva slows it down with "If You Love Me," an Otis Redding-style broken-hearted ballad. After an instrumental break she jumps right back into the funky fray with "Unwind Yourself," which features a classic horn line and some gritty vocalizing from Marva. The rest of the record follows this pattern of a couple of stompers and a ballad. The highlight of the record is "I'm Tired I'm Tired I'm Tired (Things Better Change Before It's Too Late)," a funky (yes, every track on this disc is funky) lament that details just how tired Marva is of society putting her down. Check out Brown going wild in the background about halfway through the song. The disc has five bonus tracks added to the original album, including the slow-burning "I Made a Mistake Because It's Only You, Pts. 1 & 2" and a duet with James Brown on "Sunny." This is a great record and it is a pity that it is on such a tiny label and not one of the major reissue labels because Marva deserves wider recognition. By all means seek this one out. ~ Tim Sendra

This is probably the most in demand, heavily sampled and bootleged funk album of all time. Originally Produced by James Brown and released in August 1969, this album has been heavily in demand since the mid 80s. It is issued here along with 4 tracks which were only issued on 7"singles and are also highly sought after in their own right., plus a duet with James Brown 'Sunny' which appeared in the sleeve notes of the original album but was not included in it. The album was actually a collection of 10 singles recorded over a period of 20 months in different studios across the USA. The tracks feature the famous James Brown band, Probably the tightest band of all time including Maceo Parker, Alfred 'Pee Wee'Ellis and St Clair Pinckney (Saxes), Fred Wesley (Trombone), Richard 'Kush' Griffith (Trumpet), Jimmy Nolen (guitar), (Sweet) Charles Sherrell (Bass), Clyde Stubblefield (Drums) amongst others. Marva Whitney was the leading Female singer in the James Brown Revue for 3 years from 1967 to 1969 and toured the USA, Africa and Vietnam (during the War).

1. It's My Thing (Pt 1)
2. It's My Thing (Pt 2)
3. Things Got to Get Better
4. What Kind of Man
5. If You Love Me
6. In the Middle
7. Unwind Yourself
8. You Got to Have a Job (If You Don't Work, You Don't Eat)
9. I'll Work It Out
10. Get Out of My Life
11. I'm Tired I'm Tired I'm Tired (Things Better Change Before I
12. Shades of Brown
13. I Made a Mistake Because It's Only You (Pt 1)
14. I Made a Mistake Because It's Only You (Pt 2)
15. What Do I Have to Do to Prove My Love to You
16. He's the One
17. This Girl's in Love With You
18. Sunny (Duet With James Brown)