album · April 1, 1971

Sho' Is Funky Down Here

James Brown

Play 30s preview

PolydorSee this day

funksoul

The hardest working man in show business delivers a raw, stripped-down funk workout on "Sho' Is Funky Down Here," a tight groove that exemplifies his 1971 sound. This track, released as a single, highlights the skeletal arrangements that would define much of his early Polydor output.

• The A-side of the Polydor single 14070, "Sho' Is Funky Down Here" was backed with "Sanctified And Soulful."
• While a moderate R&B hit in its own right, the song is perhaps best known today as a deep cut from the album of the same name.
• Recorded during the sessions for the album "Sho' Is Funky Down Here," the track showcases Brown's circa-1971 studio band in peak, economical form.

James Brown was the genre-defining Godfather of Soul, known for his electrifying stage presence and pioneering funk sound. In 1971, he was hitting his stride, consolidating his independent King Records operation and moving to Polydor for a series of iconic albums.