A voice worth returning to

James Brown made rhythm feel like a conversation in which every instrument had something urgent to say. His singing could be melodic, but a breath, a shout or a clipped syllable could also become part of the percussion. Listening to him means following the whole band, rather than waiting only for a chorus.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducted Brown in its first class in 1986. His place in soul and funk history offers an especially useful doorway into the 1970s: these records show how repetition can produce movement, tension and surprise. A pattern does not need to disappear for the music to change around it.

Our five-album route moves from Hot Pants through the expansive The Payback to Get Up Offa That Thing. Try hearing the bass, drums and guitar separately before putting the entire picture back together. The pleasure is in their interlocking parts, and in Brown’s ability to make a tiny change feel like a major event.

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