James Brown, Oliver Nelson, Louie Bellson Orchestra – Soul On Top

180-gram vinyl

Verve By Request Series — Monthly releases from Verve Label Group's jazz catalog!

Handpicked rarities and fan favorites include out-of-print titles and first-ever vinyl pressings

Verve Records/UMe and Third Man Records have partnered to resurrect the popular reissue series, Verve By Request, with a vinyl twist. Focusing on rare gems and fan-requested jazz albums from the Verve Label Group's stable of iconic labels, the series will offer two titles per month — each hand-picked by Verve and Third Man Records. The records will include both long-out-of-print titles from the vault as well as the first-ever vinyl pressings for albums released in the '90s and aughts that were only originally released on CD.

Albums will be newly remastered from original analog sources, when available, and pressed on 180-gram at Third Man Record Pressings in Detroit.

James Brown's Soul On Top was originally released in 1970 via King Records. The album was a dream project for the Godfather of Soul, a fan of big-band jazz who is provided the full treatment here with an 18-piece band, led by drummer Louis Bellson and arranged by Impulse! star Oliver Nelson. Joined by his soul consigliere, saxophonist Maceo Parker, Brown offers up a swinging set of jazz and pop standards, while revisiting several of his classic hits, including "It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World" and "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag." This reissue features a new mix of the original album by legendary bassist and James Brown superfan Christian McBride and UMe A&R Vice President Harry Weinger.

Musicians:
James Brown, vocals
Oliver Nelson, arranger and conductor
Ernie Watts, alto saxophone
Joe Romano, alto saxophone
Maceo Parker, tenor saxophone
Buddy Collette, tenor saxophone
Pete Christlieb, tenor saxophone
Jim Mulidore, baritone saxophone
Al Aarons, trumpet
Chuck Findley, trumpet
John Audino, trumpet
Tom Porello, trumpet
Jimmy Cleveland, trombone
Nick DiMaio, trombone
Kenny Shroyer, trombone
Bill Tole, trombone
Frank Vincent, piano
Bill Pitman, guitar
Louis Shelton, guitar
Ray Brown, bass
Louis Bellson, drums, bandleader
Jack Arnold, percussion