"Papa's Got a Brand New Bag"
Single by James Brown
from the album Papa's Got a Brand New Bag
A-side	"Papa's Got a Brand New Bag - Pt. 1"
B-side	"Papa's Got a Brand New Bag - Pt. 2"
Released	June 1965
Format	vinyl record (7" 45 RPM)
Recorded	February 1965 at Arthur Smith Studios, Charlotte, North Carolina
Genre	Soul Funk
Length	2:07 (Pt. 1)
Label	King 5999
Writer(s)	James Brown
Producer	James Brown
James Brown singles chronology
"Have Mercy Baby" (1965) "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" (Pt. 1) (1965) I Got You (I Feel Good)" (1965)

"Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" is a song written and recorded by James Brown. Released as a two-part single in 1965, it was Brown's first song to reach the Billboard Hot 100 Top Ten, peaking at number eight. It was also a number-one R&B hit, topping the charts for eight weeks.^[1].

"Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" is widely considered the first recording to showcase what later became Brown's signature musical style, and marks the beginning of the development of the musical genre of funk. As Brown sings the praises of an old man brave enough to get out on the dance floor of a nightclub, Brown's band provides a horn-heavy backdrop with a prominent rhythm and an electric guitar riff for a hook. It is considered one of Brown's signature songs, and has been covered by many artists, both within the R&B genre and outside of it.

In 2004, "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" was ranked number 72 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. The song is currently ranked as the 82nd greatest song of all time, as well as the sixth best song of 1965, by Acclaimed Music.^[2]

Brown recorded a big band jazz arrangement of "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" with the Louie Bellson Orchestra for his 1970 LP Soul on Top.

[edit] Personnel

• James Brown - lead vocal

with the James Brown Band:

• Joe Dupars - trumpet
• Ron Tooley - trumpet
• Levi Rasbury - trumpet
• Wilmer Milton - trombone
• Nat Jones - alto saxophone
• Maceo Parker - tenor and baritone saxophones
• St. Clair Pinckney - tenor saxophone
• Eldee Williams - tenor saxophone
• Al "Brisco" Clark - tenor saxophone
• Nat Jones - organ
• Jimmy Nolen - guitar
• Sam Thomas or Bernard Odum - bass
• Melvin Parker - drums

[edit] Similarly named songs

• A song recorded by the band Pigbag, "Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag", was a worldwide hit in 1981.
• In 1995 Paul Oakenfold's Perfecto Allstarz project recorded "Reach Up (Papa's Got A Brand New Bag)", which peaked at #6 in the UK Singles Chart.
• The Capitol Steps recorded the parody "Papa's Got A Brand New Baghdad" for their 2004 album of the same name.

[edit] Cultural references

Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (October 2009)

• the Dexter's Laboratory episode, "Sister's Got a Brand New Bag"
• the Simpsons episode "Papa's Got a Brand New Badge"
• the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air episode "Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse"
• the title of Hannah Montana episode "Papa's Got a Brand New Friend"
• the Family Guy episode, "Brian's Got a Brand New Bag" S08 e04
• the Young Bleed song, "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag"
• the Arthur episode "Arthur and the Crunch Cereal Contest", Grandma Thora sings this song.
• the World of Warcraft container item, "Papa's (Brand)New Bag". Obtained from boss monster subtitled "Godfather of Souls".

[edit] Sample

	"Papa's Got a Brand New Bag"
Problems listening to this file? See media help.

[edit] References

• Leeds, Alan M., and Harry Weinger (1991). Star Time: Song by Song. In Star Time (pp. 46-53) [CD liner notes]. London: Polydor Records.
• White, Cliff (1991). Discography. In Star Time (pp. 54-59) [CD liner notes]. London: Polydor Records.

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