Funk
The song “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” by James Brown is an American sixties music classic. A bag is a way of doing some or a kind of lifestyle. Musicians would say something’s an “R&B bag” or a “doo wop bag.” Well, “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” is an early funk bag. James Brown wrote and recorded the song about an older man keeping up with the dances and doing his thing out on the dance floor. “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” was released in 1965. The single has Part 1 on the A-Side and Part 2 on the B-Side. It is seen as the beginning of funk as a style — a strong rhythm and bass, less emphasis on melody and harmony. “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” features a great horn section and guitar work by Jimmy Nolen. It went to #1 on the R&B Chart and #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was Brown’s first to reach the Top Ten on that chart. Brown was awarded a Grammy for Best Rhythm & Blues Recording. It is also on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”